coltan

noun

col·​tan ˈkōl-ˌtan How to pronounce coltan (audio)
: a dull black ore that consists of a mixture of columbite and tantalite and is a minor source of tantalum

Examples of coltan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Chávez that year said a large reserve of coltan was discovered in the country, according to Reuters. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026 Increasing demand for coltan has led to increasing habitat destruction, zoo officials said. — Katie Langford, Denver Post, 22 July 2025 Near Goma, there are lucrative mines for gold and for coltan, which is crucial to manufacturing batteries and cellphones. — Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025 In addition to a long tradition of unregulated gold mining in the Orinoco region of western Venezuela, guerilla groups have more recently begun mining rare earth minerals like coltan. — Jason Abbruzzese, NBC news, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for coltan

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary columbo-tantalite, from columbite + -o- + tantalite

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coltan was in 1999

Rhymes for coltan

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Browse Nearby Words

colt's tooth
coltan
colt distemper
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coltan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coltan. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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