columbite

American  

[kuh-luhm-bahyt] / kəˈlʌm baɪt /

noun

1. a black, crystalline mineral, iron niobate, (Fe, Mn)Nb 2 O 6 , the principal ore of niobium, an end member of a series of solid solutions in which manganese and tantalum combine to form tantalite.

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columbite British  

/ kəˈlʌmbaɪt /

noun

1. Also called: niobite.  a black mineral consisting of a niobium oxide of iron and manganese in orthorhombic crystalline form: occurs in coarse granite, often with tantalite, and is an ore of niobium. Formula: (Fe, Mn)(Nb) 2 O 6

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Etymology

Origin of columbite

First recorded in 1795–1805; columb(ium) + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Without planeloads of mica, quartz crystals, tantalate, columbite, industrial diamonds and rare drugs, the production lines of magnetos, electrical apparatus, stainless steel and medicines would have stopped dead.

From Time Magazine Archive

They are probably present in the form of columbite, a niobate of iron and manganese; and tantalite, a tantalate of the same metals.

From A Text-book of Assaying: For the Use of Those Connected with Mines. by Beringer, Cornelius

These elements occur in the minerals columbite and tantalite, and their compounds became known in the early part of the 19th century by the labours of C. Hatchett, A.G.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various

It is usually found associated with tantalum, the chief minerals containing these two elements being tantalite, columbite, fergusonite and yttrotantalite; it is also a constituent of pyrochlor, euxenite and samarskite.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 6 "Cockaigne" to "Columbus, Christopher" by Various