samarskite

[ suh-mahr-skahyt ]

noun

1. a velvet-black mineral, a complex columbate-tantalate of uranium, cerium, etc., occurring in masses: a minor source of uranium, thorium, and rare-earth oxides.

samarskite

/ səˈmɑːskaɪt /

noun

1. a velvety black mineral of complex composition occurring in pegmatites: used as a source of uranium and certain rare earth elements

Word History and Origins

Origin of samarskite¹

< German Samarskit (1847), after Russian mining engineer V.E. Samarskiĭ- Bykhovets (1803–70); -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of samarskite¹

C19: named after Colonel von Samarski, 19th-century Russian inspector of mines

Example Sentences

Thus, after a careful analysis of the rare mineral samarskite, she found an insoluble residue which led her to believe might contain unknown elements.

From Project Gutenberg