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Glite Dictionary
columbite

columbite

1 9.9
A black mineral that people mine for the metals niobium and tantalum
  • noun
  • /ˈkɒl.əm.baɪt/
  • Specialized
: columbita
  • Extraction of niobium from columbite requires sophisticated processing techniques.

Examples

  • Geologists identified the black crystal as columbite after laboratory analysis.

  • The mine produces large quantities of columbite for industrial use.

  • The columbite was extracted from the mine last week.

  • Many geologists study columbites for their unique properties.

  • Geologists identified the black crystal as columbite after laboratory analysis.

  • The mine produces large quantities of columbite for industrial use.

  • Extraction of niobium from columbite requires sophisticated processing techniques.

Synonyms

niobite
vscolumbite
  • Specialized
9.9

A black mineral that contains niobium and tantalum and is mined for these metals

contains iron as a major component alongside niobium and tantalum

Compounds

columbite-tantalite
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A black mineral that provides metals used in electronic devices

Surface Forms

columbite singular
columbites plural

Morphology

columbite = columbium (opaque) = columb + ite

The combining element 'columb-' is not a recognizable standalone English base for most learners, and while '-ite' marks a mineral, the word's meaning cannot be derived from familiar components.

Etymology

The word columbite comes from columbium, an old name for the metal niobium, and that name was taken from Columbia, a poetic name for the 'United States'. So columbite is the mineral that gives the metal its name, which helps you remember it as an ore of niobium.