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Glite Dictionary
pitchblende

pitchblende

1 9.9
A dark heavy mineral that contains uranium and is the main ore used to get uranium
  • noun
  • /ˈpɪtʃˌblɛnd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pitchblenda
  • In the mining community, pitchblende is known as the primary source of uranium ore.

Examples

  • The geologist collected samples of pitchblende to analyze its uranium content.

  • When a solid piece of pitchblende caused photographic plates to be exposed in a dark room, did we know that radiation even existed?

    Blog text (9)

  • Immense deposits of pitchblende!

    Rocketship X-M (1950)

  • Manganese, copper, nickel, pitchblende...

    Rocketship X-M (1950)

  • "Pa," he shouted, breaking the constriction in his throat, "earthquake!" "Be quiet," said Lem, a disembodied voice in the thick pitchblende of night.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • During their research, the scientists discovered that pitchblende contains significant levels of radioactivity.

Synonyms

uranium ore
vspitchblende
  • Specialized
2 8.2

A rock that has uranium and is mined for nuclear fuel

is the particular mineral form rich in uranium oxide, not all ores
uraninite
vspitchblende
  • Specialized
9.9

A dark mineral that contains a lot of uranium and is radioactive

is the name used when that mineral appears as a massive form

Surface Forms

pitchblende singular
pitchblendes plural

Morphology

pitchblende = pitch + blende (opaque) = pitch + blende

Although formed from 'pitch' + 'blende', the term is a specialized mineral name and its specific meaning 'uraninite' is not deducible by average learners from the components.

Etymology

Pitchblende comes from German miners and breaks into pitch, for its black, tar-like look, and blende, a word meaning 'to blind' or 'deceive'. So pitchblende was called a 'black deceiver' because it hides the valuable metal uranium, which is why it became the main ore of uranium.