: 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
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The country produced about 40% of the world’s coltan in 2023, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, with Australia, Canada and Brazil being other big suppliers.
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Justin Kabumba, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Chávez that year said a large reserve of coltan was discovered in the country, according to Reuters.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
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
For coltan, Apple relies on three Chinese companies and one firm in Kazakhstan, with the mineral likely originating in a mining area of eastern Congo, the lawsuit claimed.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
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Justin Kabumba, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Chávez that year said a large reserve of coltan was discovered in the country, according to Reuters.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
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
For coltan, Apple relies on three Chinese companies and one firm in Kazakhstan, with the mineral likely originating in a mining area of eastern Congo, the lawsuit claimed.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coltan
Cite this Entry
“Coltan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coltan. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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