coltan

noun

col·​tan ˈkōl-ˌtan 

: 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

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Near Goma, there are lucrative mines for gold and for coltan, which is crucial to manufacturing batteries and cellphones. — Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary columbo-tantalite, from columbite + -o- + tantalite

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for coltan

• molten