Standard Lemma guide

coltan

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈkoʊlˌtæn/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A metallic ore, (Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)2O6, from which the elements niobium and tantalum are extracted.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: chemistry, geography, geology, mineralogy, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

Examples

  • Coltan is used for the production of tantalum capacitors.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: columbite-tantalite

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a valuable black mineral combining niobite and tantalite; used in cell phones and computer chips

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: columbite-tantalite

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: mineral

History

Etymology

Blend of columbite + tantalite.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Basque: koltan — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • Catalan: coltan — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • Chinese: 鈳鉭鐵礦 /钶钽铁矿 — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • Dutch: coltan — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • Finnish: koltaani — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • French: coltan — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • Galician: coltán — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • German: Coltan — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • Hungarian: koltán — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • Italian: coltan — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • Japanese: コルタン — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • Polish: koltan — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • Russian: колумби́т-тантали́т (kolumbít-tantalít) — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • Russian: колта́н (koltán) — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • Russian: колу́мбо-тантали́т (kolúmbo-tantalít) — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • Spanish: coltán — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • Spanish: coltan — ore yielding niobium and tantalum
  • Turkish: koltan — ore yielding niobium and tantalum