The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Columbite \Co*lum"bite\, n. [Cf. F. colombite. See Columbium.] (Min.) A mineral of a black color, submetallic luster, and high specific specific gravity. It is a niobate (or columbate) of iron and manganese, containing tantalate of iron; -- first found in New England. [1913 Webster]WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
columbite n 1: a black mineral that is an ore of niobium and tantalum [syn: niobite, columbite]