samarskite

(sə mär′skīt, sam′ər skīt′)

noun

a dark-colored, hard, radioactive, mineral (Y,Ce,U,Ca,Fe,Pb,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti,Sn)O, that is an ore of uranium or niobium

Origin: Fr: so named (1847) after Col. Samarski, Russ mining official

See samarskite in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A velvet-black mineral that is a complex mixture of several rare-earth metals with niobium and tantalum oxide.

Origin:

Origin: After Col. M. von Samarski, 19th-century Russian mining official

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