pitchblende

[ pich-blend ]

nounMineralogy.
  1. a massive variety of uraninite, occurring in black pitchlike masses: a major ore of uranium and radium.

Origin of pitchblende

1
1760–70; half translation, half adoption of German Pechblende.See pitch2, blende

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British Dictionary definitions for pitchblende

pitchblende

/ (ˈpɪtʃˌblɛnd) /


noun
  1. a blackish mineral that is a type of uraninite and occurs in veins, frequently associated with silver: the principal source of uranium and radium. Formula: UO 2

Origin of pitchblende

1
C18: partial translation of German Pechblende, from Pech pitch ² (from its black colour) + blende

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for pitchblende

pitchblende

[ pĭchblĕnd′ ]


  1. A brown to black, often crusty, cubic mineral that is a principal ore of uranium. It is highly radioactive. Chemical formula: UO2.

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