pitch-blende Min.
(ˈpɪtʃblɛnd)
[ad. Ger. pechblende (Cronstedt, 1758), f. pech pitch n.1: see blende.]
Native oxide of uranium, found in blackish pitch-like masses, more rarely crystalline; also called uraninite.
| 1770 tr. Cronstedt's Min. 217 Pechblende or Pitch Blende of the Germans. 1794 Hutchinson Hist. Cumbld. I. Catal. Fossils 52/1 Peche blende, of a glassy shining surface, often crystallized in irregular pyramids. 1814 Aikin Min. 296 Pitch Blende. 1861 H. W. Bristow Gloss. Min. 296 Pitch⁓blende is distinguished from brownblende by colour. 1898 Daily Chron. 8 Oct. 3/4 Pitchblende..possesses the property of emitting the rays, or form of energy, known as the Becquerel rays. 1904 Ibid. 6 Jan. 5/7 Mme. Curie..discovered radium in the residue left after uranium had been extracted from ‘pitch-blend’, or uranium ore. |