noun
- Plural of pitchblende; a brownish-black mineral that is the primary ore of uranium and contains radium.
Usage: technical; geology
Examples
- Pitchblendes are found in various geological formations around the world.
- The scientists analyzed samples of pitchblendes to measure their uranium content.
- Pitchblendes were crucial to Marie Curie's discovery of radium.
- Mining operations extract pitchblendes for nuclear fuel production.
- The pitchblendes in this region contain significant quantities of radioactive elements.