Mid 19th century; earliest use found in James Dana (1813–1895), geologist, zoologist, and teacher. In sense 1 from German Niobit from Niob- (in Niobium) + -it.
Definition of niobite in US English:
niobite
noun
Mineralogy= "columbite".
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in James Dana (1813–1895), geologist, zoologist, and teacher. In sense 1 from German Niobit from Niob- (in Niobium) + -it.