Metallic Vanadium is not found in nature. Economically examples of minerals include:
Patronite (VS4)
Vanadite (Pb5(VO4)3Cl)
Carnotite (K2(UO2)2(VO4)2.3H2O)
Vanadium is also present in Bauxite and in fossil fuel deposits such as crude oil, coal, oil shale and tar sands.
It is a hard, silvery gray, ductile and malleable transition metal, but not brittle.
The most important industrial Vanadium Compound, Vanadium Pentoxide, is used as a catalyst for the production of Sulfuric Acid.
Vanadium steel allowed for reduced weight while simultaneously increasing tensile strength.
It has good resistance to corrosion and it is stable against Alkalis, and Sulfuric and Hydrochloric Acids.
Vanadium is harder than most metals and steels.
Vanadium Redox Battery – an assembly of power cells.
Most Vanadium is used as an alloy called Ferrovanadium as an additive to improve steels. Ferrovanadium is produced directly by reducing a mixture of vanadium oxide, iron oxides and iron in an electric furnace.
