Vanadium

Vanadium is a soft and ductile, silvery grey metal. It has good resistance to corrosion by alkalis, sulfuric and hydrochloric acid. It oxidizes readily at about 933 K. Vanadium has good structural strength and a low fission neutron cross-section, which makes it useful in nuclear applications. Even though it is a metal, it shares with chromium and manganese the property of having valency oxides with acid properties. Vanadium can usually be found in minerals that have some other valuable element. If it is found an assay will be necessary to identify it. Vanadium has a pearly luster to it, a hardness of 2 to 2.5 and a specific gravity of 2.8 to 3. Vanadinite is a lead and vanadium mineral is usually found in desert areas. It is more commonly found in big, well-formed crystals that are red, yellow and sometimes green. It has a resinous luster to it, a hardness of 2.7 to 3, and a specific gravity of 6.7 to 7.1.