Vanadium steel is a steel alloy which contains small amounts of the element vanadium. Used in structural steels, vanadium steel is lighter, stronger, and more durable than other types of steel alloys. Vanadium steel is used in automotive manufacturing, pipelines, buildings, bridges, and heavy machinery tools.
Vanadium is an element which is listed on the periodic table. A transition metal, it is found in nature combined with other minerals or in fossil fuel deposits. The metal may also be created commercially by using a calcium reduction process. It is a soft, brightly white metal that has a good natural strength. It is most often used in alloys.
Steel is made by combining iron, also a transition element, with small amounts of carbon to strengthen it. Alloys of steel also combine small amounts of other metals with the steel in order to increase their strength, ductility, and durability. Nickel, manganese, and chromium are all common steel alloy metals.
Ferro-Alloy Resources Ltd (LON:FAR) is developing the giant Balasausqandiq vanadium deposit in Kyzylordinskaya oblast of southern Kazakhstan. The ore at this deposit is unlike that of nearly all other primary vanadium deposits and is capable of being treated by a much lower cost process.
