By Vanadium Mined: Vanadium is an essential and valuable metal with many uses across various industries. It has atomic number 23 and occurs in about 24 isotopic forms, with the 51V (stable) and 50V (unstable) being the most common. Various isotopes of vanadium have various uses, depending on their radioactivity or lack thereof.
Radioactive isotopes are used in scientific and medical applications that require the emission of traditions, whereas stable V isotopes are popular in commercial and industrial applications such as alloy manufacturing.
However, to achieve the highest production standards, industries need pure vanadium. Most vanadium suppliers employ best practices to produce pure vanadium while remaining true to global environmental conservation efforts.
Where is Vanadium Mined?
In the past, South Africa and Russia were the leading suppliers of Vanadium. However, China has increased its vanadium production and is now the world’s leading supplier, with about 70,000 MT. The biggest spot where they do Vanadium Mined
The country far outpaces other nations in vanadium production and tops the world in Vanadium Mined use as well, thanks to its massive steel production. Some of China’s top vanadium mining places include Panzhihua, Chengde, Hulazao, Hulanan, and Gansu. The country has the world’s third-largest vanadium reserves.
Russia is the second biggest supplier of Vanadium, with about 20000 MT. It also has the world’s second-largest Vanadium reserves, mainly in the Kola Peninsula, Kachkanar, Chelyabinsk, Orenburg, and Magadan.
In South Africa, vanadium mining mainly occurs in the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and Limpopo provinces. The country produces about 17000 MT of vanadium and has the world’s largest reserves.
Brazil is another leading vanadium producer, with an output of about 6,200 MT in 2022. The country’s vanadium production is primarily due to the efforts of Largo Resources, the region’s only producer of pure vanadium. Its Maracas Menchen vanadium mine is the world’s highest-grade vanadium project.
Apart from these four, there are various secondary sources of Vanadium, including Canada and the United States. While Canada mines vanadium from its domestic supplies, the US mainly produces vanadium from recycling efforts.
Another country believed to produce significant vanadium is the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Still, DRC’s exact supply of Vanadium is difficult to estimate due to the lack of proper records.
What are the advantages of global diversification of Vanadium sources?
There are several implications of having vanadium sources in different parts of the world; the main advantage is that it ensures extra security for the global supply. Having vanadium sources in different parts of the world means there are alternatives in the event of a disruption in supply from any individual region.
Another advantage of the global diversification of vanadium sources is that buyers can choose different vanadium grades depending on their project’s requirements. Different countries produce different grades of Vanadium Mined, meaning buyers can benefit in terms of cost savings and negotiation power when they order in bulk.
Wrap-up Vanadium Mined
Vanadium is a naturally occurring mineral used in various applications, including medicine, energy, aerospace, and automotive manufacturing. It’s produced in various grades in several regions, including China, Russia, South Africa, and Brazil, allowing buyers access to different grades.
The diversification of the global supply also reduces the impact of mining disruptions, providing buyers with alternatives in case of interruptions in production activities in one region of the world.
