India has found promising concentrations of Vanadium in the Tamang and Depo areas of Arunachal Pradesh

The Geological Survey of India has found promising concentrations of Vanadium in the Tamang and Depo areas of Arunachal Pradesh.

About the finding

• Geological Survey of India (GSI) found promising concentrations of vanadium in the palaeo-proterozoic carbonaceous phyllite rocks in the Depo and Tamang areas of Arunachal Pradesh’s Papum Pare district.
• It is geologically similar to the “stone coal” vanadium deposits of China hosted in carbonaceous shale.
• This high vanadium content is associated with graphite with a fixed carbon content of up to 16%.

Significance

• According to data provided by GSI, India consumed 4% of about 84,000 metric tons of vanadium produced across the globe in 2017.
• China, which produces 57% of the world’s vanadium, consumed 44% of the metal.
• The vanadium finds in Arunachal Pradesh could help boost the local and national economy.

About Vanadium

• Vanadium in its pure form is a soft, grey, and ductile element primarily derived from mined iron ore, carbonaceous shale or phyllites and steel slag.
• It is recovered as a by-product from the slag collected from the processing of vanadiferous magnetite ores (iron ore).
• The symbol of Vanadium is V and atomic number 23.

Properties

• Vanadium alloys are durable in extreme temperature and environments and are corrosion resistant.
• Its addition improves the tensile strength of steel and of reinforcing bars used for buildings, tunnels, and bridges.

What is Vanadium?

• Vanadium is a by-product obtained from the processing of Vanadiferous magnetite ores. In its pure form, Vanadium is soft, ductile and grey in colour.

How much Vanadium reserves does India hold?

• According to Indian Bureau of Mines, the total estimated reserves of Vanadium in India is around 24.63 million tonnes.
• Of this, the estimated Vanadium Pentoxide is 64,594 tonnes.

What is the Vanadium consumption of India?

• India consumes 3,360 metric tonnes of vanadium annually.
• This is 4% of Vanadium consumed by the world. Globally, 84,000 tonnes of Vanadium is consumed annually.

What is the Vanadium production and consumption in China?

• China consumes 44% of world Vanadium production. And China produces 57% of the world Vanadium.

What are the characteristics of Vanadium?

• Vanadium alloys are durable in extreme environments.
• They are corrosion resistant.
• They improve tensile strength of steel and reinforce steel bars used for tunnels, buildings and bridges. Their atomic number is 23.

What are the major applications of Vanadium?

• The Vanadium Pentoxide is used as a catalyst in the production of Sulphuric acid.
• 85% of the Vanadium produced in the world are used as steel additive. Vanadium steel is used in gears, bicycle frames, axles and other critical components.
• Vanadium Dioxide is used in production of glass coatings that blocks infrared radiation.