Where Is It Produced?

Much of the world's vanadium production is sourced from vanadium-bearing magnetite found in ultramafic gabbro bodies. Vanadium is mined mostly in South Africa, north-western China, and eastern Russia. In 2007 these three countries mined more than 95 % of the 58,600 tonnes of produced vanadium.

XSTRATA RHOVAN MINE, SOUTH AFRICA

Vanadium is also present in bauxite and in fossil fuel deposits such as crude oil, coal, oil shale and tar sands. In crude oil, concentrations up to 1200 ppm have been reported. When such oil products are burned, the traces of vanadium may initiate corrosion in motors and boilers. An estimated 110,000 tonnes of vanadium per year are released into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. Vanadium has also been detected spectroscopically in light from the Sun and some other stars.

North American produced Vandium comes predominantly as a by product of crude oil, coal, oil shale and tar sands and represents about 2% supply, the other 98% is imported. "The (Chinese) government has also issued a policy that encourages the use of steel strengthened by vanadium" Source: Finance Asia

Apella's Vanadium deposits represent the first potential domestic supply of Vanadium inside North America. This supply could power North American economies through steel production and emerging green technologies expected to utilize vanadium. Furthermore, steel makers that have Iron ore naturally rich in Vanadium do not need to artificially strengthen the steel. Both of Apella's Vanadium deposits contain a perfect ratio of high grade Iron and Vanadium for this purpose. The initial or main process of the production suggested for Apella is also environmentally friendly.