Vanadium: It is hard to extract and because of metallurgical difficulties vanadium is relatively high-priced. The principal use of vanadium is in making alloy steels and iron. It increases strength ductility and resilience.
The United States produced 4.8 thousand metric tons of vanadium ore (V content) in 1985 against world total of 8 thousand metric tons. In the high Andes of Peru lie large deposits of vanadium ore, mineral chiefly from open pits. Union of South Africa produced 1.5 thousand metric tons of vanadium in 1988. The Union of South Africa (38%) is the largest producer of Vanadium. The United States, Russia, Finland, Namibia and Norway are other important producers.
Chromium: Chromite is essential for steel manufacture. The ore from which most chromium is derived is chromium (FeO. Cr2O2) which is dark in colour and infusible. It is used in the metallurgical and chemical industries. One of the common uses of chromium is in plating other metals.
World production of chromium amounted to 4 million metric tons in 1985. Russia is the leading producer of chromium in the world. The reserves are in the Central Ural Mountain area and in northwest in the Perm area known as Saranoy district. The total reserves have been estimated at 7 million metric tons. Union of South Africa is the biggest producer of Chromium in the world. Other producers are Albania, Turkey, Rhodesia, Finland, Philippines, India and Brazil.
In India deposits of economic significance occur in Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu. The total reserves are about 17 million tons.
Nickel: It is used in making stainless steel and for electroplating. Nickel is also used for making armaments for defense. Canada is the leading producer contributing about 20% of world total. Sudbury district of Ontario in Canada is the main producer. Russia is the second largest producer with mining centres in the Kola Peninsula and South Urals. Other producers of nickel are Cuba, Britain, Venezuela, New Caledonia and South Africa.
Norway has also some deposits of nickel ore. Cuba produced 7.5 thousand metric tons in 1988. The U.S.A consumes about 50 per cent of world's supply of nickel, Russia 15 percent, Germany 10 percent and U.K. 8 percent. Canada supplies about 85 per cent of the world's total demand for Nickel.
In India Nickel ore is found in the Cuttack and Mayurbhanj districts of Orissa. The total reserves are placed at 59 million tonnes of which 41 million tonnes are in Kansa block and 15 million tones in Saruabil-Sukarangi area.
Zaire in Central Africa is the world's largest producer of Cobalt accounting for more than half of the world production. Other producers are the USA, Canada, Russia, Morocco, New Caledonia, Australia and Zambia.
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