Vanadium is one of a very few metals which is available commercially as crystals. The making of metallic crystals requires stock of very high purity; which is both costly to achieve and not typically necessary for most industrial uses. On the surface, vanadium does not fit the profile as the bulk of the demand goes into preparing stainless steel. However, vanadium is also a staple of laboratories as the element receives a lot of research attention to expand the palette of potential uses. Unlike industrial applications, labs do require high purity levels. And so refineries have invested in scaling up delivery of these crystals.

For this presentation dome a cluster of big crystals has been selected the better to show off the intricate nature of its crystalline lattices. The entire sample is is permanently sealed in argon gas to prevent oxidation of this rather delicate metal.