Spectrographic Analysis for Vanadium in Kansas Clays

Abstract

The presence of minute quantities of soluble vanadium compounds in structural clay products made from some high-quality Kansas clays often causes a green or yellow discoloration which detracts from the sales value of the products. The Geochemistry Division of the State Geological Survey of Kansas is investigating methods of eliminating this objectionable discoloration. Colorimetric methods are inadequate for determination of the very small amounts of vanadium present in the clay and must be replaced by more accurate and precise methods. A spectrographic method of analysis which provides the needed accuracy and precision has been developed in the Survey laboratories and is described in this paper. Typical analyses of vanadium in several selected Kansas clays are given.