Vanadium APEX Mineral

Vanadium (V #23) is the next element on the periodic table for my APEX mineral collection. 

Wikipedia Vanadium

Vanadium Minerals - There are lots of minor Vanadium minerals.

Barnesite (Na2V6O16•3(H2O)) with 46% Vanadium is my APEX Mineral.  Barnesite only exists as a deposited encrustation on top of other minerals.  Yes, it has Hydration which I'm trying to avoid but it seems most Vanadium minerals are Hydrated.  

Vanadium proved difficult to isolate due to its complex chemistry.  An isolation process was not discovered until 1867. 

Vanadium or its minerals has no historical usage before the 19th century.

Vanadium makes a great chemistry indicator because it has four oxidation states which can be displayed as four different colors in aqueous solution.  [lilac, green, blue, yellow].

Vanadium is mostly used as an alloy to improve steels

Vanadium is critical to some enzymes.  Organisms needing these enzymes will typically accumulate Vanadium in much higher concentrations than the surrounding environment.