way as that of ferromolybdenum. The smelting
charges were composed either with ferrous
vanadate, aluminium and lime/fluorspar or with
calcium vanadate, aluminium and iron oxide
(Fe202). In both cases compounds of the type
2 FeO. V205 or 2Ca0. V205 were preferred because
of their higher vanadium contents. The
powdered charge was intimately mixed, placed
in an open top magnesia lined steel reactor and
triggered with a potassium permanganate-glycerine
mixture. The aluminothermic reaction proceeded
as per the reactions