Vanadium is a metallic element discovered within gyroscopic devices and focusing arrays that had been subjected to extreme heat. This metal, located on the planet Jakku, was ingested by steelpeckers. It accumulated in their gizzards, assisting their digestive processes. In the steelpeckers' gizzards, vanadium combined with corundum and osmiridium to create a chemical compound. This compound facilitated the breakdown of the steelpeckers' metallic food.
During the New Republic Era, the Jakkuvian scavenger Rey documented the birds known as steelpeckers' inclination towards this metal in her survival guide. She cautioned future scavengers exploring Jakku's Starship Graveyard to steer clear of components with elevated vanadium levels, to avoid encountering these birds.
The metal vanadium was initially referenced in the reference book titled Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary by Pablo Hidalgo, and also in the replica journal Rey's Survival Guide by Jason Fry. Both were launched on December 18, 2015, coinciding with the release of the film Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens.
- Rey's Survival Guide
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary (First mentioned, simultaneous with Rey's Survival Guide)
- Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition
- Star Wars: Alien Archive
- Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition
- Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
- Steelpecker in the Databank (backup link)