Thermal characteristics of the vanadates of zinc, manganese and silver have been studied by DTA and TG techniques and the different transition products thus obtained have been characterised by IR, X-ray diffraction and magnetic susceptibility data. Chemical analyses indicate the following compositions of these vanadates: (1) Zn2V2O7.5H2O, (2) Zn3(VO4)2.3H2O, (3) Mn(VO3)2.2H2O and (4) Ag3VO4. The DTA curves indicate that zinc pyrovanadate undergoes endothermic changes at 110–195, 265, 365, 440, 660° and one exothermic change at 485°. This system is diamagnetic which becomes completely paramagnetic after 660°. Zinc orthovanadate exhibits a number of endothermic peaks at 300, 470, 700, 815 and 930° respectively. This system is feebly paramagnetic and retains this property up to 930°. Manganese metavanadate undergoes endothermic changes at 240, 280–590, 830 and 880° respectively. This vanadate is paramagnetic and paramagnetism increases appreciably at 590° and remains constant up 830°. Silver orthovanadate exhibits three endothermic changes at 180, 455 and 640°, respectively.