Samples of modern wool, silk, and cotton woven fabrics were mordanted with five common dyeing mordants: potassium aluminum sulfate, cupric sulfate, ferrous sulfate, stannous chloride and potassium dichromate. Samples were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and metallic elements detected by energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS). The results and limitations of the detection process are discussed and compared to other analytical procedures. The application of this procedure to historical textiles for analysis of metallic mordants and certain dyes is discussed.