Manganese Ore

Manganese is an essential steelmaking input with no satisfactory substitute. About 90-95% of global manganese ore production is consumed in iron and steel metallurgy, where it acts as a deoxidizer, desulphurizer, and alloying element that improves strength, toughness, hardness, and workability of steel.

Major Ore Minerals

• Pyrolusite (MnO₂) — Primary manganese dioxide ore; up to ~63% Mn
• Psilomelane — Manganese oxide with variable Ba, K, Na; typically 45-60% Mn
• Braunite (3Mn₂O₃.MnSiO₃) — ~62% Mn with ~10% SiO₂
• Manganite and rhodochrosite — Carbonate and oxide variants for specialty applications

Indian Deposits

Indian manganese deposits occur in Madhya Pradesh (Balaghat, Chhindwara, Jhabua), Maharashtra (Bhandara, Nagpur), Odisha (Sundargarh, Ganjam, Koraput), Gujarat (Panchmahal), and Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam), associated with Gondite and Kodurite Series formations.

Industry Grades (IS 11895:2006)

Classification	Mn %	Fe %	SiO2 %
Manganese ore	35 and above	-	-
Ferruginous manganese ore	Below 35	13 and above	Up to 25
Siliceous manganese ore	Below 35	-	20 min
Chemical grade (MnO2)	43.5 min	8 max	62 min MnO2

Applications

Ferromanganese and silicomanganese alloy production, direct steel addition, battery-grade manganese dioxide, ceramics, chemicals, and welding fluxes. Typical steel industry requirement: 28-35% Mn, size 10-40 mm.

Reference: BIS IS 11895:2006; Indian Bureau of Mines Manganese Ore 2019; IFAPA India manganese specifications.