Manganese Ore, Uses, Properties, Map, Importance, Distribution

Manganese Ore

Manganese is an important raw material used in the smelting of iron ore and in the production of ferroalloys. Manganese deposits can be found in nearly every geological formation. It is, however, primarily associated with the Dharwar system. Odisha is the leading manganese producer and major mines in Odisha are concentrated in the country’s central iron ore belt, specifically in Bonai, Kendujhar, Sundergarh, Gangpur, Koraput, Kalahandi, and Bolangir.

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What is Manganese?

Manganese is a ferroalloy metal. It is a hard, heavy, and silvery metal. It is exploited as ores as well as nodules on the deep seafloor. There are two types of manganese ores namely Pyrolusite and Psilomelane.

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Manganese Resources in India

In India, Manganese Ore deposits are primarily associated with the Gondite Series of Madhya Pradesh (Balaghat, Chhindwara, and Jhabua districts), Maharashtra (Bhandara and Nagpur districts), Gujarat (Panchmahal district), Odisha (Sundargarh district), and Andhra Pradesh (Ganjam and Koraput districts), and the Kodurite Series (Archaeans) (Srikakulam & Visakhapatnam districts).

In the country, both opencast and underground methods of manganese ore mining are used. There are 8 underground mines out of a total of 142. (3 in Madhya Pradesh and 5 in Maharashtra). MOIL Ltd, a government-owned company, ran seven underground mines, while M/s J.K. Minerals, Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh), a private company, ran one. The underground mines are all automated or mechanised.

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Manganese Ore Distribution in India Map

Below Map showing Manganese Ore deposits in India.

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Manganese Ore Distribution in India

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Manganese Ore Distribution in World

China is the largest manganese producer, followed by South Africa. Manganese is also widely distributed in India, Ghana, and Brazil.

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Manganese Ore Uses

Manganese has a variety of uses, including:

• Manganese is far too brittle to be valuable as a pure metal. It is primarily found in alloys such as steel.
• Steel contains about 1% manganese, which increases its strength. It also improves workability and resistance. It is used in railway tracks, safes, rifle barrels, and prison bars.
• It is used in various chemical industries as an oxidizer to prepare disinfectants and other chemicals.
• It is also used in making electric batteries, paints, and plastics.

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Manganese Ore Importance

Manganese ore is important for several reasons:

• Manganese is an extremely hard and brittle silvery grey mineral.
• It is always found with iron, laterite, and other minerals.
• Manganese alloys are an important component of steel production, and steel is one of the most important indicators of a country’s industrial economy’s growth.
• In recent years, the global trade volume of manganese ore has increased, including in India.
• India is currently one of the world’s largest manganese ore importers.

Manganese UPSC

India has a diverse range of mineral resources due to its diverse geological structure. India processes the world’s second-largest manganese reserves, after Zimbabwe. India is the world’s fifth-largest producer, trailing only China, Gabon, South Africa, and Australia. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka are the major manganese ore-producing states. Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh produce more than half of India’s manganese. This article will explain Manganese Resources in India, which will help you prepare for the UPSC Civil Service Exam in Geography.

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