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Manganese

Manganese is a hard, brittle, silvery-grey metallic element that is essential to iron and steel production and serves as a key alloying agent in metallurgy. It is the twelfth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and is never found as a free metal in nature, occurring instead in minerals such as pyrolusite, rhodochrosite and braunite. The metal is primarily extracted through mining of manganese ores, which are then processed into ferromanganese and silicomanganese alloys used in steelmaking to improve strength, toughness and resistance to wear. Approximately 90% of global manganese production is consumed by the steel industry, where it acts as a deoxidiser and desulphuriser, whilst the remaining 10% finds applications in batteries, fertilisers, pigments and chemical compounds. South Africa, Australia, Gabon and China are among the world's leading producers, with South Africa's Kalahari manganese field in the Northern Cape representing one of the largest known reserves. The element is also gaining strategic importance in the battery minerals sector, particularly for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, where manganese-rich cathode chemistries offer cost and safety advantages. Manganese dioxide is a critical component in alkaline batteries and is being explored for use in next-generation energy storage systems. The metal is typically graded by manganese content, with high-grade ores containing more than 44% manganese being preferred for metallurgical applications. Demand for manganese is closely tied to global steel production trends, infrastructure development and the energy transition, making it a commodity of enduring industrial and economic significance.

Manganese News


Image of manganese ore
Chvaletice manganese project, Czech Republic
Updated 7 hours ago By: Sheila Barradas

The project will reprocess manganese-bearing tailings from a decommissioned mine that operated from 1951 to 1975.  


An image of the chemical binder being used at a mining site
Binder helps with dust control, briquetting and beneficiation
Updated 7 hours ago By: Trent Roebeck

Mineral ore fines can create environmental concerns, such as fugitive dust, which can result in air pollution and, potentially, water pollution, owing to hazardous leachate from large waste dumps.... 


South32 COO Africa Noel Pillay.
Alcoa is well positioned to operate South Africa’s Hillside Aluminium, says Pillay
Updated 7 hours ago By: Martin Creamer

As a global producer of materials across the aluminium value chain, Alcoa Corporation is well positioned to operate South Africa’s Hillside Aluminium business into the future, South32 COO Africa... 


Minerals Council South Africa economist André Lourens
South Africa's mine production weakens as commodity price support starts to fade – council
16th July 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

Minerals Council South Africa economist André Lourens notes that the country's mining output contracted the first time in five months in May, which "proved particularly challenging on two fronts".... 


CMC appoints GreenMet as strategic development partner for North American Critical Manganese Alliance
CMC appoints GreenMet as strategic development partner for North American Critical Manganese Alliance
16th July 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

Exploration and development company Canadian Manganese Company (CMC) and financial services company GreenMet have announced the execution of a strategic development and capital formation letter of... 


A man underground wearing hard hat and light operating a hand drill
Mining boom drives African infrastructure growth
10th July 2026 By: Halima Frost

The increased interest in mining, to fulfil global minerals demand, has initiated the establishment of crucial logistics corridors as well as achieved a boost in investment in power projects in... 


Aerial view of the Hermosa project
Hermosa zinc/lead/silver project, US – update
10th July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

The US Forest Service has released a final record of decision. 


Exxaro CEO Ben Magara.
Exxaro displays major wind, solar achievement without shrinking coal
10th July 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Impressive renewable-energy advances were graphically displayed by coal major Exxaro during its Capital Day on Monday, June 22. The first was a wind turbine involving 600 m3 of concrete in a 25 m... 


Image of rare earths
Zandkopsdrift magnet rare earths and manganese project, South Africa – update
10th July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

The definitive feasibility study is under way and scheduled for completion in the first half of 2027. 


South32's Hermosa project site
South32 garners enviro go-ahead for Hermosa critical minerals project in Arizona
8th July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

The US Forest Service has released a final record of decision for diversified miner South32's Hermosa critical minerals project, in Arizona, completing the federal National Environmental Policy Act... 


Mining cost pressures accelerated in May as energy shock took hold
Mining cost pressures accelerated in May as energy shock took hold
3rd July 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

Minerals Council South Africa has reported that mining input cost pressures accelerated sharply in May, reflecting the transmission of higher global energy prices into the South African economy... 


New South32 CEO Matt Daley.
New South32 CEO sees strong growth ahead in zinc, lead, silver, copper
3rd July 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Being a premier base metals-focused business with strong growth potential is the vision for South32 of new CEO Matt Daley. “We've got around 55% production growth over the next handful of years in... 


A generic image of smelter operations
Transalloys warns of permanent closure of South Africa’s last manganese smelter
2nd July 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

Manganese ferroalloys producer Transalloys has fully stopped its ferroalloys production in Mpumalanga on July 1, with no indication of when operations may resume. The company highlights that the... 


South32 COO Africa Noel Pillay.
Alcoa is well positioned to operate South Africa’s Hillside Aluminium, says Pillay
1st July 2026 By: Martin Creamer

As a global producer of materials across the aluminium value chain, Alcoa Corporation is well positioned to operate South Africa’s Hillside Aluminium business into the future, South32 COO Africa... 


Huawei Southern Africa OpenLab
Huawei South Africa OpenLab brings digital mining solutions closer to local industry
30th June 2026

South Africa’s mining industry is moving digital transformation from abstract ambition to practical application. The sector’s priorities are clear: safer underground working environments, better... 


a mini excavator
Automation, efficiency drive equipment demand
26th June 2026 By: Devina Haripersad

Productivity, automation, safety and sustainability initiatives are increasingly shaping investment decisions in South Africa’s earthmoving and surface mining equipment sector, says diesel engine... 


Battery-grade high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) plant in Mbombela.
South Africa’s battery materials supply status surges ahead with new MMC plant
26th June 2026 By: Martin Creamer

South Africa’s supply status in the rapidly evolving and increasingly geopolitically fragmented battery materials market has taken a major leap forward with the completion of the construction by... 


Frontier Rare Earths CEO James Kenny.
South Africa’s Zandkopsdrift rare earths project highlighted at Junior Indaba
26th June 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The Zandkopsdrift rare earths project in South Africa’s endowed Northern Cape was highlighted on day two of the Junior Indaba, which also learnt of the rapid forward momentum of West Wits Mining’s... 


a motor grader
Made-in-SA grader awarded accolade
26th June 2026 By: Devina Haripersad

A motor grader range engineered and manufactured by South African heavy equipment manufacturer Bell Equipment received the Innovation for Surface Mining Award at the Mining Equipment Manufacturers... 


Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau
dtic exceeds investment target by 44%, talks up vast economic potential
24th June 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

During his budget vote address on June 23, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau noted that the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) and its entities attracted... 


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