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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


Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators research specialist Dr Amy Kahn.
Is South African mining’s modernisation urgency falling largely on deaf ears?
6th August 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Despite South African mining ending up tenth in a ten-country global benchmarking exercise, two-thirds of the respondents who participated in a survey appear to be more intent on just doing the... 


Manganese ore on a conveyor
Element25 subsidiary signs manganese offtake deal with OM Materials
3rd August 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

ASX-listed Element25's Butcherbird Operations subsidiary has entered into a binding long-term offtake agreement with manganese alloy producer OM Materials for all of the manganese concentrate... 


The Tshipi manganese mine
Jupiter reports strong fourth-quarter output, sales
31st July 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

ASX-listed Jupiter Mines, which holds a 49.9% beneficial interest in Tshipi é Ntle Manganese Mining – the operator of the Tshipi manganese mine in South Africa's Northern Cape province – achieved... 


Creamer Media over for Africa Mining Pip 2026 report
Africa Mining Projects in Progress 2026
30th July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Africa has a large and varied mining project pipeline, with projects at different stages of development, from early exploration and study work to financing, construction and expansion. These... 


Magazine cover image
AI could unlock discoveries if geologists stay in control
24th July 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

The increasing uptake of AI in many spheres of life has also extended to geology, where it has found several applications with varying degrees of success, although there are myriad ethical, safety... 


A map indicating the global distribution and regional exposure profile of baseline water stress for mining and metals facilities
Competition for water resources a risk to the global energy transition, warns ICMM
22nd July 2026 By: Chanel de Bruyn

Mining and metals advocacy group the ICMM warns that water availability could, in many regions, act as a constraint on the development of new mines and related facilities, particularly for the... 


The manganese symbol on a periodic table
Eramet signs MoU with Gabon on manganese ore processing
21st July 2026 By: Reuters

Eramet and its Gabonese subsidiary Eramet Comilog signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday with the Gabonese government, targeting a road map to enable the processing of up to 700... 


South32 delivers strong operating results, accelerates portfolio transition
South32 delivers strong operating results, accelerates portfolio transition
20th July 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

In its latest quarterly report, diversified miner South32 CEO Matt Daley says the group continued to deliver strong operating results, exceeding group production guidance for the financial year... 


Image of manganese ore
Chvaletice manganese project, Czech Republic
17th July 2026 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
17th July 2026 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
17th 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... 


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... 


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