Manganese Ore

Content maintained by Michael Sexton

• Manganese Ore
• Resources
• Accessible EDR
• JORC Reserves
• Exploration
• Production
• World Ranking
• Industry Developments

Manganese (Mn) is the twelfth most abundant element in the Earth's crust. Of approximately 300 minerals containing manganese, only about a dozen are of economic significance. The two main manganese minerals are pyrolusite (MnO₂) and rhodochrosite (MnCO₃). Manganese is the fourth most used metal in terms of tonnage after iron, aluminium and copper. Manganese is essential to iron and steel production by virtue of its sulphur-fixing, deoxidising and alloying properties. After its application in steel production, the most important market for manganese is dry cell batteries in the form of electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD). It is an additive also in plant fertilisers and animal feed and as a colorant for bricks.

In Australia, there are three operating mines and one tailings re-treatment plant. The Woodie Woodie mine is located about 400 kilometres (km) south east of Port Hedland in Western Australia (WA). A manganese tailings processing plant also operates near the Woodie Woodie mine. The Northern Territory (NT) has two manganese mines, on Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and at Bootu Creek 110km north of Tennant Creek.

Manganese ore processing plants are operated by TEMCO at Bell Bay in Tasmania (Tas) and by Delta plc at Newcastle in New South Wales (NSW).

In 2010, Australia's Economic Demonstrated Resources (EDR) of manganese ore increased by 2.2% to 185 million tonnes (Mt), mainly because of rises in EDR at Woodie Woodie and Bootu Creek (Table 4). Paramarginal Demonstrated Resources (PDR) remained unchanged at 23Mt and Submarginal Demonstrated Resources (SDR) also remained unchanged at 167Mt. Inferred Resources decreased 1.5% to 132Mt, mainly because of a reduction of Inferred Resources at the Woodie Woodie deposit.

All manganese ore EDR (185Mt) is accessible. The resource life is about 14 years at current rates of production of beneficiated manganese ore.

Manganese ore Joint Ore Reserve Committee (JORC) Code reserves are 144Mt (78% of accessible EDR). The resource life based on JORC reserves, and at the current rate of production of beneficiated manganese ore, is about 11 years.

Data relating to exploration expenditure for manganese are not published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on either a State or National basis.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) reported that Australia produced 6.5Mt of beneficiated manganese ore in 2010 (4.5Mt 2009). Exports of manganese ores for 2010 totalled 5.5Mt valued at $1509 million (4.7Mt at $999 million in 2009).

Australia has 11% of the world's EDR of manganese ore and is ranked fifth behind the Ukraine (25%), South Africa (16%), Brazil (15%) and China (14%). Australia produces 16% of the world's manganese ore and is ranked second behind China (35%).

Northern Territory

GEMCO: In 2010 the installed plant capacity at GEMCO was 4.1 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of manganese concentrates. During 2010 the company's annual production record was achieved, with 3.1Mt of saleable manganese ore produced by the Groote Eylandt mine.

OM Holdings Ltd: The September and December quarters of 2010 saw record production rates of approximately 230 kilotonne (kt) in each quarter, leading to a record total production rate of 830 kilotonne per annum (ktpa) for the Bootu Creek mine in 2010. OM Holdings is planning an aggressive exploration program to replace the scheduled 2.5Mt of resource that will be mined and processed at Bootu Creek and will target resources at Renner Springs and Helen Springs.

Western Australia

Consolidated Minerals Ltd: The Woodie Woodie mine has a heavy media separation plant which has increased mine capacity to 2.5Mtpa. The plant produces lump products which are transported to Port Hedland where blending occurs prior to shipment overseas. The Woodie Woodie product has high manganese content and very low phosphorus, while having very low degradation and high thermal stability.

Mineral Resources Ltd: A 400ktpa tailings re-treatment plant operates at Woodie Woodie and a 240ktpa plant operates at Peak Hill. The project produces a greater than 50% ferruginous manganese product for export through Port Headland. The collaborative project with Hancock Prospecting at Nicholas Downs had its first shipment of 25kt of manganese ore depart for China in November 2010.

Mesa Minerals Ltd: The Ant Hill project is located 400km south of Port Hedland. The trial shipments of ore to Chinese customers received positive feedback. However, the mine has remained on care and maintenance since February 2010.