Manganese Ore

Content maintained by Ron Sait

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

Manganese is the twelfth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and accounts for about 0.1% of its composition. Manganese is found in many minerals but the two main manganese minerals are pyrolusite (MnO₂) and rhodochrosite (MnCO₃). Manganese is essential to iron and steel making because of its sulphur fixing, deoxidising and alloying properties as well as its low cost. About 90% of manganese production is used in manufacturing iron and steel, resulting in it being the fourth most used metal in terms of tonnage after iron, aluminium and copper. The most important use of manganese after iron and steel is in dry cell batteries in the form of electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD). Manganese is important also as an alloying element in aluminium and copper and is an essential trace nutrient in plant fertilisers and animal feeds. Manganese compounds are used as pigments and for colouring ceramics and glass.

In Australia, there are two operations in the Northern Territory, one on Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria and another at Bootu Creek 110 km north of Tennant Creek. There are three operations also in Western Australia, two at the Woodie Woodie mine about 400 km southeast of Port Hedland and another at Peak Hill 600 km south of Port Hedland. Manganese ore processing plants are operated by TEMCO at Bell Bay in Tasmania and by Delta plc at Newcastle in New South Wales.

In 2008, Australia's Economic Demonstrated Resources (EDR) of manganese ore increased by 9.9% to 181 Million tonnes (Mt) with increases in EDR at Balfour Downs and Bootu Creek. Paramarginal demonstrated resources (PDR) remained unchanged at 23 Mt and subeconomic demonstrated resources (SDR) also remained unchanged at 167 Mt. Inferred resources decreased 2.9% to 133 Mt mainly as a result of a decrease at Balfour Downs.

All manganese ore EDR (181 Mt) is accessible. The resource life is about 19 years at current rates of production of beneficiated manganese ore.

Manganese ore JORC reserves are 152 Mt (84% of accessible EDR). The resource life based on JORC reserves and at the current rate of production of beneficiated manganese ore is about 16 years.

Data relating to exploration expenditure for manganese are not published by ABS on either a state or national basis. Companies which are actively exploring for manganese include Shaw River Resources at the Baramine Project, Monax Mining at the Waddikee Project, Spitfire Resources at the South Woodie Woodie Project and Aurora Minerals at the Capricorn Project.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) reported that Australia produced 4.8 Mt of beneficiated manganese ore in 2008 (5.2 Mt 2007). Exports for 2008 totalled 4 Mt (4.8 Mt 2007) valued at $2,021 million ($712 million 2007).

Australia has 13% of the world's EDR of manganese ore and is ranked fourth behind Ukraine (30%), South Africa (15%) and China (15%). Australia produces 12% of the world's manganese ore and is ranked third behind China (34%) and South Africa (16%).

Northern Territory

GEMCO: The US$180 million expansion project on Groote Eylandt is expected to be completed in the first half of 2009. The installed capacity is planned to increase by one million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) to 4.1 Mtpa of manganese concentrates. In 2008 work was completed on Tailing Storage Facility 9 (or Dam 9) to replace dams which were nearing full capacity. In late 2008 the rehabilitation of Dam 5 and F3 quarry commenced to restore about 80 hectares of land. During 2009, GEMCO plans to explore for manganese ore in its eastern leases in an attempt to extend the life of the mine.

OM Holdings Ltd: At Bootu Creek the process plant performance during 2008 demonstrated an annualised production rate of 700 kilotonne per annum (ktpa) of manganese concentrate which is above the design capacity of 550 ktpa. In August 2008, approval was given to construct a crushing and reprocessing plant for the heavy media drum plant rejects. The A$12.6 million project will increase capacity to about 800 ktpa. The Muckaty rail siding extension has been postponed and is now planned to be completed when the additional rail capacity is required. A new contractor who commenced in December 2008 with new and larger mining equipment has improved productivity.

Western Australia

Consolidated Minerals Ltd: In January 2008 Palmary Enterprises (Australia) Pty Ltd acquired 100% of Consolidated Minerals Ltd. HWE Mining Ltd removed 3.15 million bank cubic metres of waste at a number of open-pits at the Woodie Woodie mine. Ore is processed through a heavy media separation plant to produce a lump and fine product which is loaded into road trains with 90 tonnes capacity for transportation to Port Hedland.

Mineral Resources Ltd: A 400 ktpa tailings re-treatment plant operates at Woodie Woodie. In May 2008 a 240 ktpa operation commenced at Peak Hill. The project produces a +50% ferruginous manganese product for export through Port Hedland. In August 2008 Mineral Resources Ltd and the Hancock Balfour Downs Pty Ltd/Gaynor Park Pty Ltd of the Hancock Prospecting Group entered into an agreement to develop the Balfour Downs manganese deposit in the East Pilbara region. Initially the project is expected to produce up to 350 ktpa of manganese concentrates.

Hi-Tec Energy Ltd: In April 2008 the Mesa Mining Joint Venture was formed between Hi-Tec Energy (50%) and Auvez Resources Ltd (50%) to develop the Sunday Hill and Ant Hill manganese resources. In late December 2008, a 30 kilotonne (kt) trial shipment of ore from Ant Hill was awaiting transportation to Port Hedland. The Mesa Mining Joint Venture plans to mine 200 ktpa of ore from late 2009. Hi-Tec Energy plan to construct a 20 ktpa granulated manganese sulphate plant at Port Hedland at a cost of around A$20 million. The plant would process low grade fines from Ant Hill. Hi-Tec also plans to produce 27 ktpa of a micronutrient fertiliser using the tailings material from the Port Hedland plant.