All about manganese ores

The supply of manganese ore is made up of ores of varying grades. A distinction is made between, on the one hand, the supply of ore grading over 25% contained manganese and intended for export, and, on the other hand, the supply of low-grade ore that is consumed and processed locally.

Exportable ores fall into two categories: “high-grade” ores (over 44% manganese content) and “medium-grade” ores (below 44% manganese content), which may be oxidized or “semi-carbonated”.

Although all these ore grades are used jointly by alloy producers, high-grade ore offers a technical advantage, known as “use value”, that is greater than its high manganese content alone.

Benefits

Le produit est doté d’une réactivité très élevée permettant une réduction importante de la consommation d’énergie associé à une productivité très élevée dans le four

La faible teneur en Fe augmentera la productivité du four.

Medium SiO2 and Al2O3 contents facilitate furnace operation by providing the necessary fluxes.

Low CaO MgO content reduces excess slag.

Its mineralogical characteristics facilitate the reduction process, reducing electricity and reductant (metallurgical coke) consumption, and lowering CO2 emissions compared with other, less rich grades.

Le minerai extrait par Comilog a naturellement une très faible teneur en bore (environ 10 ppm) qui permet de limiter les problèmes de fragilisation et améliorer la qualité des pièces soudées.

Il est utilisé dans la production d’alliages nécessaires à des applications telles que les pipelines ou la construction navale.

Manganese ore production in figures

7,4 Mt
of manganese ore produced by Eramet’s mine in Gabon

18 %
of the world’s manganese ore is produced by Eramet

34 %
of the world’s high-grade manganese ore produced by Eramet

The different products

Lumpy ores

Our lumpy ores are available in two product ranges:

MMA, a rock ore with a very high manganese content, with its very low iron content, is specifically designed for the production of ferromanganese (FeMn).

MMA is low in slag-making components (SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, MgO).

MMD, a rocky ore with a high manganese and silica content, is ideally suited to the production of silicomanganese (SiMn).

Fines

Our fines are available in two product ranges

Metallurgical products with F2 & F3 fines:

With their high manganese content, our fines have been designed for the production of SiMn. This product is used in particular to improve process performance (less waste, lower energy consumption), especially in the production of agglomerates.

HM

Products for the chemical industry, with HM:

HM is a very high-grade product: over 51% Mn and over 81% MnO2 thanks to an enrichment process. This quality is required in the battery, animal feed, water treatment and other niche markets.

This high-quality, highly reactive product is excellent for improving production performance (high productivity, low operating costs, less waste).

Sinter

Sinter

Sinter is an agglomerated material with a high manganese content, designed for the production of SiMn and FeMn.

Its chemical composition (SiO2, Al2O3) and physical properties (dry and stable at high temperatures, 1200°C) give it exceptional quality in terms of permeability, stability and productivity. Its low iron content makes it a good complementary product for rich ferrous ores, and its relatively high Al2O3 content improves metal yields and furnace lining life.

Its sizing provides a wide range of sizes, creating a highly permeable structure that enhances the pre-reduction process.

Eramet and manganese

The Group is the world’s leading producer of this mineral, used in particular in the construction and automotive sectors.

Our manganese alloys

Eramet is the world’s second-largest producer of manganese alloys. Its production capacity is spread over three continents via subsidiaries in the United States, Norway, France and Gabon.