What is Manganese?

The Chemical Element Manganese

Manganese is a chemical element found in many minerals, usually in combination with iron.

This hard, brittle, silvery-grey metal is essential for the production of iron and steel.

When exposed to air, manganese tarnishes slowly, and with prolonged exposure to moisture, it rusts. When used as an alloy in aluminium, manganese reduces corrosion.

After iron, manganese is the second most abundant heavy metal in Earth’s crust. Heavy metals are those with a relatively high density.

Manganese compounds were used by glass makers in ancient Greece and Rome to add or remove colour from glass.

Cave paintings in France, believed to be 30,000 to 24,000 years old, also contain manganese pigments.

Article Picture

Quartz and manganese oxide: Courtesy of Ron Wolf