Manganese ore. South Africa.

Manganese ore. South Africa.

Manganese ore can be quite complex in composition, however the known location and origin of these specimens is helpful. The specimens were collected from Hozatel mine, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Ore from this mine is described as Hozatel super grade, which has a manganese content of approximately 38% together with finely intergrown braunite and manganese carbonate. The pinkish areas in the specimens are the carbonate, and one specimen has an obvious iron content. Manganese ore was mined here till the 1980s when zones of ferruginization made it become economically unviable. The specimens were collected by a club member at about this time.