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Comprehensive DGMS notes on the distribution, geology, and ore types of manganese deposits in India. Includes 25 solved MCQs for mining and geology exam preparation.

                 🔹 1. Introduction

Manganese is one of the most important ferro-alloy metals, essential for steel production, as it improves strength, hardness, and resistance to wear. India is among the top five producers of manganese ore globally.Manganese deposits are widely distributed across Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, and Andhra Pradesh.

🔹 2. Major Manganese Ore Minerals

Mineral	Formula	Manganese %	Characteristics
Pyrolusite	MnO₂	63.2%	Most important and common Mn ore
Psilomelane	(Ba,H₂O)₂Mn₅O₁₀	45–60%	Dark, hard, massive
Braunite	Mn₂SiO₄	50–55%	Silicate ore
Rhodonite	MnSiO₃	47–52%	Pink color, often ornamental
Hausmannite	Mn₃O₄	70–72%	Found in metamorphic terrains

🔹 3. Geological Setting & Mode of Occurrence

Manganese deposits in India occur mainly in:

• Precambrian rocks of metasedimentary origin.
  
• Lenses and bands within schists, quartzites, and limestones.
  
• Residual concentrations due to weathering of manganese-rich rocks.
  

These deposits are mostly hydrothermal and sedimentary-replacement types, associated with iron formations and basic volcanics.

🔹 4. Distribution of Manganese Deposits in India➡ Odisha:
Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Bolangir, and Koraput districts.
Important mines – Sukinda, Jajang, Barbil, and Bonaigarh.➡ Madhya Pradesh:
Deposits in Balaghat, Chhindwara, and Jabalpur.
Balaghat is one of the largest manganese-producing districts in India.➡ Maharashtra:
Found in Nagpur, Bhandara, and Ratnagiri districts.➡ Andhra Pradesh:
Deposits in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Cuddapah belts.➡ Goa:
Small but high-grade pockets of psilomelane and pyrolusite.

🔹 5. Economic Importance of Manganese

• Used in steel manufacturing (about 90% consumption).
  
• Essential for battery, glass, and chemical industries.
  
• Acts as a deoxidizer and desulphurizer in steelmaking.
  
• Critical for ferromanganese and silicomanganese production.
  

🔹 6. DGMS Quick Revision Table

State	Major Districts	Ore Type
Odisha	Keonjhar, Sundergarh	Pyrolusite, Psilomelane
Madhya Pradesh	Balaghat, Chhindwara	Braunite, Rhodonite
Maharashtra	Nagpur, Bhandara	Pyrolusite
Andhra Pradesh	Srikakulam	Mixed ores
Goa	North Goa	Psilomelane

🧠 7.  Objective Questions with Answers

1️⃣ Which is the chief manganese ore mineral?
a) Rhodonite
b) Psilomelane
c) Pyrolusite
d) Braunite
e) Hausmannite
✅ Answer: c) Pyrolusite

2️⃣ Which Indian state leads in manganese production?
a) Madhya Pradesh
b) Odisha
c) Maharashtra
d) Goa
e) Rajasthan
✅ Answer: b) Odisha

3️⃣ Manganese deposits of Balaghat are in —
a) Odisha
b) Madhya Pradesh
c) Chhattisgarh
d) Jharkhand
e) Andhra Pradesh
✅ Answer: b) Madhya Pradesh

4️⃣ Manganese is primarily used in —
a) Fertilizers
b) Steel industry
c) Glass manufacturing
d) Paints
✅ Answer: b) Steel industry

5️⃣ Which of the following is a silicate of manganese?
a) Psilomelane
b) Rhodonite
c) Pyrolusite
d) Hausmannite
✅ Answer: b) Rhodonite

6️⃣ The formula of Pyrolusite is —
a) MnO
b) MnO₂
c) Mn₃O₄
d) MnSiO₃
✅ Answer: b) MnO₂

7️⃣ The largest manganese-producing district in India is —
a) Keonjhar
b) Balaghat
c) Bhandara
d) Nagpur
✅ Answer: b) Balaghat

8️⃣ Which ore is dark and massive?
a) Psilomelane
b) Rhodonite
c) Braunite
d) Limonite
✅ Answer: a) Psilomelane

9️⃣ Manganese deposits are generally associated with —
a) Dolomites
b) Banded Iron Formations
c) Sandstones
d) Shales
✅ Answer: b) Banded Iron Formations

10️⃣ Keonjhar district is famous for —
a) Bauxite
b) Iron
c) Manganese
d) Copper
✅ Answer: c) Manganese

11️⃣ Manganese ore occurs mainly in which age rocks?
a) Recent
b) Cenozoic
c) Precambrian
d) Jurassic
✅ Answer: c) Precambrian

12️⃣ Hausmannite is found in —
a) Maharashtra
b) Odisha
c) Karnataka
d) Madhya Pradesh
✅ Answer: d) Madhya Pradesh

13️⃣ The main use of ferromanganese is in —
a) Paints
b) Ceramics
c) Alloy steel
d) Fertilizers
✅ Answer: c) Alloy steel

14️⃣ Which mineral is a hydrous oxide of manganese?
a) Psilomelane
b) Rhodonite
c) Pyrolusite
d) Braunite
✅ Answer: a) Psilomelane

15️⃣ The richest manganese deposits occur in —
a) Balaghat belt
b) Singhbhum belt
c) Dharwar belt
d) Salem belt
✅ Answer: a) Balaghat belt

16️⃣ Manganese improves steel —
a) Malleability
b) Hardness
c) Color
d) Conductivity
✅ Answer: b) Hardness

17️⃣ Manganese deposits are often associated with —
a) Iron ores
b) Limestone
c) Bauxite
d) Mica
✅ Answer: a) Iron ores

18️⃣ The chemical symbol of manganese is —
a) Ma
b) Mn
c) Mg
d) Mz
✅ Answer: b) Mn

19️⃣ Indian manganese ores are mainly of —
a) High grade
b) Medium grade
c) Low grade
✅ Answer: b) Medium grade

20️⃣ The color of rhodonite is —
a) Black
b) Pink
c) Blue
d) Yellow
✅ Answer: b) Pink

21️⃣ Important manganese mining area in Andhra Pradesh —
a) Cuddapah
b) Bellary
c) Daitari
d) Dalli-Rajhara
✅ Answer: a) Cuddapah

22️⃣ Which of these is not a manganese ore?
a) Pyrolusite
b) Braunite
c) Goethite
d) Rhodonite
✅ Answer: c) Goethite

23️⃣ The main manganese mineral associated with iron ore belts —
a) Rhodonite
b) Psilomelane
c) Hematite
✅ Answer: b) Psilomelane

24️⃣ Manganese deposits in India are mostly of —
a) Igneous origin
b) Metasedimentary origin
c) Plutonic origin
✅ Answer: b) Metasedimentary origin

25️⃣ Which mineral contains both barium and manganese?
a) Psilomelane
b) Pyrolusite
c) Braunite
✅ Answer: a) Psilomelane

🧾 8. Quick Recap

• Chief ore: Pyrolusite (MnO₂)
  
• Major states: Odisha, MP, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh
  
• Geological age: Precambrian metasediments
  
• Association: Iron formations and basic volcanics
  

                        🔚 9. Conclusion

Manganese forms a critical component of India’s mineral wealth. Found mainly in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, it serves as an essential alloying metal in steel and ferroalloy industries. Understanding its geological setting, ore types, and occurrence is vital for candidates appearing in DGMS Mining and Geology examinations.

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