Manganese is a chemical element, designated by the chemical symbol “Mn”. It is found as a free element in nature (often in combination with iron) and could be found in many minerals. Manganese is the fourth most used metal in terms of tonnage, being ranked behind iron, aluminum and copper. Manganese ore is required in iron making to control the manganese content of the hot metal in the desired range. Manganese ores from different sources vary widely in their contents of manganese, iron, silica, alumina, lime, magnesia, and phosphorous.