Manganese – Morocco
Locality: Morocco
Weight: 469,8g
Dimensions: 11,2 x 6,6 x 3,8 cm
| Category: | Manganese |
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Manganese Minerals from Morocco – Major Source of the Metallic Element Mn
Manganese, chemically designated as Mn, is a metallic element that occurs in nature primarily in the form of oxides. Morocco is one of the major sources of manganese minerals, especially in the southern and central parts of the country, with the most important deposits found in the Bou Arfa, Imini, and Ouarzazate areas. These deposits are an important source of raw material for metallurgy and industrial manganese use.
Mineralogy – Pyrolusite, Hausmannite, and Manganite
Many manganese minerals from Morocco, especially pyrolusite, hausmannite, and manganite, occur in very attractive crystalline form at local sites.
Pyrolusite is the most common manganese ore. It is characterized by its dark black to dark gray color, metallic luster, and hardness of 6–6.5. It often forms fine fibrous to columnar crystals or shiny crusts with a prominent metallic luster, making it an aesthetically striking mineral.
Hausmannite may form tetrahedral or tabular crystals, often with a pronounced submetallic luster and dark brown to black color.
Manganite in Morocco occurs as prismatic, longitudinally striated crystals, often grouped into star-shaped aggregates. It is known for its silver-gray color and luster, which enhance its visual appeal.
These minerals are often associated with quartz or barite, further enhancing their appearance. The Imini locality is renowned not only for the quantity but also for the quality of these aesthetic specimens, which are among the most visually impressive in the world.