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L. Fituni, I. Abramova Resource Potential of Africa and Russia's ...

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shore in many parts <strong>of</strong> the world. L<strong>and</strong>-based manganese resources<br />

are large but irregularly distributed. According to the Soviet estimates<br />

dating back to 1985, the Soviet Union used to have 51 percent<br />

<strong>of</strong> the world manganese reserves. Further 5 percent was found in<br />

South <strong>Africa</strong>. After the Soviet Union collapsed the main manganese<br />

deposits remained outside Russia – in Ukraine, Kazakhstan <strong>and</strong> in<br />

Georgia. The barbaric exploitation <strong>of</strong> the CIS located resources during<br />

the years which immediately followed the partition <strong>of</strong> the USSR<br />

brought about the exhaustion <strong>of</strong> once richest deposits <strong>of</strong> the world.<br />

What remained <strong>of</strong> the largest supplier <strong>of</strong> manganese ore now are low<br />

grade ore reserves which have to be upgraded for commercial use.<br />

The current estimates by the US Geological service allege that<br />

South <strong>Africa</strong> accounts for about 75% <strong>of</strong> the world’s identified manganese<br />

resources, <strong>and</strong> Ukraine accounts for 10%. The deposits in the<br />

United States are very low grade <strong>and</strong> have potentially high extraction<br />

costs. Manganese has no satisfactory substitute in its major applications.<br />

8<br />

Table 1.1.4. World manganese production <strong>and</strong> reserves 2009–2010<br />

Mine production 2009 2010<br />

23<br />

Reserves13<br />

Australia 2140 2400 93000<br />

Brazil 730 830 110000<br />

China 2400 2800 44000<br />

Gabon 881 1400 52000<br />

India 980 1100 56000<br />

Mexico 169 210 4000<br />

South <strong>Africa</strong> 1900 2200 120000<br />

Ukraine 375 580 140000<br />

Other countries 1240 1400 Small<br />

World total (rounded) 10800 13000 630000<br />

Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January<br />

2011. P. 101.<br />

The US depends on imports <strong>of</strong> manganese from overseas. The<br />

dependence on individual countries is as follows. All manganese

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