Manganese is extracted by reduction of the oxide ores, pyrolusite, braunite and manganite. It is also obtained by electrolysis.
The metal itself, which is grey-pink, hard and brittle, is rarely used as such. It is however a constituent of spiegeleisen, ferromanganese, silico-manganese and certain alloy cast irons and alloy steels; these products normally fall in Chapter 72, but ferro-manganese and silico-manganese may sometimes fall in this heading if the iron content is very low (see Note 1 (c) to Chapter 72). Manganese is also alloyed with copper, nickel, aluminium, etc.
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