Manganese is a chemical element with the symbol Mn and atomic number of 25.
It is found as the free element in nature (often in combination with iron), and in many minerals.
Manganese ions are variously colored, and are used industrially as pigments and as oxidation chemicals.
Manganese (II) ions function as cofactors for a number of enzymes; the element is thus a required trace mineral for all known living organisms.
This is a list of countries by manganese ore mining in 2015, based on United States Geological Survey accessed in 2016.