Ferro-alloys are amalgamated metals with iron as the base. These are valued for their strength, and as a result they have become pretty significant in the age of commanding giant machines. Manganese is used for this purpose and hence its escalating importance.

The total recoverable stockpiles of manganese ore are 167 million tonnes. The primary reserves are located in Karnataka, followed by Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa. In 1997-98, production of manganese ore was 1.6 million tonnes.