WHAT IS MANGANESE? Manganese is a micromineral (or trace element) that activates a number of enzymes in the body.  It also supports strong, healthy bones.  In this article I will be discussing manganese in greater detail. WHEN WAS MANGANESE DISCOVERED? One of the main ores of manganese is pyrolusite (a compound of manganese and oxygen – manganese dioxide).  Early artists used this ore in two ways; to give glass a purple colour and to remove colour from glass.  During the mid 1700s chemists started to suspect that pyrolusite may contain a new element and started to analyse it in more … [Read more...]