Where did the large Chiatura and Nikopol manganese deposits form?

The large manganese deposits at Chiatura and Nikopol formed in shallow, near-shore environments just north of the Black Sea approximately 35 million years ago during the Oligocene Epoch.1

These deposits are classified as chemical sediments, which are analogous to Minette-type iron deposits and are characterized by their oolitic structure. Together, these two sites contain an estimated 70 percent of the world's known high-grade manganese resources. While the city of Chiatura is located in central Georgia and Nikopol is situated in south-central Ukraine, their shared geological origin highlights the significant concentration of manganese in this specific region.123