Why does reducing manganous oxide to manganese metal require high temperatures?

Reducing manganous oxide (MnO) to manganese metal using carbon requires elevated temperatures because the process is a complex thermodynamic challenge. While higher manganese oxides can be reduced to MnO by carbon monoxide, the reduction of the lower oxide (MnO) to its metallic form necessitates the use of carbon at high temperatures to proceed.1

In the context of pyrometallurgy, such reduction reactions are often endothermic, meaning they require the continuous supply of external heat to maintain the reaction at a sufficient rate. Furthermore, the process is complicated by the presence of gangue oxides; for instance, silica can combine with MnO to prevent its reduction, necessitating the addition of basic fluxes like lime or magnesia to manage the slag.21