Occurrence and Composition of Manganese Oxide Minerals From the Chikkanayakana Halli Manganese Deposit, Dharwar Craton, Southern India,

X-ray diffraction, ore microscopy and electron microphobe studies have been done on ore samples obtained the mine siteat chikkanayakana halli. Manganese ore minerals identified nsutite, cryptomelane, pyrolusite and lithiophorite, chemicalcomposition of minerals indicate by other elements quartz schistose rocks feature as gangue in most samples, textureare varied and modes of occurrence are metasedimentary manganese ores have been subjected to lateritoid manganeseores in weathered supracrustal rocks-phyllite and quartzite) occur as fracture/cavity filling along cracks, network of joints,schistosity/bedding planes, crevices and vugs and precipitation, mineral association seems rather complex, as a result of which definitive paragenetic relation could not be established. Supergene formation of the manganese oxide ore is shown by the abundance if manganese minerals in solution channels such as fractures and cavities within the silicate gangue much of the ore however, appears to have been enriched by leaching of gangue minerals and the later addition of manganese.Key word: Chikkanayakanahalli, Nsutite, cryptomelane, pyrolusite, lithiophorite.