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Environmental Biogeochemistry Research Group | Research Themes

Manganese geochemistry, mineralogy & deposits

With twenty years experience of examining manganese oxide minerals and ore deposits in both modern and ancient environments Dr Nicholson is recognised as an international expert in this field. Of particular note in his work is the development of diagnostic mineralogical and geochemical signatures to aid genetic interpretation, the use of manganese minerals as a guide to base metal and precious metal deposits, and more recently the application of the surface properties of manganese oxides as a medium in water treatment.

NICHOLSON, K. , HEIN, J.R., BÜHN, B. and GUPTA, S. (1997). (Editors). Manganese Mineralization. Geological Society Publishing House, London 352pp, ISBN 1-897799-74-8.

NICHOLSON, K., HEIN, J.R., BÜHN, B. and GUPTA, S. (1997). Precambrian to modern manganese mineralization: changes in ore type and depositional environment. In: NICHOLSON, K. , HEIN, J.R., BÜHN, B. and GUPTA, S. (Editors). Manganese Mineralization. Geological Society Publishing House (London), 1-3.

NICHOLSON, K. (1992). Contrasting mineralogical-geochemical signatures of manganese oxides: guides to metallogenesis. Econ. Geol., 87, 1253-1264.

NICHOLSON, K. (1992). Genetic types of manganese oxide deposits in Scotland: Indicators of paleo-ocean spreading rate and a Devonian geochemical mobility boundary. Econ. Geol., 87, 1301-1309.

Manganese ores of Scotland
A complete examination of all significant accumulations of manganese minerals in Scotland showed a range of deposit types and ages from Precambrian to Quaternary. The minerals also hold key information regarding the evolution of Scotland and provide estimates of the width of the Iapetus Ocean, and illustrate how the environmental chemistry of the earth changed in post-Devonian time with plant colonisation of the land surface.

NICHOLSON, K. (1986). Geochemistry and mineralogy of iron and manganese veins, Arndilly, Banffshire. Scott. J. Geol., 22, 213-224.

NICHOLSON, K. and DURANT, G.P. (1986). Fluorite-baryte-calcite-dolomite-iron-manganese mineralisation at Craigmuschat Quarry, Gourock: A historical review. Scott. J. Geol., 22, 299-302.

NICHOLSON, K. (1987). Ironstone-Gossan discrimination: Pitfalls of a simple geochemical approach - A case study from NE Scotland. J. Geochem. Explor., 27, 239-257.

NICHOLSON, K. (1987). Rhodochrosite from Islay, Argyllshire, and Dalroy, Inverness-shire, Scotland. Mineralog. Mag., 51, 677-680.

NICHOLSON, K. (1988). Birnessite from Gourock, Renfrewshire, Scotland. Mineralog. Mag., 52, 415.

NICHOLSON, K. (1988). An ancient manganese-iron deposit of freshwater origin, Islay, Argyllshire. Scott. J. Geol., 24, 175-187.

NICHOLSON, K. (1988). Manganese cemented Quaternary gravels: birnessite, lithiophorite and quenselite from an example in Wigtownshire. Scott. J. Geol., 24, 194-200.

NICHOLSON, K. (1988). Geothermal deposits in ancient terrain as a tool in epithermal gold exploration: examples from Scotland. In: McKibbin (ed.) Proc. 10th New Zealand Geothermal Workshop, Auckland University Press, Auckland, ISBN 0-86869-026-0, 151-153.

NICHOLSON, K. (1988). Geochemistry of manganese oxides as a guide to ore deposits. In: Geol. Soc. N.Z. misc. publ. 41a, 112.

NICHOLSON, K. (1989). Ironstone-Gossan discrimination: Pitfalls of a simple geochemical approach - A case study from NE Scotland: discussion. J. Geochem. Explor., 31, 203-205.

NICHOLSON, K. (1989). Manganese minerals in Scotland. Scott. J. Geol., 25, 125-142.

NICHOLSON, K. (1989). Manganese oxides from the British Isles. Mineral. Mag., 53,.637-638.

NICHOLSON, K. (1990). Stratiform manganese mineralisation near Inverness, Scotland: A Devonian sublacustrine hot-spring deposit?. Mineralium Deposita, 25, 126-131.

NICHOLSON, K. (1992). Contrasting mineralogical-geochemical signatures of manganese oxides: guides to metallogenesis. Econ. Geol., 87, 1253-1264.

NICHOLSON, K. (1992). Genetic types of manganese oxide deposits in Scotland: Indicators of paleo-ocean spreading rate and a Devonian geochemical mobility boundary. Econ. Geol., 87, 1301-1309.

Manganese oxides in water treatment plants: deposition, mineralogy and metal adsorption properties

A series of projects dedicated to the evaluation of the processes of manganese oxide deposition in water treatment plants and the application of this material to metal removal from waters and effluents under a range of conditions. The study also has implications for factors controlling the formation of given manganese oxide minerals from multi-metal solutions.

ELEY, M. and NICHOLSON, K. (1993). Chemistry and adsorption-desorption properties of manganese oxides deposited in Forehill Water Treatment Plant, Grampian, Scotland. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 15, 85-91.

NICHOLSON, K., and ELEY, M. (1997), J.K. Manganese oxide geochemistry: metal adsorption in freshwater and marine environments. In: NICHOLSON, K. , HEIN, J.R., BÜHN, B. and GUPTA, S. (Editors). Manganese Mineralization. Geological Society Publishing House (London), 309-326.

THOMSON, B., YORDANOV, R., LITTLEJOHN, J. and NICHOLSON, K. (1995). Chemistry of biogenic manganese oxides from a water treatment plant, Grampian. 13th European Environmental Geochemistry and Health Meeting, Aberdeen, April, 1995.

ELEY, M. and NICHOLSON, K. (1995). Manganese oxide deposition in water treatment filter beds: A possible water treatment media? 13th European Environmental Geochemistry and Health Meeting, Aberdeen, April, 1995.

THOMSON, B. and NICHOLSON, K. (1996). The Effect of pH and Humic Substances on the Adsorption of Metal Cations on Manganese Oxides from Natural Waters. 14th European Environmental Geochemistry and Health Meeting, London, April, 1996.

THOMSON, B. and NICHOLSON, K. (1997). Factors Influencing the Adsorption of Metal Cations on Manganese Oxide-Coated Filter Sand from a Water Treatment Plant. 15th European Environmental Geochemistry and Health Meeting, Dublin, March, 1997

THOMSON, B. and NICHOLSON, K. (1998). Multi-metal adsorption on manganese oxides: the effect of lead on the adsorption process and its implications in the formation of manganese minerals. 16th European Environmental Geochemistry and Health Meeting, Derby, March, 1998

Manganese ores of Orissa, India
A collaborative project with colleagues at the Indian School of Mines, examining the mineralogy and geochemistry of this fascinating group of manganese deposits.

NICHOLSON, K., NAYAK, V.K. and NANDA (1997), J.K. Manganese ores of the Ghoriajhor - Monmunda area, Sundergarh District, Orissa, India: geochemical evidence for a mixed Mn source. In: NICHOLSON, K. , HEIN, J.R., BÜHN, B. and GUPTA, S. (Editors). Manganese Mineralization. Geological Society Publishing House (London), 117-121.

Manganese ores of northern Greece
A series of projects undertaken with coleagues at Aristotle University and the Greek Institute for Mineral Exploration directed towards understanding the origins and assocaitions of manganese deposits.

MICHAILIDIS, K.M., NIMFOPOULOUS, M.K., NICHOLSON, K. and CHATZIKIRKOU, A. (1995). A hydrothermal manganiferous sulphide assemblage associated with pegmatite intrusions in the Sideronero area, Drama, N. Greece. In: Proc. XV Congress Carpatho-Balcan Geological Association.

MICHAILIDIS, K.M., NICHOLSON, K., NIMFOPOULOUS, M.K. and PATRICK, R.A.D. (1997). An EPMA and SEM study of the Mn-oxide mineralisation of Kato Nevrokopi, Macedonia, northern Greece: Controls on formation of the Mn4+oxides. In: NICHOLSON, K. , HEIN, J.R., BÜHN, B. and GUPTA, S. (Editors). Manganese Mineralization. Geological Society Publishing House (London), 265-280.