A superlarge deposit—Kalahari manganese ore field (Northern Cape, South Africa): Geochemistry of isotopes (δ13C and δ18O) and genesis

Study of carbonate inclusions in the Mamatwan-type oxide ores (braunite lutites) made it possible to reveal residual microbial structures in them. Their presence in manganese ores, the type of manganese oxide mineralization, isotope signatures of manganese carbonates, and available literature data on the geology of the Kalahari manganese field suggest that manganese ore formation was widespread at the postsedimentary stage of transformation of the primary microbial sediment. The deposit can be referred to the hydrothermal-metasomatic type.