Bean Ore

(also pea ore), an ore (iron, manganese, and aluminum) of sedimentary and eluvial origin. It consists of small, round or bean-shaped formations, often of concentric-shell structure. A distinction is made among bean, pea, and pellet ores, according to their texture. Bean ores of sedimentary origin are deposited in the form of strata, streaks, and lenses. Those of eluvial origin are found in irregular, often pocket-shaped deposits. Examples of iron ores of bean structure are the ores on the floor of modern lakes, examples of manganese bean ores are the Paleogene deposits of the Ukraine and the Caucasus, and examples of aluminum bean ores are bauxites of various geological ages.