manganese is alloyed into aluminum using a solid compact prepared by blending finely divided particles comprising beta manganese with aluminum particles and then compacting the mixture into a readily useable form such as a briquette . the resultant briquette provides rapid dissolution of the beta manganese in the aluminum and improved manganese recoveries . the beta manganese may be prepared by heating manganese to 1305 °- 1990 ° f . followed by water quenching and crushing to obtain a product of controlled particle size having a reduced percentage of fines .