Manganese Thermite

I just did a sort of manganese-based thermite. I had washed and dried, fine powdered MnO2 from alkaline batteries, and coarse Aluminum powder which was made in a ball mill. Now, the thing wouldn't behave like a normal thermite when I ignited it: The magnesium fuse just went out as soon as it touched the mix (which was expected, I suppose) and I had to hold a blowtorch over it for extended periods of time to get any reaction at all. Here's what happened:

When the flame was over an area, that area emitted molten sparks of metal, which collected at the bottom of the flowerpot. Was this newly formed alumina or manganese? I have reason to suspect both, as the powder that resulted has the color of alumina, but I read that in an iron thermite, the sparks are molten iron.

-Also, I have a number of black and brown pellets in the center, which glowed brightly when I put the torch to them. Is this the manganese as well? I have reason to suspect it is, as none of the MnO2 behaved like this, and I read that aluminum doesn't get red-hot.

So, anyone who has any experience with thermites can help me out here.