Black Canyon’s Wandanya Drilling Faces High Stakes Ahead of Critical Phase Two Results
Black Canyon Limited has won a $122,500 co-funded grant from the WA Government to advance its Phase Two drilling at the promising Wandanya manganese and iron project, aiming to unlock further high-grade mineralisation along a 3km strike.
- Awarded $122,500 co-funded drilling grant under WA Exploration Incentive Scheme
- Phase Two Reverse Circulation drilling program planned: 150 holes, 3,000m total
- Heritage survey completed and approvals secured for drill access
- Wandanya project shows high-grade manganese up to 42% and iron assays exceeding 60%
- Further Phase Three drilling contingent on Phase Two results to test full 3km strike
Government Backing for Strategic Exploration
Black Canyon Limited (ASX: BCA) has secured a significant boost for its Wandanya manganese and iron project with a $122,500 co-funded drilling grant awarded under the Western Australian Government's Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS). This competitive program supports technically innovative exploration initiatives, and Black Canyon’s successful application underscores the project's potential to deliver substantial new mineral discoveries in an underexplored region.
The grant will directly support the upcoming Phase Two Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling campaign, which is set to comprise 150 drill holes totaling 3,000 metres. This program aims to extend and deepen the known high-grade manganese and iron mineralisation along a 3-kilometre strike length on the eastern margin of the Oakover Basin.
Building on Promising Early Results
Initial drilling and surface sampling at Wandanya have revealed impressive manganese grades, including intercepts such as 5 metres at 31.1% Mn and 7 metres at 26.3% Mn, with peak assays hitting over 40% manganese in some intervals. Iron assays from outcropping formations have also returned exceptional results, with grades exceeding 60% Fe in multiple samples.
Black Canyon’s Managing Director Brendan Cummins highlighted the significance of the EIS recognition, stating that the project’s innovative hydrothermal and stratabound mineralisation model has been validated by early drilling success. The Phase Two program will focus on expanding the mineralised footprint both along strike and down dip, particularly targeting extensions up to 200 metres east of the initial drill lines.
Community Engagement and Approvals in Place
Importantly, the company has completed a Heritage Survey in collaboration with the Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation, ensuring that exploration activities respect cultural sensitivities and land access protocols. With all necessary regulatory approvals secured, clearing of access tracks and drill lines is underway, positioning Black Canyon to commence drilling promptly within the approved 12-month window starting June 1, 2025.
Looking Ahead: Phase Three and Resource Potential
Phase Two drilling will also test iron-rich targets with multiple east-west traverses over a 900-metre strike length, complementing the manganese-focused drilling to the north. Depending on the outcomes of this campaign, a Phase Three drilling program is planned to comprehensively test the entire 3-kilometre strike and cross-strike widths of 600 to 900 metres, potentially defining a substantial resource.
Black Canyon’s broader portfolio includes a significant landholding across the Balfour Manganese Field and the Oakover Basin, with a current global mineral resource estimate of 314 million tonnes at 10.4% manganese. The Wandanya discovery represents a new frontier within this portfolio, leveraging a novel exploration model that could materially enhance the company’s resource base.
Given manganese’s critical role in steel alloy production and lithium-ion battery cathodes, the strategic importance of Black Canyon’s exploration success cannot be overstated. The company’s ability to attract government funding and advance drilling programs in a timely manner positions it well to capitalize on growing demand for these essential minerals.
Bottom Line?
Black Canyon’s government-backed drilling push at Wandanya could redefine its resource potential and market standing.
Questions in the middle?
- Will Phase Two drilling confirm extensions of high-grade manganese and iron mineralisation?
- How will Phase Two results influence the timing and scale of the planned Phase Three program?
- What impact might these exploration advances have on Black Canyon’s valuation and investor interest?
