Black Canyon Limited’s Phase 2 drilling at the Wandanya Project confirms extensive high-grade manganese and iron mineralisation, revealing significant scale and promising exploration upside.
- Phase 2 RC drilling defines 2km strike of manganese mineralisation
- Iron-rich formations mapped over 900m with substantial thickness
- Mineralisation remains open for expansion to north and east
- Assay results expected in July and August 2025
- Drilling co-funded by WA Government grant under EIS program
Exploration Success at Wandanya
Black Canyon Limited (ASX, BCA) has announced the completion of its Phase 2 reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Wandanya Project in Western Australia, delivering encouraging results that confirm the presence of large, high-grade manganese and iron mineral systems. The drilling has delineated manganese mineralisation along a 2-kilometre strike length, a substantial increase from the initial 240 metres identified in the previous program.
Managing Director Brendan Cummins highlighted the consistency of the mineralisation and geology encountered, noting the significance of extending the manganese horizon northwards and eastwards. The discovery of a shallow, hematite-dominated iron formation over a 900-metre ridgeline adds a new dimension to the project, presenting a valuable commodity diversification opportunity for the company.
Geological Insights and Scale Potential
The drilling program intersected stratabound manganese horizons with thicknesses and continuity mirroring surface mineralisation, while the iron formation appears to be more than mere surface enrichment, suggesting considerable scale potential. The iron-rich unit was found to be laterally extensive, with widths between 250 and 400 metres, and remains open to the north and east.
These findings are particularly promising given manganese’s critical role in steel alloys and lithium-ion battery cathodes, underpinning its long-term demand. The project’s location within the underexplored Balfour Manganese Field and Oakover Basin further enhances its strategic importance.
Government Support and Next Steps
Black Canyon’s drilling efforts have been partially co-funded by a $122,500 grant from the Western Australian Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS), reflecting the project’s innovative approach and regional significance. The company plans to mobilise further drilling in August 2025 to test the full 3-kilometre strike potential of the manganese horizon and to extend the iron formation targets.
Assay results from the recent drilling are anticipated over the coming weeks, which will provide critical data on grade and mineral quality, essential for advancing resource estimation and potential development plans.
Strategic Outlook
With a substantial landholding of 1,700 square kilometres in a prolific manganese province and a global mineral resource estimate of over 314 million tonnes at 10.4% manganese, Black Canyon is positioning itself as a significant player in the manganese and iron exploration sector. The Wandanya discovery, with its consistent geology and expanding mineralisation, could be a cornerstone asset as the company progresses towards resource definition and potential future production.
Bottom Line?
As assay results approach, Black Canyon’s Wandanya Project stands poised to reshape its resource potential and market positioning.
Questions in the middle?
- What grades will the upcoming assay results confirm for manganese and iron?
- How will the expanding mineralisation impact Black Canyon’s resource estimates and valuation?
- What are the timelines and capital requirements for advancing Wandanya towards development?