Wandanya Manganese Grades Average 29% Over 2km Strike, Black Canyon Reports

Exploration Breakthrough at Wandanya

Black Canyon Limited (ASX, BCA) has announced significant assay results from its Phase 2 reverse circulation drilling program at the Wandanya manganese discovery in Western Australia. The results reveal shallow, thick, and consistently high-grade manganese mineralisation extending over at least a 2-kilometre strike length, reinforcing the project's potential as a major manganese resource.

The assays report average manganese grades around 29%, with high-grade footwall zones approaching 40% manganese content. Notably, mineralisation remains open along strike and at depth, suggesting further upside potential as drilling continues.

Geological Context and Significance

The Wandanya deposit is interpreted as a fault-related hydrothermal stratabound manganese system, a style that is relatively rare in Australia. The mineralisation occurs within a shallowly dipping sedimentary sequence, with consistent thickness and grade that are advantageous for mining. This discovery is particularly noteworthy given that only three significant manganese deposits have been brought into production in Australia over the past five decades.

Managing Director Brendan Cummins highlighted the uniqueness of the deposit's attributes, including its shallow depth, consistent grade, and scale, which bode well for future development. The project’s location within the underexplored Balfour Manganese Field further enhances its strategic importance.

Metallurgical Advances and Next Steps

Complementing the drilling success, metallurgical testwork conducted on composite samples from the W2 discovery has demonstrated that beneficiation via density-based separation can produce manganese concentrates exceeding 44% Mn, surpassing premium benchmark grades. This suggests that the mineralisation can be processed efficiently to yield high-quality product suitable for steelmaking and battery applications.

Black Canyon plans to commence Phase 3 reverse circulation drilling in mid-August 2025, targeting a 3.5-kilometre strike to extend and infill the current manganese and iron mineralisation footprint. The company anticipates receiving assay results for the remaining 47 holes from Phase 2 by the end of August, which will further inform resource modelling and development planning.

Broader Market Implications

With manganese playing a critical role in steel alloys and lithium-ion battery cathodes, the Wandanya discovery aligns well with growing demand for high-grade manganese. Black Canyon’s progress could position it as a key domestic supplier in a market where Australian high-quality manganese resources are scarce. However, ongoing heritage surveys and native title agreements will require careful management to maintain project momentum.