Black Canyon Extends Manganese Mineralisation 3km at Wandanya

Exploration Progress at Wandanya

Australian manganese explorer Black Canyon Limited (ASX, BCA) has announced the completion of its Phase 3 reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Wandanya Project in Western Australia. The program, comprising 148 holes totaling 3,831 metres, has successfully confirmed the lateral continuity of high-grade manganese mineralisation along a 3-kilometre strike length. This latest drilling effort builds on previous campaigns, reinforcing the scale and consistency of the mineralised horizon.

Drill chip logging has verified the stratabound nature of the manganese deposit, with mineralisation widths ranging from 160 to 720 metres across strike. The mineralised zone remains open to the north and east, suggesting further upside potential beyond the current drilling footprint. Additionally, an untested 300-metre zone of outcropping manganese to the south awaits exploration pending tenement acquisition.

Iron Mineralisation Adds Value

Alongside manganese, the drilling program intersected shallow, outcropping hematite-dominated iron formations. These iron-rich horizons have been mapped extending over 3 kilometres north of the current drill lines, with mineralisation widths between 160 and 200 metres and thicknesses up to 12 metres. The relationship between the manganese and iron mineralisation offers a compelling exploration model, with potential feeder structures yet to be fully delineated.

Black Canyon’s Managing Director Brendan Cummins highlighted the significance of these findings, noting the consistent scale of mineralisation and the shallow depths encountered. He emphasized the importance of further infill drilling to better understand the grade distribution, particularly for the iron mineralisation, which appears thicker to the west and up dip from the manganese horizon.

Looking Ahead, Assays and Further Drilling

Assay results from the Phase 3 drilling are anticipated between mid-October and November 2025. These results will be critical in confirming the grade and economic potential of the mineralisation. Following this, Black Canyon plans to commence a diamond core drilling program in the next quarter to obtain samples for metallurgical testwork, a key step towards assessing the project’s viability for development.

Heritage surveys are also scheduled to facilitate exploration access to the north and east, where further drilling is planned to test extensions of the manganese horizon and potential feeder structures. The company is also awaiting the grant of a proposed tenement acquisition to the south, which would enable exploration of an additional 300 metres of mapped outcropping manganese.

Strategic Position in the Balfour Manganese Field

Wandanya forms part of Black Canyon’s broader portfolio within the underexplored Balfour Manganese Field and Oakover Basin, where the company holds a significant land position of approximately 2,300 square kilometres. The region has already yielded a global mineral resource estimate of 314 million tonnes at 10.4% manganese, underscoring the strategic importance of Black Canyon’s assets.

Manganese remains a critical mineral with strong long-term fundamentals, essential for steel alloy manufacturing and increasingly important in lithium-ion battery cathodes. Black Canyon’s ongoing exploration success at Wandanya positions the company well to capitalize on these market dynamics.