Black Canyon has kicked off a substantial 15,000m RC drilling campaign at its Wandanya Project, aiming to define and grow its high-grade manganese and iron resource with first assays due in May 2026.
- 15,000m RC drilling underway targeting 3km base case and extensions
- High-grade manganese intersections from 2025 support expansion potential
- Exploration to test 1.8km strike south with strong rock chip results
- Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate expected by late Q3 2026
- Heritage and environmental surveys ongoing alongside drilling
Major Drilling Campaign Targets Resource Growth
Black Canyon Limited (ASX:BCA) has commenced a 15,000-metre Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling program at its 100% owned Wandanya Project in Western Australia, marking a pivotal step in advancing its high-grade manganese and iron discovery. The program focuses on resource definition and expansion across a 3-kilometre base case area, with additional drilling planned to test extensions 1.7km north and 500m east. The company anticipates first assay results in May 2026, setting the stage for a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) by late Q3 2026.
This drilling drive builds on last year’s encouraging campaigns that revealed remarkable geological continuity and high-grade intersections, including standout hits such as 5m at 34.2% manganese and 3m at 48.4% manganese from shallow depths. These results underpin Black Canyon’s confidence in the project’s scale and development potential, particularly given the near-surface mineralisation suitable for direct shipping ore (DSO) and beneficiation upgrades.
Expanding the Footprint with Targeted Exploration
Beyond the base case resource definition, Black Canyon is aggressively pursuing upside with expansion drilling to the north, where previous high-grade drill lines extend 1.7km, and to the east over 500m. The company is also initiating exploration drilling over a 1.8km strike south of Wandanya, where rock chip sampling has returned manganese grades exceeding 58% and iron grades above 66%. These southern targets, although less exposed, exhibit similar geological characteristics to the northern mineralisation, suggesting the potential for a significant resource extension.
The exploration program will test up to 2.5km of untested strike to the north as well, employing wide-spaced drill lines to evaluate the continuity of manganese and iron horizons. Heritage and environmental surveys are progressing to ensure compliance and may influence final drill locations and spacing.
Pathway to Resource Estimation and Development
Managing Director Brendan Cummins highlighted the significance of this drilling phase, describing it as a "significant project milestone" that will refine understanding of grade distribution and geological domains. The company aims to leverage these data to deliver a maiden MRE, which will underpin a forthcoming scoping study assessing the project's economic viability.
Black Canyon’s recent beneficiation testwork has demonstrated the potential to upgrade manganese grades to over 40%, enhancing the project's attractiveness as a supplier of premium manganese products. This technical progress, combined with ongoing drilling, positions Wandanya as a promising development candidate in the competitive manganese sector. The company’s efforts to expand and define the resource align with broader market interests in critical minerals essential for steel manufacturing and battery technologies.
This drilling campaign and its outcomes will be closely watched given the project's scale and grade, which could contribute meaningfully to Western Australia’s manganese supply base. The results will also inform the timing and scope of further development activities, including environmental and heritage assessments.
Investors following Black Canyon’s progress may recall the company’s recent beneficiation testwork results that underscored the project’s potential for producing high-grade manganese concentrates with simple processing methods.
Bottom Line?
Black Canyon’s drilling campaign at Wandanya is a critical step toward defining a potentially large, high-grade manganese and iron resource, with assay results and a maiden resource estimate poised to shape the project’s development trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the upcoming assay results confirm the continuity and grade consistency necessary for a robust maiden resource?
- How might heritage and environmental survey outcomes impact the drilling schedule and future project development?
- What are the implications of the expanding strike length for the project's long-term supply potential in the manganese market?