Black Canyon Limited reports strong assay results confirming shallow, high-grade manganese and iron mineralisation at its Wandanya Project, with expansion drilling extending the manganese horizon 400m south and revealing further targets to the north and east.
- High-grade manganese assays up to 44% Mn over multiple intervals
- Iron mineralisation shows thick zones exceeding 59% Fe with direct shipping ore potential
- Expansion drilling extends manganese mineralisation 400m south beyond base case
- Northern and eastern expansions reveal additional manganese and iron targets
- Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate scheduled for Q3 2026, Scoping Study in Q4
Wandanya Drilling Confirms Robust High-Grade Mineralisation
Black Canyon Limited (ASX:BCA) continues to impress with its resource definition drilling at the Wandanya Project in Western Australia, delivering consistent high-grade manganese and iron intersections that reinforce the project's direct shipping ore (DSO) potential. The latest batch of assays highlights multiple intervals of manganese exceeding 40% Mn, including standout intercepts such as 10m at 35.8% Mn from surface and 5m at 44% Mn from 5m depth, alongside thick iron zones grading up to 61.1% Fe.
These results stem from a focused infill program within the 3km long base case footprint, where drill spacing has tightened to a 50m by 50m grid, supporting future Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource classifications. The mineralisation remains shallow, often starting at surface or within a few metres, with manganese oxide dominating near surface and transitioning to manganese carbonate at depth.
Expansion Drilling Extends Mineralised Horizon South and North
Beyond confirming the base case, Black Canyon's expansion drilling has pushed the manganese mineralised horizon 400m further south, extending the strike length well past the original 3km target and leaving it open for an additional 1.4km. Visual logging from holes WDRC915 and WDRC927, drilled 140m and 400m south of the previous limit, shows semi-massive to massive manganese oxide mineralisation, though final assays are pending.
To the north, manganese mineralisation was extended by 200m with medium-grade intersections, while iron mineralisation was traced up to 500m beyond the northern boundary, albeit with less continuity and more grade variability. The northern area also features a 2.8km iron-enriched ridge that remains untested by drilling but has been mapped and sampled, presenting a compelling target for upcoming programs.
Iron Mineralisation Offers Premium Lump Product Potential
Iron results from Wandanya are equally encouraging, with thick intervals of high-grade hematite dominating the central zone. Drop tower tests have produced a 74% lump product grading 59.7% Fe, a premium grade sought after in steelmaking markets. Intercepts include up to 17m at 59% Fe from near surface, supporting the project's economics and complementing the manganese resource.
Towards Maiden Resource Estimate and Scoping Study
Black Canyon has completed approximately 17,200m of reverse circulation (RC) drilling across 644 holes, covering 4.8km of the prospective 9km mineralised system. Assays for around 7,200 samples remain outstanding, expected within 4 to 6 weeks, which will feed into the maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) targeted for Q3 2026. A Scoping Study is planned for completion in Q4 2026, leveraging detailed collar surveys, downhole density measurements, and ongoing metallurgical testwork.
The company also benefits from a WA Government co-funded gravity survey commencing mid-July, aimed at detecting deeper hydrothermal manganese targets. This initiative follows a recent $265K grant supporting detailed geophysical work and deep drilling at Wandanya, underscoring the project's strategic importance in the manganese sector.
Geological Model and Exploration Outlook
Wandanya's mineralisation is interpreted as a fault-related stratabound deposit within Proterozoic sedimentary sequences, with manganese intensity increasing towards the base of the Enachedong Formation carbonates. The deposit exhibits a gentle eastward dip and is structurally complex, with northeast-trending faults influencing mineral distribution. Iron mineralisation appears as a lateral equivalent to manganese, though further drilling is required to clarify the relationship.
Upcoming drilling will focus on the 1.4km southern and 2.8km northern extensions, with heritage surveys and approvals in place. The combination of high-grade manganese and iron, shallow mineralisation, and promising metallurgy positions Wandanya as a compelling development asset in a critical mineral market.
Bottom Line?
Black Canyon’s expanding high-grade manganese and iron footprint at Wandanya sets the stage for a significant maiden resource, but pending assays and further drilling will be pivotal to confirm scale and continuity.
Questions in the middle?
- How will pending assays from 7,200 samples influence the upcoming maiden Mineral Resource Estimate?
- What impact will the WA Government’s gravity survey have on identifying deeper manganese targets?
- Can the northern iron-enriched ridge deliver additional high-grade resources to complement the base case?