Black Canyon has confirmed a 400-metre southern extension to its Wandanya manganese project, delivering multiple high-grade manganese intercepts and advancing towards a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate in September 2026.
- 400m southern extension confirmed with high-grade manganese
- Multiple drill intervals exceed 40% manganese indicating direct shipping ore potential
- Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate on track for September 2026
- 5,000m RC drilling planned to test 9km mineralised system
- Scoping Study expected by December 2026 with dual manganese and iron focus
Southern Extension Boosts Wandanya Manganese Prospect
Black Canyon Limited (ASX:BCA) has unveiled the final round of assay results from its resource definition and expansion drilling at the Wandanya manganese project in Western Australia. The standout news is the confirmation of a 400-metre southern extension to the existing 3km base case mineralisation footprint, with multiple drill holes returning high-grade manganese intervals, some exceeding 40% Mn. This extension remains open for a further 1.4km, highlighting substantial upside potential along a 9km mineralised corridor.
The recent assays include impressive intercepts such as 7m at 40.7% Mn from 5m depth (including 4m at 48.3% Mn) and 4m at 44.8% Mn from 4m depth (including 2m at 51.2% Mn), reinforcing the shallow, stratiform nature of the mineralisation. These grades and widths suggest potential for Direct Ship Ore (DSO), a commercially attractive feature that could simplify processing and reduce costs.
Resource Drilling Progress and Upcoming Milestones
The 2026 drilling campaign has so far completed approximately 17,200m of reverse circulation (RC) drilling, focusing on the 3km base case target with a close-spaced 50m by 50m grid to support an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource classification. The final assays from 142 holes totalled 2,823m with an average depth of 28m, confirming consistent grade and geological continuity across the southern zone.
Managing Director Brendan Cummins emphasised the significance of these results: "The grade and thickness are remarkably consistent along and across strike with many intercepts indicating Direct Ship Ore potential and exceeding 40% manganese. Coupled with positive pilot-scale metallurgical trials, the commercial outlook is promising." He added that the maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) is on track for completion in September 2026, which will feed into a Scoping Study scheduled for early December. This study aims to assess the economic viability of developing Wandanya as a dual manganese and iron commodity operation.
Expanding the Mineralised System and Government Support
Looking ahead, Black Canyon plans a 5,000m RC drill program commencing in August to test the full 9km mineralised system, including the 1.4km southern strike extension and northern targets. The company has also completed a detailed 38km2 gravity survey co-funded by the Western Australian Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS), with data currently under interpretation. This geophysical work aims to identify deeper or concealed mineralisation, potentially expanding the resource base further.
Black Canyon holds a dominant land position of over 2,000km2 in the underexplored Balfour Manganese Field and Oakover Basin. The Wandanya project itself is a relatively new discovery featuring stratabound, high-grade manganese and iron mineralisation within Proterozoic sedimentary sequences. The company is advancing towards commercialisation amid rising demand for manganese, essential in steel alloys and lithium-ion battery cathodes.
Technical Confidence and Resource Definition
The drilling program employed industry-standard RC techniques with 1m sample intervals, achieving good sample recovery and robust QA/QC protocols. The mineralisation is mostly flat-lying with a gentle dip, enabling vertical drilling to approximate true widths. The consistent grades and thicknesses observed across multiple drill sections underpin confidence in geological continuity, supporting the imminent maiden MRE.
Black Canyon’s metallurgical testwork, including pilot-scale beneficiation, has demonstrated the ability to produce high-quality, low-impurity manganese concentrates exceeding 40% Mn, further de-risking the project and attracting end-user interest. The company is also progressing flora and vegetation baseline surveys required for environmental approvals.
Bottom Line?
As Black Canyon moves closer to delivering its maiden resource and scoping study, the focus will be on confirming economic viability and expanding the mineralised footprint beyond the current 3.4km base case, with the upcoming drill programs and gravity data interpretation key to unlocking further value.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the maiden Mineral Resource Estimate confirm sufficient scale and grade to underpin project development?
- How will the dual manganese and iron commodity focus influence the project's economics and market positioning?
- What insights will the gravity survey provide about deeper or concealed mineralisation along the 9km corridor?