Black Canyon Extends Wandanya Manganese Footprint with New 5,000m Drilling Program

Drilling Campaign Targets Full 9km Mineralised Trend

Black Canyon Limited (ASX:BCA) has kicked off a substantial reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at its Wandanya Project in Western Australia, aiming to test extensions of the 9km mineralised trend that underpins the project's promise. The 5,000-metre campaign is initially focused on a 1.4km southern extension and will then shift north to a 2.8km iron-enriched ridge, areas yet to be fully explored.

This latest drilling effort follows successful resource definition programs that expanded the base case footprint from 3.0km to 3.4km, highlighted by significant high-grade manganese intercepts including 5 metres at 29.4% Mn and 2 metres at 51.2% Mn. These results reinforce the quality and consistency of the stratabound manganese mineralisation that defines Wandanya.

Southern Extension and Northern Iron Ridge

The southern target on tenement E46/1571 lies directly south of the known manganese and iron discoveries, with geological mapping and drilling confirming the continuation of manganese-rich horizons. Although outcrops are less exposed here, the stratigraphy appears consistent with the main mineralised zone, with dolomite sequences overlying manganese horizons and calcareous siltstone footwalls.

To the north, a prominent iron-enriched ridge extends over 2.8km, featuring hematite-dominated mineralisation that differs from typical Pilbara banded iron formations. Notably, rock chip samples from this ridge show low alumina and phosphorus levels, potentially complementing higher phosphorus and alumina Pilbara ores. This iron mineralisation presents direct shipping ore (DSO) potential, adding a valuable dual-commodity dimension to the project.

Upcoming Milestones and Study Progress

Black Canyon’s Managing Director Brendan Cummins emphasised the significance of these developments, noting that the expansion of the manganese footprint and well-defined iron mineralisation pave the way for a dual-commodity operation. The company is on track to deliver its maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the 3.4km base case in September 2026, followed by a Scoping Study scheduled for early December.

The drilling program is expected to take around one month, with the first assay results anticipated in early October. Concurrently, discussions with consultants and equipment suppliers are advancing to underpin the upcoming Scoping Study, which will assess the economic viability of developing manganese and iron resources at Wandanya.

Additionally, Black Canyon has completed a government co-funded detailed gravity survey under the WA Exploration Incentive Scheme, with data processing underway, and phase two of a baseline flora and vegetation survey is in progress, reflecting environmental considerations integral to project advancement.

Strategic Positioning in Manganese and Iron Markets

Wandanya represents a new discovery on the eastern margin of the Oakover Basin, within Black Canyon’s extensive 2,000km2 landholding across the underexplored Balfour Manganese Field. The project’s scale and grade potential position it as a noteworthy contender in the manganese and iron sectors, both of which have robust long-term fundamentals. Manganese remains critical for steel alloy manufacturing and lithium-ion battery cathodes, while iron continues to be a staple commodity.

With nearly 87% of the company’s 315 million tonnes global manganese resource classified as Measured and Indicated, Black Canyon is progressing from exploration towards development, with the Wandanya project central to its strategy.