Black Canyon (ASX:BCA) drills deeper into manganese potential at Wandanya

If manganese is the overlooked cousin in the battery metals family, Black Canyon (ASX:BCA) is making sure it receives its due recognition.

The Perth-based explorer has resumed drilling at its Wandanya project in the eastern Oakover Basin, where recent results have underlined the promise of a large-scale hydrothermal manganese and iron system.

The company’s Phase 3 reverse circulation (RC) program is now underway, designed to test the full three kilometres of mapped high-grade mineralisation.

Around 150 holes will be drilled for a total of 3,500 metres, with assays scheduled for release in October and November, followed by a diamond core program to provide samples for metallurgical work aimed at advancing beneficiation options.

Key Highlights

• Phase 3 RC drilling underway: 150 holes for 3,500m testing 3km strike length.

• High-grade intersections confirmed: previous drilling returned shallow hits such as 6m at 35% Mn and 8m at 28.5% Mn with grades exceeding 40% in parts.

• Momentum through 2025: Phase 2 assays due late August, Phase 3 results expected from October.

• Scale in context: Black Canyon controls 2,300km² in the Balfour Manganese Field, with a global resource already standing at 314Mt at 10.4% Mn.

A new exploration model

The Wandanya system represents a fresh geological model: stratabound, hydrothermal manganese mineralisation occurring in an underexplored part of the Oakover Basin.

Unlike many deposits in the region, mineralisation here has shown consistent thickness and grade close to surface, improving the economics of any potential future development.

As Black Canyon Managing Director Brendan Cummins put it:

“The remarkable geological continuity observed to date combined with the scale of outcropping and shallow mineralisation with proximity to existing infrastructure, reinforces our belief that Wandanya represents a significant manganese discovery in a highly underexplored part of the Oakover Basin.”

Why manganese matters

While lithium and nickel dominate the headlines, manganese remains both essential and irreplaceable in the production of steel alloys.

It has more recently been recognised as a critical mineral in certain lithium-ion battery chemistries, a dual demand narrative that gives projects like Wandanya strategic weight, particularly as Western supply sources remain scarce.

Black Canyon’s broader landholding in the Balfour Manganese Field, which includes its joint venture with Carawine Resources, already boasts a sizeable mineral resource, and the company is betting that Wandanya can add a higher-grade dimension to this portfolio.

The road ahead

Investors can expect a steady news flow in the coming months and results from the outstanding 47 Phase 2 holes are due before the end of August, followed closely by Phase 3 assays.

The company aims to translate these technical milestones into a clearer development pathway, with metallurgical testing central to demonstrating processing viability.

For now, Wandanya remains in the drill-bit stage. But with its mix of grade, scale, and location, the project is shaping as one of the more intriguing manganese stories to emerge from Western Australia in recent years.

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