Black Canyon Limited (ASX:BCA) Expanding High-Grade Manganese and Iron Potential at Wandanya

Black Canyon Limited (ASX:BCA) has delivered another impressive set of exploration results from its Wandanya Project in Western Australia, reinforcing the project’s status as a substantial high-grade manganese and iron discovery within the Balfour Manganese Field.

The company’s latest Phase 3 reverse circulation drilling program confirms broad, shallow mineralisation over an extensive strike, strengthening confidence in the project’s scale and development potential.

Highlights

• Final results received from the remaining 92 holes of the Phase 3 RC drill program.

• Manganese mineralisation traced along 3km of strike with widths between 160m and 500m.

• Iron mineralisation identified over 1km of strike, open to the north.

• Standout assays include:

  • 8m @ 42.2% Mn from surface, including 4m @ 50.4% Mn (WDRC201)

  • 16m @ 58.1% Fe from 2m, including 9m @ 60.8% Fe (WDRC196)

• Diamond drilling to begin in early November for metallurgical testwork.

• Strong cash position of $11 million supports ongoing exploration and development.

Establishing Scale and Continuity

The Phase 3 program has confirmed the scale and consistency of the Wandanya mineral system, extending manganese continuity across three kilometres of strike and defining a one-kilometre iron horizon open to the north.

Of the 148 holes drilled, an impressive 97 per cent intersected mineralisation.

The shallow stratabound manganese extends across broad widths, with the highest-grade intercepts exceeding 50 per cent manganese near surface, potentially suitable for direct shipping ore (DSO).

The presence of both manganese and hematite-rich iron within the same geological sequence provides valuable diversification, while the shallow geometry and high grades point to strong development potential.

These characteristics are rare among Australian manganese discoveries and emphasise the broader potential of Black Canyon’s extensive tenement position across the Balfour Manganese Field.

Black Canyon’s Managing Director, Brendan Cummins, said the results reinforced confidence in Wandanya’s growing scale and quality:

“With each drill program and continued expansion of the Wandanya discovery we are building more confidence in the significance of the mineral system which we believe has high development potential for both manganese and iron.”

He added that the consistency of the results and the near-surface nature of the mineralisation “is a testament to the continuity of the shallow dipping manganese and iron horizons over hundreds of metres”.

Metallurgical Pathway and Next Steps

Previous metallurgical testing has demonstrated that composite samples grading around 30 per cent manganese can be upgraded to more than 45 per cent using density-based separation, exceeding the industry benchmark of 44 per cent for premium-grade manganese.

The upcoming diamond drill program, targeting approximately 500 metres of core, will generate samples for additional testwork to refine the beneficiation process and support potential flowsheet design for a consistent, high-quality product.

Additional heritage surveys are planned for November to enable infill and extension drilling after the wet season.

The company also expects to finalise the acquisition of the Ndalamo tenements, extending access to prospective southern extensions of the Wandanya system.

Black Canyon Minerals now controls over 2,000 square kilometres across the Balfour Manganese Field and has defined a global mineral resource of 315 million tonnes at 10.5 per cent manganese.

The Wandanya discovery represents a significant new exploration model on the eastern margin of the Oakover Basin, combining hydrothermal, stratabound manganese and iron mineralisation with clear potential for scale and grade growth.

As manganese continues to play a crucial role in both steel production and lithium-ion battery technology, the combination of strong results, shallow geometry, and a robust balance sheet positions Black Canyon well to advance Wandanya toward development.

The company’s continued momentum highlights its growing role in strengthening Australia’s future supply of critical minerals.

Please note the following valuable information before using this website. 

Independent Research 

Market Open Australia is intended to be used only for educational and informative purposes, and any information on this website should not be taken as investment advice or guidance. It is important to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions, which should be based on your own investment needs and personal circumstances. Any investment decisions based on information contained on this website should be taken in line with independent financial advice from a qualified professional or should be independently researched and verified.