Black Canyon (ASX:BCA) has completed pilot-scale dense media separation (DMS) test work at its Wandanya Project in Western Australia, producing manganese concentrates grading up to 41%.
The company processed two 100kg blended composite samples through DMS using a density of 2.8 grams per cubic centimetre.
The test work shows blend one, comprising low, medium, and high-grade feeds in proportions of 20%, 60%, and 20%, respectively, was upgraded from 32.4% manganese (Mn) to 41% Mn with an 82% recovery.
Blend two, comprising 25% low-grade and 75% medium-grade feeds, was upgraded from 29.4% Mn to 38.5% Mn with an 80% recovery.
Managing Director Brendan Cummins says the pilot-scale test work confirms that Wandanya feed can be beneficiated through a processing method similar to those used at operating mines.
“The larger scale DMS trial completed on the Wandanya blended feedstocks reinforces our confidence in the manganese oxide mineralisation to upgrade to highly marketable products,” Cummins says.
“The manganese recoveries demonstrated by the test work at around 80% are also strongly positive for both blends.”
The results follow earlier heavy liquid separation test work on individual and blended composites collected from Wandanya’s 3km base-case mineralisation zone.
Both products contained what Black Canyon describes as low levels of penalty elements. The 41% Mn concentrate contained 6.5% iron (Fe), 1.6% aluminium (Al), 5% silicon (Si), and 0.02% phosphorus (P), while the 38.5% Mn product contained 7.5% Fe, 1.9% Al, 6% Si, and 0.02% P.
The samples were crushed to 10mm and screened at 1mm, with fines included in the overall recovery calculations.
Black Canyon says it plans to incorporate the results into a Scoping Study examining a potential operation producing direct shipping ore iron and manganese products alongside beneficiated manganese.
The company also says its maiden mineral resource estimate remains on track for September 2026, with the Scoping Study scheduled for the December quarter.
Reverse circulation drilling is expected to resume in August to test targets located 1.4km south and 2.8km north of the current discovery.
Black Canyon holds a global mineral resource of 315 million tonnes @ 10.5% Mn across its Balfour Manganese Field projects in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: Black Canyon
