Black Canyon (ASX:BCA) is planning follow-up exploration and drilling programs for next year at the Wandanya Project in Western Australia with the aim to improve its understanding of the mineral resource potential.
Depending on the results, Black Canyon will conduct a study to assess a simple, low capital development pathway typical of direct shipping ore (DSO) operations in the Pilbara.
Managing Director Brendan Cummins says a reverse circulation rig will return onsite in 2025 to further test the “compelling” targets within Wandanya along strike and down dip.
“The potential simplicity of developing a high-grade iron project is very attractive and would complement the significant manganese potential we have discovered here and across the Balfour Manganese Field,” Cummins says.
This news comes after Black Canyon received results from mapping and iron formation rock chip sampling collected along a 5km-long ridge at Wandanya.
Black Canyon reports the results, which returned up to 64.3% iron and 60.9% manganese, show the potential for a high-grade iron deposit in addition to high-grade manganese, which had not previously been uncovered.
As a result, the company says the mineralisation discovered is considered suitable for a DSO operation and warrants further investigation.
Cummins says the latest results confirm the “significance” of iron and manganese mineralising systems at the project.
“The mineralisation style and grade ranges for both iron and manganese at Wandanya is a remarkable greenfields discovery and provides compelling drill targets for Black Canyon,” he says.
“The exploration potential is significant particularly to the south where we have identified multiple outcrops where rock chips have exceeded 60% iron along 2km of strike with widths up to 300m.
“The thickness of the iron mineralisation has not been drill tested but the overall uniformity of the iron rich formations along the ridge and scale is impressive.”
Black Canyon is an Australian explorer focused on its landholding in Western Australia, encompassing 2,100km2 and is considered prospective for manganese.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Black Canyon
