Say the word Pilbara and most people immediately think of iron ore.
After all, this is where BHP Group (ASX:BHP) and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) have created billions of dollars in value from the region’s rich, red iron deposits.
There’s more than one valuable resource to this area. Another metal gaining importance on world markets is manganese. This niche metal is primarily used in steel. Approximately 10kg of manganese goes into every tonne of steel.
It’s also playing a rising role in battery markets for manganese-rich cathodes. Manganese helps lower the cost and improve the performance of electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
It helps improve driving range, thermal stability for vehicle safety, and battery life. Until now manganese has not played a major role in battery chemistries.
Battery-grade manganese sulphate pricing is up 40% in 2026, according to Benchmark Minerals Intelligence.
A major manganese producer is Jupiter Mines (ASX:JMS). The company says it’s one of the world’s largest pure-play listed manganese producers via its 49% stake in the Tshipi mine in South Africa’s Kalahari Basin. Over 70% of the world’s manganese is in this region.
Management at Jupiter told the recent Africa Down Under Conference in Perth that demand for battery-grade manganese will outgrow supply in the second half of this decade. The company sees a deficit coming.
Australia only supplies about 7% of global manganese, so there’s big scope to lift this to a higher figure.
This sets a strong outlook for manganese miners, developers, and explorers in secure jurisdictions like Australia. One of those is ASX-listed Black Canyon (ASX:BCA).
The company’s Wandanya Project is in Western Australia’s East Pilbara region.
Source: Black Canyon
It’s about 80km south of the Woodie Woodie manganese mine, operated by Consolidated Minerals Australia (ConsMin). Woodie Woodie manganese was being exported from Port Hedland 14 years before iron ore exports began.
Black Canyon is due to release the maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) for Wandanya this month. After that, a Scoping Study will come by the end of Q4.
Last financial year, Black Canyon executed a large, 17,200m reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign.
The Lowell Resource Fund is an investor in the firm. In the latest Lowell update, chief investment officer John Forwood says,
“The ‘Base Case’ strike length at Wandanya has been extended to 3.4km, all of which is to be included in the maiden MRE expected in September 2026. A follow-up 5,000m RC drilling program was commenced to test an additional 3.2km of strike north and south of the main Wandanya deposit.”
The market will likely follow developments here with high interest because of the recent US focus on critical mineral security and supply chains. Black Canyon should find the capital markets supportive as it looks to progress Wandanya.
It could even announce future offtake deals, considering the urgency surrounding the critical mineral thematic.
Write to Callum Newman at Mining.com.au
Main image: Unsplash
