Black Canyon (ASX:BCA) has begun a resource definition and expansion drilling campaign at the Wandanya Project in Western Australia, with 15,000m of reverse circulation drilling planned.
The drilling campaign will target the central 3km long Base Case manganese and iron mineralisation that hosts cross strike widths up to 800m.
Initial assays are expected to be returned in the next four to six weeks.
Managing Director Brendan Cummins says the company has achieved a “significant project milestone” by beginning resource drilling along the Base Case target.
“We are also keen to test the immediate upside potential with a further 1.7km of strike to be drilled to the north and extensions to the east as well,” Cummins says
“Once these drill programs are finalised, we will progress to the next significant milestone – estimating a maiden mineral resource for both iron and manganese.
“Last year’s drill programs demonstrated the remarkable geological continuity of this high-grade discovery that we believe has high development potential for both manganese and iron.“
Drilling last year returned intersections including 5m @ 34.2% manganese from 5m; 10m @ 26% manganese from 1m, including 4m @ 41.5% manganese from 7m; and 6m @ 39.3% manganese from 6m, including 3m @ 47.3% manganese from 9m.
Black Canyon will target potential extensions up to 500m to the east on planned drill lines with further extensional drilling.
“There are very few discoveries that have so many key developmental criteria and at Wandanya we are pleased that the discovery is at or near surface, high-grade, and has scale with potential for direct shipping ore iron and manganese in addition to beneficiation upgrades from the lower and moderate grade manganese,” Cummins adds.
“Our planned exploration programs are scheduled to follow on from the resource and expansion drilling that will answer key questions on just how big the mineral system is.
“We are entering an exciting phase in the Wandanya project evolution, where we have a robust base case asset, and still have significant upside potential to grow the discovery and continue to add value.”
Black Canyon intends to conduct additional exploration drilling at the project within the next three to six months, testing the entirety of the 9km long Wandanya system and evaluating 1.8km strike south and up to 2.5km north.
Black Canyon is a manganese exploration and development company operating in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Black Canyon
