Black Canyon (ASX:BCA) intends to conduct a maiden diamond core drilling program at the Wandanya Project in Western Australia, with the aim to gain further insight into the “unique” mineralisation and material.
The program will collect larger diameter core samples early next month for further metallurgical testwork. The core samples will be sent to the metallurgical laboratory to understand the beneficiation characteristics of the manganese oxide at various grades.
During November 2025, a week-long heritage survey will also be undertaken. The survey is being completed for access to planned infill and extension reverse circulation drilling to begin following the wet season in 2026.
This news comes after Black Canyon received the final results from the remaining 92 holes from a phase three drilling program. The results confirm further thick, shallow manganese and iron mineralisation.
Black Canyon, which has a market capitalisation of $60.4 million, says drilling to date has consistently encountered shallow stratabound manganese mineralisation over a 3km strike.
Wandanya’s high development potential
Managing Director Brendan Cummins says the company is building more confidence in the significance of the mineral system which is believed to have high development potential.
“The mineralisation footprint continues to expand the size and grade understanding across the project with some of the recent manganese drill intercepts reporting grades over 40% manganese over several metres,” Cummins says.
“At those grades and widths, we are considering them as potentially direct shipping ores which reduces operational expenditure and presents another value-add opportunity.”
Some of the latest manganese results include 9m @ 30.3% manganese’ 8m @ 42.2% manganese, including 4m @ 50.4% manganese from 4m; and 9m @ 34.7% manganese from 1m, including 4m @ 46.3% manganese.
Meanwhile, the latest iron results include 10m @ 56.2% iron, including 5m @ 59.6% from 3m; and 12m @ 55.8% from 3m, including 5m @ 60% iron from 4m.
Cummins adds with over $11 million cash at hand, according to the company’s latest quarterly report, Black Canyon is in a “strong” position to continue progressing the project on multiple fronts.
The Wandanya Project, located on the eastern boundary of the Oakover Basin, is considered a unique stratabound, outcropping manganese and iron discovery.
Black Canyon is a Western Australian manganese-focused developer and explorer with more than 1,700km2 of tenements.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Black Canyon
