Black Canyon (ASX:BCA) reports that reconnaissance mapping and rock chip sampling completed over the Wandanya Project has identified ‘high-grade’ manganese mineralisation.
The Australian manganese explorer and developer notes that further work is planned to follow-up the results and continue mapping along strike to north.
The sampling program was part of the initial assessment of the tenement to determine geological setting and mineralisation potential.
The Wandanya tenement is located on the eastern boundary of the Oakover Basin and about 80km south of the Woodie Woodie manganese mine.
Manganese continues to have attractive fundamentals where it is essential and non-substitutable in the manufacturing of steel and a critical mineral in the cathodes of lithium-ion batteries.
Black Canyon’s Executive Director Brendan Cummins says: “The high-grade manganese rock chip results encountered over the Wandanya Project contain approximately 20% more manganese than previous surface mineralisation we have sampled related to manganese enriched shales which commonly range between 25 and 35% manganese.
The 50% plus Mn grades at Wandanya are more akin to those related to hydrothermal or contact style manganese enrichment which presents a new targeting opportunity for the company. These early results are very encouraging given the grade of samples and similarities in geological setting to the Woodie Woodie manganese mine. The outcrop is approximately 300m long and 150m wide and to the north there appears to be further mineralisation that will be followed up with mapping and additional sampling.”
The ‘high-grade’ manganese mineralisation encountered at the W2 prospect outcrops over 300m strike and is up to 150m wide forming a gently sloping rounded hill. The mineralisation has been mapped as a mixed manganese dominant ferruginised breccia, with ome relict bedding and hosted by dolomite.
The area is structurally complex with multiple NE and NW-trending cross cutting faults mapped from aerial imagery.
Further work is planned to evaluate the significance of the discovery which will include the evaluation of sub-cropping manganese mineralisation interpreted to the north and along strike that extends discontinuously for a further 1-2km.
Black Canyon has consolidated a significant landholding in the underexplored Balfour Manganese Field and across the Oakover Basin.
The emerging potential for the Balfour Manganese Field is evident by the size of the geological basin, mineral resources identified to date, distance from port, potential for shallow open pit mining and a likely beneficiated Mn oxide concentrate product grading between 30 and 33% Mn.
Black Canyon holds several exploration licenses 100% within the Balfour Manganese Field along with a 75% interest in the Carawine Joint Venture with ASX listed Carawine Resources (ASX:CWX).
Combined, the projects cover approximately 2,500km-square of tenure in Western Australia, providing a dominant footprint in a proven and producing manganese belt.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Black Canyon Ltd
