AUS
NZ
UK
CA
USA
FRA
GER
ESP
ITA
NLD
PRT
SWE
GRC
IND
POL
BRA
ZAF
RUS
CHN
UAE
Highlights
Black Canyon commences follow-up drilling at Wandanya Project in WA
Program aims to expand mineralised footprint of manganese and iron
Exploration backed by Western Australia's Exploration Incentive Scheme
Black Canyon Ltd (ASX:BCA), a manganese exploration company listed on the All Ordinaries, has commenced its second phase reverse circulation drilling program at the Wandanya Project in Western Australia. The project sits within the Pilbara region, known for its mineral-rich profile and proximity to key infrastructure.
The drilling program spans a significant section of the project’s known strike length and follows on from earlier surface sampling that identified iron and manganese mineralisation across a broad area. The company has initiated a systematic campaign to evaluate outcropping formations and define mineralisation across both strike and cross-strike dimensions.
Drilling Campaign to Explore Wider Manganese and Iron Zones
The second round of drilling will cover areas along the outcropping strike and investigate iron formations that have previously yielded encouraging assay results. The focus of this program is to confirm the scale and continuity of mineralisation associated with hydrothermal manganese and iron systems, which are believed to be largely unexplored in this part of the Oakover Basin.
Work completed so far has only tested a small segment of the broader strike length, leaving extensive areas open for further evaluation. The current phase is designed to expand the understanding of mineralised zones and guide decisions on future exploration activities.
New Model for Exploration on Oakover Basin Margin
The Wandanya discovery presents a new model of hydrothermal manganese and iron mineralisation along the eastern margin of the Oakover Basin. This area has seen limited historical drilling, particularly for manganese, despite visible outcrops of high-grade material.
The strategic location of the project — situated near a major manganese-producing hub — enhances its exploration profile. The company’s exploration work at Wandanya is part of a broader initiative to explore and define critical minerals essential to industrial and technological development.
Funding Support through State Exploration Grant
To support its exploration efforts, Black Canyon has secured co-funding through the Western Australian Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS). This merit-based program is administered by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry, Regulation and Safety and is designed to encourage innovative drilling in underexplored regional areas.
The grant will contribute to the ongoing reverse circulation drilling and assist with advancing geological understanding of the region. Future drilling will depend on the outcomes of the current campaign, with assay results expected to be released progressively across the coming months.
Manganese in Focus as a Critical Mineral
Manganese continues to be a key component in steelmaking and increasingly in battery technologies, particularly within nickel-based and lithium-iron-phosphate battery chemistries. Though battery demand for manganese remains a small portion of total global use, its importance in the evolving energy landscape is growing.
Australia remains a leading global producer of manganese ore, with the commodity forming a significant share of the nation’s critical minerals exports. As legacy mines approach end-of-life stages, projects like Wandanya are contributing to the pipeline of future supply sources.
Black Canyon’s continued activity across its Pilbara portfolio reinforces its focus on manganese resource development, driven by both geological prospectivity and growing demand from traditional and emerging sectors.
