Can Black Canyon’s New WA Drilling Grant Boost Its Manganese Prospects? | ASX, S&P/ASX 300

Highlights

• Black Canyon secures government funding to support reverse circulation drilling at the Wandanya Project

• Phase-two drilling to explore iron and manganese horizons over a broader strike area

• Project supported under WA’s Exploration Incentive Scheme aimed at advancing critical mineral discovery

Black Canyon Ltd (ASX:BCA), operating within the materials sector, has received government backing for its Wandanya Project in Western Australia. This comes as part of the state’s Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS), a program designed to promote technically innovative exploration initiatives. The announcement aligns with movements on the ASX and S&P/ASX 300, as interest continues to focus on resource development and critical mineral sourcing.

Wandanya Project to Undergo Broader Drilling Phase

The Wandanya Project lies on the eastern flank of the Oakover Basin and has already produced encouraging early-stage exploration outcomes. Black Canyon has only completed drilling along a small portion of the known manganese-bearing strike, despite geological indicators showing mineralisation over a much wider area. The upcoming phase-two reverse circulation drilling campaign will include a significant number of new drill holes to explore both the strike length and depth continuity of the mineralised horizons.

Technical Merits Recognised Under EIS

The grant awarded under the EIS follows a competitive application process that emphasises technical strength and innovation in exploration methodologies. Black Canyon’s proposal highlighted a hydrothermal manganese and iron system with a large surface footprint. This system was initially identified through mapping and sampling, which revealed widespread mineralisation across an extensive outcrop area. According to the company, only a narrow segment of this system has been drill tested so far.

Early Drilling Confirms High-Grade Mineralisation

Preliminary drill programs conducted by Black Canyon have confirmed continuous zones of high-grade manganese. These results support the geological model and justify continued drilling. The next phase will aim to test mineralisation extensions further down dip toward the east. The company also plans to evaluate the cross-strike width, which is substantial based on surface observations.

Wider Exploration Goals in the Oakover Basin

Black Canyon has expanded its land position across the Oakover Basin and the Balfour Manganese Field, consolidating exploration rights across a broad geological setting that remains underexplored. The company now holds an extensive landholding across this region. The broader strategy is aligned with regional exploration aimed at critical mineral development, which forms a key priority under the current government funding approach.

Further Drilling to Be Informed by Phase-Two Results

While the immediate focus is on executing the phase-two program, a phase-three round of drilling is being planned. The timeline and scope of future activities will be shaped by data gathered from the upcoming drilling. These next steps are expected to provide further insights into the scale and continuity of the mineralised system at Wandanya.

EIS Continues to Support Critical Mineral Discovery

The co-funded drilling support comes under the latest round of allocations from the Western Australian Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme. The funding initiative has increasingly supported projects related to critical minerals, reflecting broader strategic goals of enhancing domestic supply chains. A significant portion of recent EIS funding has been directed toward companies exploring for these mineral types.

Company Expands Exploration Across Strategic Locations

Black Canyon (ASX:BCA) continues to build its presence across a region with geological settings favourable for manganese exploration. The company's ongoing exploration programs at Wandanya form part of a wider commitment to unlocking value within the eastern Oakover region. The recent EIS grant marks another step in progressing exploration plans through structured and government-supported initiatives.