Highlights

• Latest assays have demonstrated thick manganese enriched shale mineralisation at KR1 target.
• The manganese discovery at KR1 has a cross strike width of 200-500m and a minimum strike extent of 600m.
• KR1 is one of the six targets drilled within the Balfour Manganese Field.
• The Company expects assay results from other targets over the next two months.

Australian mining exploration company Black Canyon Limited (ASX: BCA) has received a new set of assay results from the ~7,000 metres RC drilling campaign conducted at the Balfour Manganese Field, Western Australia. The program comprised six targets, including KR1.

The latest results highlighted thick, shallow manganese enriched shales at KR1. The Company has reported multiple higher-grade intersections and following are the significant intersections reported at KR1:

• KRRC024 - 3m @ 19.2% Mn from surface
• KRRC025 - 15m @ 18.6% Mn from 2m, including: 7m @ 26% Mn from 10m
• KRRC027 - 23m @ 12.2% Mn from 11m, including: 4m @ 18.4% Mn from 12m
• KRRC031 - 10m @ 15.2% Mn from 15m, including: 4m @ 18% Mn from 15m
• KRRC045 - 20m @ 11.4% Mn from 9m
• KRRC046 - 22m @ 12.2% Mn from 1m, including: 3m @ 18% Mn from 1m

Importantly, the Company states that the overall geology, grade and thickness are similar to the mineralisation at its Flangan Bore Project, whereby the Company has delineated a substantial Mineral Resource Estimate totalling 171Mt @ 10.3% Mn.

Click here to learn about previous assay results at Balfour’s KR1 target.

Data source: Company update

More about the drilling program and assay results

Black Canyon has a significant foothold in the underexplored Balfour Manganese Field. As part of the drilling program, 220 holes were drilled across six areas to examine several targets across Balfour.

With these assay results, the Company has reported almost half of the KR1 drillhole results.

At KR1, BCA assessed a 2,500 metres segment of outcropping supergene mineralisation that never witnessed drilling.

The Company has reported significant manganese mineralisation with solid zones of surface manganese enrichment striking along a 1,500-metre-long ridge. The reported zones extend 10m to 25m downhole and are 200-500m wide.

Mapping and drill data validated that the mineralised horizon is striking to the N-NE and shallowly dipping to the west.

Additional untested manganese enrichment has been identified through satellite imagery and check mapping.

Further assay results for other targets are due in the next two months.

Meanwhile, the Company is advancing feedstock variability studies aimed at the production of High Purity Manganese Sulphate (HPMSM). To know details of the Company’s HPMSM testwork, click here.

BCA shares last traded at AU$0.145 apiece on 11 September 2023.