Highlights

• Black Canyon has concluded a Reverse Circulation (RC) drill campaign totalling ~7000m across 6 key targets within the Balfour Manganese Field.
• The drill program has confirmed huge manganese mineralisation across multiple prospects.
• As per the firm, geological similarities were noted with the Mineral Resources defined at the Flanagan Bore Project.
• Initial assays are expected in few weeks.

Australian manganese explorer and developer, Black Canyon Limited (ASX: BCA) has completed drilling activities on multiple targets within the Balfour Mineral Field (BMF) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Six key prospects including the prospective KR1 and Balfour targets were tested during the RC drill campaign for a total of about 6927m. It is likely that the initial assays will be received in few weeks.

Triggered by the update, BCA shares jumped nearly 15% to AU$0.155 at the time of writing on 14 August 2023. 

Remarks by BCA Executive Director, Brendan Cummins

Significant manganese mineralisation across Balfour field

Location of the main drill targets across the Balfour Manganese Field and manganese shale horizon (red solid outlines)
Image source: company update

A total of 220 RC holes were completed across the 6 target areas. The program was designed as a first pass to drill test multiple targets across Black Canyons 100% owned tenements within the BMF. The following prospects were evaluated as part of the extensive drill program:

1. KR1 was drill tested using E-W oriented lines, 200m apart with drill holes spaced at 100m or 200m centres. Widespread manganese mineralisation was encountered along the 2500m of strike with stronger zones of manganese enrichment encountered along a 1500m section. Satellite imagery and check mapping has confirmed additional manganese enrichment continues for a further 3km to the north and may persist under thin cover to the south.
2. KR2 was drill tested using E-W oriented lines, 200m apart with drill holes spaced at 200m centres. Manganese mineralisation was encountered along 700m of strike and open to the northwest and southeast.
3. Balfour West target was tested with three N-S oriented drill lines spaced 400m apart, but no obvious manganese enriched shale was intersected.
4. The subcropping target at Balfour East encountered mineralisation over 600m of strike and up to 250m wide extending 10 to 30m downhole. With limited drilling to date the mineralised corridor appears closed to the east but open in all other directions.
5. Damsite was drill tested using E-W oriented lines, 200m apart with drill holes spaced at 100m centres. The mineralisation appears to under cover and trend to the northwest off the tenement.
6. Pickering was drill tested using three N-S oriented lines spaced 800m apart with drill holes located at 100m centres. Significantly Pickering is open to the east and west with subcropping manganese enriched calcareous shales mapped 4km and 4.5km to the east and west respectively.

It is likely that the assays will be delivered in the coming two to three months before the estimation of MREs or Exploration targets as per the analysis of the results validating grade and geological continuity.

RC drilling at KR2 with manganese enriched shale in the foreground

 Wandanya (W2) High Grade Manganese Mineralisation

The Company has also concluded further detailed mineralisation mapping at the W2 prospect where previously reported high-grade rock chip samples delivered grades above 50% Mn extended known mineralisation by 1500m to the north.

BCA is planning to complete an IP survey at the end of the month across the W2 target for assessing the geometry of the mineralisation. It will also confirm about the potential for down dip or structurally controlled manganese mineralisation under shallow dipping carbonate units.