Black Canyon hits iron and manganese with Wandanya extension drilling in WA

• Drilling north of Wandanya maiden MRE delineated consistent zones of iron mineralisation
• Iron mineralisation identified over 1.8km of strike, often associated with variably enriched manganese
• WA-government co-funded gravity survey extending over 38 sq. km completed
• Number of shallow and deeper anomalies identified and tested by drilling

Black Canyon (ASX: BCA) has obtained promising assay results from expansion drilling at the Wandanya manganese and iron project in the East Pilbara Region of WA.

The drilling was undertaken to the north and south of the Wandanya maiden global manganese mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 23.6 million tonnes (Mt) at 25.8% manganese (Mn), comprising 66% Measured, 26% Indicated and 8.0% Inferred. The company has also reported a maiden global iron MRE of 12.5 Mt ay 54.9% iron (Fe) all classified as Measured.

The wide spaced expansion drilling program evaluated 2.8km and 1.4km of strike to the north and south respectively.

“The extension drill program demonstrates the potential to delineate further mineralisation beyond the base case Wandanya mineral resource,” MD, Brendan Cummins, said.

“Wide spaced drilling intersected multiple high grade iron intervals over 1.8km of strike which compares favourably to the iron mineralisation that forms the Wandanya iron mineral resource.

Mr Cummins said manganese mineralisation was drilled in several holes along one km of strike which are open up-dip and along strike and warrant follow-up investigation.

“Generally, we drilled the down dip extents of a significant iron-rich ridge and encountered multiple zones of high-grade iron between 55% and 60% Fe. The manganese intervals are encouraging because typically, within the Wandanya resource a single manganese horizon was intersected but drill results from the north have shown there are multiple seams of manganese oxide mineralisation,” he said.

“From an exploration perspective we have previously only considered a single seam of manganese but now we have identified several seams this opens up our exploration model that may just find us the next Wandanya in the region.

“The company is entering an exciting development phase since the delivery of the significant and high-confidence maiden mineral resource and we continue to build out our development team. “

The company is undertaking a scoping study which will be finalised later this year providing a clear assessment of the intrinsic value and development pathway of Wandanya.

The project is on target to become the first high-grade manganese mine to be developed for decades in Australia.

The technical merits of the Wandanya manganese and iron targets were recognised with the award of up to $264,800 for co-funded geophysics and deep RC drilling under the WA Government Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS).

BCA was down 7.02% to 26.5¢. Mkt cap $47.15M.

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