Black Canyon: Manganese grades of 48% to 50% possible from Wandanya

Black Canyon (ASX:BCA) has shown manganese concentrates of between 48% and 50% can be achieved from the W2 prospect – part of the company’s wider Wandanya project in Western Australia – through a simple density-based technique.

This conclusion was among the results of Black Canyon’s benchtop scale beneficiation test work which was conducted on composite reverse circulation (RC) drill chip samples.

Multiple composites were upgraded to well beyond the 44% benchmark for manganese (Mn) oxide. This included WD01MG composite – which shifted from a raw feed grade of 21.2% Mn to between 44% and 49% Mn, and WD02HG – which shifted from a raw feed grade of 41.5% Mn to grades of between 51% and 53% Mn (with defining variables including HLS applied SG and size fraction).

The range of concentrate grades sat between 50% and 48% Mn, achieved with 68% to 76% recoveries when combining the moderate and higher-grade composites results.

Managing director Brendan Cummins said these metallurgical test work results pointed to the significance of the Wandanya project, which is located on the eastern margin of the Oakover Basin.

“Completing this early stage metallurgical test work and generating a high grade, low impurity concentrate, in excess of the premium 44% Mn oxide benchmark, has been a great achievement and start to 2025,” Mr Cummins said.

“The style of high-grade hydrothermal manganese mineralisation we have discovered
at Wandanya lends itself to the application of density-based beneficiation techniques with
manganese minerals being denser than the less dense dolomite host rocks.

“The test work confirmed our expectation: That the mineralisation would beneficiate in a similar manner to the hydrothermal ores processed at Woodie Woodie and demonstrates the potential to produce a high-quality manganese concentrate for the silico and ferro alloying industry and as feedstock for high purity manganese sulphate (HPMSM).”

Black Canyon shares moved up after the news; the company last traded at 7.1cps – a rise of 4.41% since the market opened.

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