Black Canyon Announces Major Manganese and Iron Resource at Wandanya Deposit

PERTH, Australia, Sept. 29, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Black Canyon Limited, an Australian mining company, has announced a significant milestone with the release of a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for its 100%-owned Wandanya Deposit in Western Australia. The deposit, which is part of the Balfour Manganese Field, has been assessed to contain a high-confidence global resource of 23.6 million tonnes (Mt) of manganese at 25.8% Mn (12% cut-off) and 12.5 Mt of iron at 54.9% Fe (50% cut-off). Over 90% of the manganese resource and 100% of the iron resource are categorized as Measured and Indicated.

The Wandanya Deposit showcases exceptional scale and grade quality, comparable to historical tier-one manganese developments. The deposit features outcropping and shallow mineralisation over a 3.4-kilometre strike length, indicating a potentially accessible and straightforward extraction process. The company highlights the deposit’s Direct Ship Ore (DSO) potential, with 3.7 Mt of manganese at 38.9% Mn (35% cut-off) and 5.5 Mt of iron at 57.9% Fe (55% cut-off, 100% Measured).

Metallurgical testwork conducted on the manganese feeds has demonstrated the potential for upgrading the ore to a higher grade. Pilot-scale tests have shown that manganese feeds can be upgraded to up to 41% Mn with 80% recoveries. Additionally, iron drop tower tests have generated a premium 74% lump product grading 59.7% Fe, indicating the deposit’s capability to produce high-quality iron ore.

A Scoping Study evaluating the preliminary economics, dual-commodity development, and DSO opportunities is currently underway. The study is scheduled for completion in December 2026 (Q4 CY2026). This study will provide a comprehensive assessment of the economic viability of the project and the potential for dual-commodity production.

Black Canyon Limited has a proven track record of exploration success, with this discovery adding higher-grade manganese optionality to its existing regional manganese bank. The company has a Global MRE of 315 Mt @ 10.5% Mn across the Balfour Manganese Field, further underlining its commitment to manganese exploration and development.

This major greenfield discovery is significant for the Australian mining sector, particularly in light of the country’s limited number of operating manganese mines. Australia currently features only two operating manganese mines, Woodie Woodie and Groote Eylandt, making new high-grade domestic discoveries highly valuable. The Wandanya Deposit’s potential to produce high-grade manganese and iron directly supports the domestic mining industry and could contribute to the country’s resource export capabilities.