Black Canyon (ASX:BCA)

Metallurgical Testwork Delivers 48% to 50% Manganese Concentrates

Australian manganese explorer and developer, Black Canyon Limited (Black Canyon or the Company) (ASX: BCA) is pleased to announce the results from benchtop scale beneficiation testwork completed on composite reverse circulation (RC) drill chip samples from the W2 prospect at the Wandanya Project1. The testwork demonstrates substantial uplifts from composite feed grades of 21.2% Mn and 41.5% Mn to concentrate grades well above the premium 44% Mn oxide benchmark grade for both the moderate and higher-grade feed samples. The laboratory testwork used HLS techniques as a proxy for widely used, industry based dense media separation (DMS).


  • Positive results received from initial beneficiation (Heavy Liquid Separation - HLS) provide confidence that a high-grade manganese oxide concentrate can be readily produced from Wandanya using a simple density-based technique.
  • Significant manganese upgrades, on average, well above the premium 44% Mn oxide benchmark achieved:
    • WD01MG composite upgraded from a raw feed grade of 21.2% Mn to grades between 44% to 4G% Mn (depending on HLS applied SG and size fraction)
    • WD02HG composite upgraded from a raw feed grade of 41.5% Mn to grades between 51% to 53% Mn (depending on HLS applied SG and size fraction)
  • Overall concentrate grades range between 50% and 48% Mn achieved with 68% to 76% recoveries respectively when combining the moderate and higher-grade composites results.
  • Low deleterious elements such as iron, aluminium and phosphorus from the head grade feedstock and upgraded concentrate element analysis results.
  • The Wandanya discovery represents a new exploration model on the eastern margin of the Oakover Basin comprising hydrothermal, stratabound manganese and iron. The Company has only drill tested 240m of the 3km W2 target strike and is looking forward to further drilling these high-grade manganese and iron outcrops2C3.

The initial sighter level metallurgical tests provide a positive insight to the beneficiation characteristics of the manganese mineralisation discovered at Wandanya using feed grades similar to those at Woodie Woodie that routinely use DMS as part of its ore processing circuit.

Black Canyon’s Managing Director Brendan Cummins said:

“Completing this early stage metallurgical testwork 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. 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 testwork 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).”

“We continue to learn more about the W2 manganese prospect with these additional layers of analysis and we are quickly building a greater understanding of the prospect’s potential. My main conclusion to date has been the simplicity of the geology, with shallow high-grade mineralisation and now we have demonstrated how readily the manganese can be upgraded using a simple and established density-based process. Our immediate focus is to complete a Heritage Survey and then further drilling down dip and along strike so we can understand the full scale and significance of the discovery.”

“We have only drill tested 240m of strike or less than 10% of the 3km long manganese target based on mapping and rock chip sampling2. This is why we are very keen, following the west season, to get the rig back to site as soon as possible and test not only the manganese targets but also the recently announced high-grade iron mineralisation we have mapped over 2km adjacent to the manganse3.”

Figure 1. W2 Prospect, RC drill bags from WDRC031 in the foreground

W2 Prospect, Wandanya (BCA 100%)

Heavy Liquid Separation Testwork

Testwork samples were selected from about 110kg of RC drill chip samples collected from the W2 drilling program completed in September 20241. Whilst diamond core would be preferable to RC drill chips, for this early-stage sighter level beneficiation testwork, the processing of RC chips does provide initial concentrate grade and recovery data that can be applied to more detailed diamond core based testwork when available.

To facilitate representative examples of mineralisation, the drill chip samples were collected from six holes, with two holes each from a northern, central and southern drill line along 240m of drilled strike. A moderate and high composite grade of 20% Mn and 40% Mn was targeted based on the average intersection around 30% Mn with reasonably distinct moderate grades in an upper zone and higher grades closer to the footwall. The mineralised intervals were all intersected from less than 10m depth. All the samples were crushed to -10mm and then combined as required to produce a moderate (WD01MG) and higher (WD02HG) grade composite.


Click here for the full ASX Release

This article includes content from Black Canyon, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.

The Conversation (0)
Locksley Resources Limited  Strengthens Leadership to Accelerate Growth Strategy

Locksley Resources Limited Strengthens Leadership to Accelerate Growth Strategy

Perth, Australia (ABN Newswire) - Locksley Resources Ltd (ASX:LKY) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Pat Burke as Non-Executive Chairman. Mr Burke brings proven experience and success in advancing rare earth element (REE) projects and has significant corporate governance expertise, ASX listed leadership experience and a strong track record in the resources sector.

In his role as Executive Chairman of Meteoric Resources NL (ASX:MEI), MC ~$370m, he oversaw the transformative acquisition and advancement of the Caldeira ionic clay REE project in Brazil, one of the world's largest high grade ionic clay rare earth deposits. Mr Burke was actively involved in all aspects of the project's initial progression, including negotiations with government agencies, local partners and funders.

He is a qualified lawyer, with over 20 years legal and corporate advisory experience. Mr Burke's legal expertise is in corporate, commercial and securities law. His corporate advisory experience includes identification of acquisition targets, deal structuring and financing and project development.

He has held Board roles across numerous ASX companies, as well as AIM and NASDAQ-listed companies, including Mandrake Resources and Vulcan Energy Resources.

Locksley is entering a significant growth phase as it advances its Mine to Market Strategy. In conjunction with Mr Burke's appointment, Mr Nathan Lude will transition from Chairman to the newly created role of Head of Strategy, Capital Markets & Commercialisation. This reflects the Company's focus on advancing its U.S. minerals projects, processing pathways and downstream critical minerals and technology initiatives. In this role Mr Lude will dedicate his time to:

Downstream Technology & Commercialisation

- Coordinating Locksley's collaboration with Rice University to fast-track antimony extraction, processing and energy storage innovation

- Securing commercial licensing opportunities, pilot site identification, and deployments

- Driving the establishment and contributions of Locksley's U.S. subsidiary and Advisory Board

Strategic Partnerships & Government Engagement

- Building strategic partnerships and alliances with U.S. defense, energy, and targeted technology sectors

- Coordinating engagement through GreenMet, including submissions to U.S. federal and state government programs and funding opportunities such as the DOE, DoD, and EXIM Bank

Capital Markets & Investor Growth

- Overseeing marketing, investor relations, and public relations

- Coordinating with ASX funds and investors, while expanding the U.S. investor base via OTCQB

- Assessing growth pathways to OTCQX, NASDAQ, SPAC structures, and Frankfurt listing

Mr Lude commented:

"Locksley has rapidly advanced its growth strategy in recent months, advancing both upstream project development and new downstream opportunities. This change allows me to focus on our Mine to Market initiatives in the U.S., where our projects and partnerships can meaningfully strengthen America's critical minerals supply chain. With Pat leading the Board, drawing on his experience and success in identifying and advancing the Meteoric REE opportunity and his deep industry knowledge on critical minerals, I can dedicate my time to building the business foundations for Locksley's next phase of investor growth."

Mr Burke commented:

"Locksley's integrated approach from resource development through to downstream processing and advanced applications is well aligned with the current U.S. focus on secure, strategic critical minerals supply chains. I look forward to working with the Board and management to advance the Company's portfolio and deliver value for shareholders."



About Locksley Resources Limited:

Locksley Resources Limited (ASX:LKY) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF) is an ASX-listed explorer focused on critical minerals in the United States of America. The Company is actively advancing exploration across the Mojave Project in California, targeting rare earth elements (REEs) and antimony. Locksley Resources aims to generate shareholder value through strategic exploration, discovery and development of critical minerals for U.S.

Mojave Project

Located in the Mojave Desert, California, the Mojave Project comprises over 240 claims across two contiguous prospect areas, namely, the North Block-Northeast Block and the El Campo Prospect. The North Block directly abuts claims held by MP Materials, while El Campo lies along strike of the Mountain Pass Mine and is enveloped by MP Materials' claims, highlighting the strong geological continuity and exploration potential of the project area.

In addition to rare earths, the Mojave Project hosts the historic "Desert Antimony Mine", which last operated in 1937. Despite the United States currently having no domestic antimony production, demand for the metal remains high due to its essential role in defense systems, semiconductors, and metal alloys. With surface samples grading up to 46% Sb as well as silver up to 1,022 g/t Ag, the Desert Mine prospect represents one of the highest-grade known antimony occurrences in the U.S.

Locksley's North American position is further strengthened by rising geopolitical urgency to diversify supply chains away from China, the global leader in both REE & antimony production. With its maiden drilling program planned, the Mojave Project is uniquely positioned to align with U.S. strategic objectives around critical mineral independence and economic security.

News Provided by ABN Newswire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less
EV Resources

EV Resources Executes Strategic MOU with Wogen and XCLR to Fund and Advance Los Lirios Antimony Project

EV Resources Limited (ASX:EVR) (“EVR” or “the Company”) is pleased to advise that it has executed a tri-party Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Wogen Resources Ltd (“Wogen”) and Xcelsior Capital Advisors Ltd (“XCLR”).

Keep reading...Show less
australian dollars and finances.

Western Australia Introduces Latest Round of Exploration Incentive Scheme

The Cook Government has officially welcomed applications for Round 32 of the Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS).

In a Monday (August 4) announcement, Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael said that EIS continues to support innovative exploration across Western Australia.

“By working closely with (the) industry and regional communities, we're accelerating mineral discoveries, supporting local expertise, and creating jobs to ensure WA remains a reliable and trusted global partner,” Michael commented.

Keep reading...Show less
A sack labeled "Investment" and rolled money balanced on a wooden plank.

Saskatchewan Shines in Mining Survey, Finland Takes Global Lead

Finland has taken the top spot in the Fraser Institute’s 2024 Annual Survey of Mining Companies, edging out various US states in what analysts call an increasingly competitive global investment landscape for mining.

The Nordic nation climbed from 17th to 1st place on the Investment Attractiveness Index, driven by high marks for both mineral potential and policy stability.

The US dominated the global top 10 with four entries, while Canada saw fewer provinces among the global leaders than in past years despite Saskatchewan and Newfoundland & Labrador continuing to buck that trend.

Keep reading...Show less
ACDC Metals Ltd

Developing Critical Mineral Assets - Corporate Presentation - July 2025

ACDC Metals Limited (ASX: ADC) (ACDC Metals or the Company) is pleased to announce the Corporate Presentation - July 2025.

Keep reading...Show less
Zeus Resources

Zeus Secures Secondary Listing on the German Stock Exchange

Zeus Resources Limited (ASX: ZEU) (“Zeus” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that its securities are now officially secondary listed on the Börse Frankfurt (Frankfurt Stock Exchange)—marking a significant step in expanding the Company’s international footprint and attracting broader investor engagement.

Keep reading...Show less

Latest Press Releases

Related News

×