Australian manganese explorer, Black Canyon Limited (ASX:BCA), has announced results from the recent reverse circulation (RC) drill program at the Flanagan Bore Manganese Project. Systematic drilling along a 2,000m long target located between the FB3 and LR1 deposits discovered significant zones of manganese mineralisation.
Black Canyon said there was high-potential to expand the global Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) at Flanagan Bore beyond the current 104Mt @ 10.5% Mn (Indicated) containing 11Mt of manganese.
Black Canyon’s Executive Director, Brendan Cummins, said: “The outstanding continuity of manganese grade and geology has been further highlighted with these latest assay results from the drilling along 2,000m of strike between the LR1 and FB3 deposits.
“The downhole intervals above 15% Mn will potentially add valuable higher-grade tonnes that might be accessed early in a mine sequence – and may also extend the 20-year mine life previously announced from the scoping study.
“The company has rapidly progressed the Flanagan Bore Manganese Project over the past 12 months and is in a strong position to continue its development strategy through a number of de-risking activities over the next 12 months. We remain very excited about the potential of producing manganese products that will be sought after for both the steel and the ever-growing electric vehicle battery market.”
A total of 181 holes for 7,534m of RC drilling was completed at Flanagan Bore during May and June. Along the L1 and TF1 mineralised trend, the majority of the drill lines were spaced 200m apart using angled drill holes located on 25 or 50m centres to obtain complete drill section coverage. Whilst at FB3 and LR1, the overall drill spacing has been reduced to a 100m x 100m grid pattern.
L1 to TF1 Results
Manganese enriched shale has now been delineated from surface along the L1 to TF1 trend extending over 2,000m of strike with a cross width currently defined ranging between 90 to 130m.
Similar to FB3 and LR1 the manganese enriched beds are shallowly dipping and remain open to the southeast. The continuity of the manganese enriched mineralisation will extend the MRE from FB3 along strike to the southwest. Deeper drilling completed as part of this infill phase has yielded much thicker intervals of mineralisation than previously encountered, which has the potential to further expand the FB3 Mineral Resource Estimate and grow the global mineral resources at Flanagan Bore. Significant results were:
- 27m @ 13.7% Mn from surface (FBRC305), including ? 11m @ 15.0% Mn from 3m
- 39m @ 12.3% Mn from surface (FBRC306), including ? 11m @ 14.9% Mn from 23m
- 39m @ 12.3% Mn from surface (FBRC317), including ? 13m @ 15.5% Mn from 21m o 42m @ 11.9% Mn from 1m (FBRC321), including ? 13m @ 15.9% Mn from 25m
- 39m @ 12.2% Mn from 3m (FBRC330) until EOH
- 35m @ 13.2% Mn from 4m (FBRC345)
FB2 Drill Results
A total of 8 holes were completed on a single drill line over the FB2 anomaly targeting a zone of partially outcropping manganese enriched shales located between FB2 and the LR1 deposit. The mineralisation from FB2 appears to go under shallow cover towards LR1 that is located about 3km to the south-west and represents another significant drill target. Initial mapping completed on the anomaly indicated a series of north-east trending folds exposing and repeating the manganese enriched shales at surface. Significant results include:
- 18m @ 11.9% Mn from surface (FBR295)
- 16m @ 12.6% Mn from surface (FBRC298)
- 28m @ 10.8% Mn from 2m (FBRC300)
FB6 Drill Results
A total of 3 holes were drilled at the FB6 anomaly which is located 3.5km along strike to the southwest of the FB5 and FB3 deposit. The holes were drilled on a single line and show similar thickness and grade ranges to FB5 and confirm the significant potential of substantial manganese mineralisation occurring between FB5 and FB6. Significant drill results include:
- 26m @ 9.4% Mn from 3m (FBRC347)
- 28m @ 10.8% Mn from 2m (FBRC348)
