Black Canyon (ASX:BCA) further confirmed the potential for direct ship ore (DSO) at its Wandanya project in Western Australia, after the fourth and final round of assay results from resource definition and expansion drilling reported consistent zones of high-grade stratiform manganese mineralisation.

The results come from drilling in the southern portion of the project's three-kilometre-long base case footprint. Additional resource expansion drilling has successfully extended the known mineralisation 400 metres to the south.

Manganese is a critical input for global steel production, with the vast majority of world supply consumed by the steel sector, and is increasingly sought for use in electric vehicle battery chemistries. DSO material is particularly attractive because it can be mined and sold with minimal processing, reducing both capital requirements and time to potential revenue.

Managing Director Brendan Cummins said a further 1.4 kilometres of strike to the south remains to be drill-tested and will be targeted in an upcoming expansion reverse circulation (RC) drill program expected to commence shortly.

"Receiving these final assays is a highly rewarding conclusion to our resource drilling program," Mr Cummins said. "The results consistently deliver shallow, high-grade manganese, and confirm a 400-metre southern extension to our three-kilometre base case footprint, highlighting significant growth potential of the Wandanya system."

"Importantly, the mineralisation remains open for a further 1.4 kilometres to the south, and we are eager to recommence drilling to test the potential of the broader nine-kilometre corridor. Mineralisation we discover beyond the drilling we have completed to date adds incremental value to the project."

Mr Cummins emphasised the consistency of the deposit, noting that grade and thickness are remarkably uniform along and across strike, with many intercepts indicating Direct Ship Ore potential and exceeding 40% manganese.

"When you pair these exceptional drill intercepts, scale of the discovery and the positive pilot-scale metallurgical trials, the commercial picture becomes very clear," he said. "We have demonstrated we can produce high-quality, low-impurity concentrates, which significantly de-risks the project and is driving genuine interest from end-users."

Looking ahead, Mr Cummins said the company is approaching a transformational phase. With all resource drilling assays now in hand, the Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for both manganese and iron is on track for completion in September 2026. This will feed into a Scoping Study before year-end.

"This will provide a clear line of sight on the economic viability and potential development of Wandanya as a dual-commodity operation," he said.

Black Canyon shares were steady at 30.0 cents, with a market capitalisation of $48.64 million.