Blackstone Minerals (ASX: BSX) has regained the ability to resume exploration at its Mankayan copper-gold project in the Philippines after the cease and desist order issued by the local Municipal Mayor was lifted.
The decision reopens the path to restart drilling in support of a pre-feasibility study (PFS) after Blackstone affiliate Crescent Mining & Development Corporation spent the past several months working with local community groups and indigenous peoples, as well as regional and national government bodies to secure the outcome.
With the order removed, Blackstone has turned its focus back to study work at Mankayan, where a substantial JORC 2012 mineral resource and a large indicated component provide the base for the next phase of technical and drilling activity.
Blackstone is planning to drill as many as 10 holes averaging between 800 and 1,000 metres in length as part of the PFS program.
High-Grade Zone Extensions
That work will test potential extensions to the project’s high-grade zones, improve understanding of the steeply dipping mineralised veins, gather additional geotechnical data, and provide more material for ongoing metallurgical test work.
Blackstone has also received strong interest from consultants and engineering groups across the various PFS workstreams, and is evaluating proposals before awarding those packages.
Metallurgical test work has been running for the past three months with the Pitch Black Group, with results expected by mid-2026.
Additional technical work planned in support of the study includes modern LiDAR (light detection and ranging) to update 3D models and unmanned aerial vehicle geophysical surveys to sharpen future exploration targeting.
Crescent Mining & Development will continue active dialogue with the Municipal Mayor, community members, and regional and national government bodies as Blackstone works to advance Mankayan responsibly and efficiently.
Large Resource Supports Development
Mankayan hosts a JORC 2012 mineral resource of 793 million tonnes at 0.65% copper equivalent, containing 2.8Mt copper, 9.7 million ounces of gold, and 20.4Moz of silver.
Within that total, the Indicated resource stands at 638Mt at 0.68% copper equivalent, containing 2.3Mt of copper, 8.2Moz of gold and 18Moz of silver, giving Blackstone what it describes as a strong foundation for development studies.
The company also ranks Mankayan as the fourth-largest undeveloped copper project in the Philippines by tonnage and describes the deposit as international in scale and relevance.
Executive chair Geoff Gilmour said the lifting of the order had created a clear pathway to advance Mankayan.
“A project of Mankayan’s size and international importance cannot be underestimated and I look forward to updating shareholders and stakeholders as the PFS work and associated drilling activities progresses,” Mr Gilmour said.
