Firebird Metals Limited announced the acquisition of the Wandanya Manganese Project, which is located 50km to the south-west of the Woodie Woodie Manganese Operation in the Eastern Pilbara Region of Western Australia. Wandanya is an advanced exploration project that provides Firebird with a near-term Direct Shipping Ore opportunity. A large amount of historical exploration work has been completed with 113 holes drilled for 1,975m.

Drilling intersected near-surface, high-grade manganese, with mineralisation specifications in line with what is required for a DSO operation and Firebird is now focused on completing further drilling and development work to delineate a DSO Mineral Resource, which can be immediately supplied into a growing end user market for manganese. Firebird will commence preparatory work for Wandanya in the new year ahead of targeting its maiden drill program mid-year. The Company is successfully progressing its growth strategy which is focused on the rapid progression of the Oakover Project towards production of manganese concentrate for the steelmaking industry and high-purity sulphate manganese, which is a critical product in the production of battery cathodes for the growing electric vehicle industry.

The acquisition of Wandanya broadens this strategy and provides the Company with near-term potential DSO production and revenue upside, while Oakover continues to be progressed through the development cycle. Wandanya is located 50km south-west of the Woodie Woodie manganese mine in the East Pilbara Region of Western Australia and approximately 300km southeast of Port Hedland. Access to the Project is via the all-weather Port Headland-Marble Bar-Ripon Hills-Nifty Road.

The Project consists of two exploration licence applications E46/1456 and E46/1457, which cover an area of 51Km2. The Donkey prospect is located near the junction of the Redmont Creek and Davis River. Manganese mineralisation crops out in two discrete areas over a 500m long hill area adjacent to the river terrace of Redmont Creek.

Mineralisation appears to be hosted by chert breccia and occurs as a small-massive and ferruginous manganese area developed in the north and south of the prospect area. Maximum mineralised depth to bedrock was estimated at 13m. Extensive drilling has been completed by Pilbara Manganese in 2014 over an area of approximately 390 by 320m.

Within areas of high-grade surficial mineralisation, drilling was conducted on an approximate 10 by 10m spacing. Multiple significant intercepts identified and key results including: 13m at 23.6% Mn from 1m ­ DKAT19 Including 4m at 34.4% Mn from 6m. 9m at 25.2% Mn from 1m- DKRC041 Including 3m at 39.9% Mn from 3m.

8m at 29.5% Mn from 10m- DKRC032; 8m at 24.0% Mn from 1m- DKRC1; 7m at 31.0% Mn from 11m- DKRC15; 7m at 20.9% Mn from 2m- DKRC9; 6m at 29.8% Mn from surface- DKRC4; 3m at 32.0% Mn from 2m EOH In mineralisation- DKAT13; 5m at 40.8% Mn from surface, EOH in mineralisation- DKAT35; 5m at 35.0%Mn from surface- DKRC024; 6m at 30.8% Mn from surface- DKRC045 Including 2m at 40.6% Mn from surface. 7m at 25.3% Mn from 2m, EOH in mineralisation- DKRC2. 7m at 23.5% Mn from surface- DKRC3.

6m at 28.8% Mn from surface- DKRC6. 4m at 36.2% Mn from 1m- DKRC7. Crossroads consist of a flat-topped hill area located adjacent to the Nullagine-Ant Hill-Skull Springs cross roads.

The western edge of the prospect is marked by a 5 to 8m high scarp, with outcropping of rounded shiny black massive manganese occurring in a chert breccia. The hill is approximately 380m long and 80 to 220m wide. Outcropping away from the western edge of the hill is characterised by lateritic material and minor areas of manganese mineralised outcrop.

The prospect covers an area of approximately 1km north to south and is 300m wide. Exploration activities have included rock chip sampling, with significant results including 55.2% Mn and 53.3% Mn. Extensive rock chip sampling has been completed across Wandanya Prospect by Shaw River Resources and Talisman Mining with grades of up to 64.96% Mn returned.

The southern zone has mineralisation defined over an area approximately 1,000 by 800m. No drilling has been completed to date across the Prospect. Commercial terms: Firebird is required to pay $100,000 within 45 days of signing the binding agreement to acquire 100% of the Wandanya Project from Mining Equities Pty Ltd. A further total shipment milestone consideration of up to $500,000 is payable in lots per export shipment or mine gate sale whereby $250,000 for shipments >10,000 wet metric tonnes or $125,000 for shipments of <10,000 wet metric tonnes.

In the event that the maximum total milestone consideration of $500,000 is reached a 1% royalty is payable calculated on a Free on Board (FOB) basis for export shipments or mine gate basis for domestic sales.