# Accelerate Resources Hits High-Grade Manganese at Woodie Woodie North New Pilbara discoveries reveal significant manganese potential near established mining operations in Western Australia. - **Source:** [Sydney Morning Herald - Business](https://www.smh.com.au/rss/business.xml) - **Published:** 2026-10-19 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/f90302fe-81c3-4118-bae7-88defc465a10 ## High-Grade Manganese Discovery Accelerate Resources identified high-grade manganese rock chips reaching 59.6 percent at its Woodie Woodie North project. The discovery spans a 12-kilometre mineralised corridor in Western Australia’s East Pilbara region. Surface sampling at the Faris prospect confirmed four rock chips grading between 53.9 and 59.6 percent, showing remarkably low iron impurity levels. ## New Sea Turtle Prospect Field geologists discovered a large iron and manganese alteration system at the Sea Turtle prospect, measuring 650 by 400 metres. This area had never been drill-tested previously. Initial rock chip samples from two new outcrops returned grades up to 31.4 percent manganese, confirming the fertility of this previously unexplored geological system. ## Strategic Project Consolidation The company recently secured 100 percent ownership of the Woodie Woodie North project, eliminating legacy payments and royalties. This simplified corporate structure allows Accelerate to capture full upside from new discoveries. Management intends to leverage this position to facilitate future funding, offtake agreements, or potential industry partnerships as development progresses further. ## Proximity to Established Mines The project is located just 55 kilometres north of Consolidated Minerals’ long-running Woodie Woodie mine. Accelerate holds a maiden inferred resource of 1.2 million tonnes at 19.1 percent manganese. The company believes it sits on a significant extension of the same mineralised system that supports its globally significant neighbour's multi-decade operations. ## De-risking Area 42 Deposit Accelerate is actively de-risking its cornerstone Area 42 deposit, which currently holds 0.7 million tonnes at 20.7 percent manganese. Recent large-diameter drilling for metallurgical testwork revealed thick zones of visual mineralisation. One specific hole intersected a 72-metre downhole span starting from just 5.6 metres below the surface, confirming strong geological continuity. ## Critical Minerals Policy Context The Australian government recently bolstered its critical-minerals policy by establishing a $5 billion funding facility for a Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve. As manganese remains a vital component for both steel production and the expanding battery market, the commodity is attracting intense strategic interest from both industry players and federal policymakers. ## Corporate Rebranding and Strategy Accelerate Resources operates a dual-pronged strategy including the Balagundi gold project near Kalgoorlie. Reflecting its focus on these two key commodities, the company plans to rebrand as Mango Metals. This name change represents a combination of its manganese and gold assets, signalling a shift toward a more focused resource development identity. ## Upcoming Exploration Pipeline The company is launching a 3,000-metre discovery drilling program at the Gingarrigan prospect within days. Mapping across Gingarrigan and El Largo has identified over 200 outcrops, creating a 10-hectare manganese footprint. With high-grade surface results and a systematic drill pipeline, Accelerate is building a compelling case within this world-class mineral endowment. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/accelerate-hits-manganese-jackpot-with-59-6-percent-pilbara-grades-20261019-p616ss.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_business — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._