Blackstone Minerals Ltd. said a cease-and-desist order on its Mankayan copper-gold project in the Philippines has been lifted, clearing the way for exploration activities to resume and drilling for a pre-feasibility study to begin in the near term.
The order, issued by the municipal mayor of Mankayan, had previously halted exploration work by the company’s local affiliate, Crescent Mining & Development Corp.
Blackstone said the lifting of the order follows months of engagement with local communities, including indigenous groups, as well as regional and national government agencies.
The company plans to commence drilling in support of a pre-feasibility study, with up to 10 holes targeted, each averaging between 800 meters and 1,000 meters in depth. The program is designed to test extensions of high-grade zones, improve geological understanding of mineralized veins, and gather geotechnical and metallurgical data.
The Mankayan project hosts a JORC-compliant mineral resource of 793 million tonnes at 0.65% copper equivalent, containing an estimated 2.8 million tonnes of copper, 9.7 million ounces of gold, and 20.4 million ounces of silver, according to the company.
Within this, indicated resources total 638 million tonnes at 0.68% copper equivalent, including 2.3 million tonnes of copper, 8.2 million ounces of gold, and 18 million ounces of silver, providing a base for development studies.
The project is described as the fourth-largest undeveloped copper project in the Philippines and of international scale.
Additional workstreams supporting the pre-feasibility study include metallurgical test work, with results expected by mid-2026, as well as planned LiDAR surveys and UAV-based geophysical mapping to refine three-dimensional models and exploration targets.
Blackstone said it has received strong interest from engineering and consulting groups for the study, with contract awards expected following evaluation of proposals.
Executive Chairman Geoff Gilmour said the lifting of the order provides “a clear pathway forward” for advancing the project, adding that the company will continue engagement with stakeholders to support responsible development.
The Mankayan project is among the largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits in the country, ranking behind Tampakan, Far Southeast, and Kingking projects based on tonnage, according to industry data cited in the disclosure.
