I have black sheep that have developed white patches on their noses, I always get it on one or two sheep just a bit, but since I moved holdings about half my sheep now have it (been there a year, but it didn't take that long for it to develop). I believe it to be caused by a deficiency in copper (as that is the primary mineral linked to pigmentation). Next time I need the vet for anything I will get him to take bloods to check. White wool developing in ageing sheep is different and usually starts elsewhere.
Note that we are talking about "hair" on noses/tops of head, not wool. My guess is that the hair is replaced/regenerated more often than wool so any pigmentation problem will show itself sooner in the hair. In the case of some of my sheep the hair was rubbed off due to midge irritation last summer and has re-grown white.
Black sheep are often used in white flocks as a marker to indicate copper deficiency.