Catalina Resources (ASX:CTN) Unlocks Gold Potential with High-Grade Hits and Strategic Acquisitions

Highlights

• Catalina consolidated a large Central Yilgarn landholding spanning about 65km of prospective strike length.
• Phase 1 RC drilling commenced at the Evanston target area with follow-up exploration planned at Yerilgee.
• High-grade shallow gold intercept at the Chicken Little prospect confirmed a significant mineralised structure.
• The company expanded its portfolio with the Beasley Creek Gold Project acquisition and a binding option to acquire BGM Metals Pty Ltd.

Catalina Resources Limited (ASX:CTN) continued to expand and advance its exploration portfolio during the half-year ended 31 December 2025, focusing on gold and other mineral opportunities across Western Australia and New South Wales. The company progressed drilling programs, strengthened stakeholder engagement arrangements, and completed strategic acquisitions aimed at consolidating its presence in prospective mineral provinces. These activities form part of Catalina’s broader strategy to systematically evaluate and advance early-stage exploration assets across its project portfolio.

Central Yilgarn Gold Project Consolidation

Catalina has strengthened its position within the Central Yilgarn region through the acquisition of the Evanston and Yerilgee tenement packages. The acquisitions created a large contiguous landholding across underexplored greenstone belts within the Yilgarn Craton.

The combined tenements cover approximately 65 kilometres of strike length across belts considered prospective for structurally controlled gold mineralisation. The expanded landholding provides Catalina with a broader exploration footprint across a region regarded as favourable for gold discovery.

Heritage Engagement and Exploration Activities

During the reporting period, Catalina formalised heritage and stakeholder engagement arrangements for the Central Yilgarn Project. In July 2025, the company executed a Heritage Protection Agreement (HPA) with the Marlinyu Ghoorlie Native Title Claimant Group.

The agreement establishes the framework governing heritage management procedures related to exploration activities within the Evanston and Yerilgee project areas. This arrangement supports exploration activities while ensuring heritage considerations are appropriately managed.

Exploration activities progressed during the period with the mobilisation of Phase 1 reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Evanston target area. Announced on 1 December 2025, the program planned approximately 5,670 metres of RC drilling across priority prospects including Leghorn, Viper South and T1B.

The drilling program was designed to test structural and geochemical targets where historical anomalous results had been identified but where previous drilling had been limited.

High-Grade Gold Intercept at Chicken Little Prospect

Following the reporting period, Catalina reported notable results from its Phase 1 RC drilling program at the Chicken Little Prospect, part of the Company’s wholly owned Yerilgee Project in Western Australia’s Central Yilgarn region.

The first reported hole intersected a broad, shallow zone of high-grade gold mineralisation, including a core zone of very high-grade mineralisation. The intersection confirmed a coherent and thick mineralised structure hosted within banded iron formation.

The mineralisation displays a strong grade profile, consisting of a high-grade core surrounded by a broader mineralised halo. The result highlights the potential scale of the emerging system within the Yerilgee project area. Read more.

Expansion with Beasley Creek Gold Project

During the reporting period, Catalina completed the acquisition of the Beasley Creek Gold Project (E47/3490) located on the northern flank of the Rocklea Dome in the Pilbara Craton.

The project covers approximately 46 square kilometres in a district with a history of gold production and exploration. The tenure includes a comprehensive legacy dataset consisting of soil, stream and rock-chip sampling, airborne geophysics and limited historical drilling.

Laverton and Other Project Developments

At the Laverton Gold Project in Western Australia, exploration efforts during the reporting period focused on advancing geological understanding of gold mineralisation identified in earlier drilling programs. Assay results confirmed anomalous gold values within targeted structural zones.

Elsewhere, Catalina completed rehabilitation activities at the Lachlan Fold Project in New South Wales, with the NSW Resources Regulator approving the company’s rehabilitation completion application in August 2025.

The company also continued environmental and regulatory work associated with the Nelson Bay River Iron Project, including the completion of an increased rehabilitation security deposit as required by Mineral Resources Tasmania.

Portfolio Development and Future Plans

As part of ongoing portfolio management, the company has also undertaken rationalisation measures, relinquishing lower-priority tenements while focusing on projects with greater exploration potential.

On 5 March 2026, Catalina entered into a binding option agreement to acquire 100% of BGM Metals Pty Ltd, including exploration licences in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields region. The proposed transaction strengthens the Company’s copper thematic and introduces a pipeline of copper-linked exploration targets across multiple mineral system styles.

Outlook

Catalina continues to advance exploration across its portfolio of underexplored projects located in established mineral provinces. These projects have not benefited from modern exploration techniques, and the Company remains focused on progressing exploration activities aimed at unlocking their potential while seeking additional opportunities to expand its project pipeline.

CTN shares traded at AUD 0.080 on 13 March 2026.