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Highlights
- Patronus Resources uncovers high-grade gold zone at Merlin Prospect
- Drilling results extend the Mertondale East trend at Cardinia Project
- Further exploration and metallurgical testing scheduled for 2025
Patronus Resources Ltd (ASX:PTN) has unveiled a high-grade gold discovery at the Merlin Prospect, part of its wholly owned Cardinia Gold Project in Western Australia's Leonora region. This find further extends the promising Mertondale East trend, which spans approximately 12 kilometres and continues to show strong growth potential.
Strong Intersections Fuel Exploration Optimism
A recently completed 12-hole reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at Merlin covered 1,698 metres and targeted a north-plunging mineralised zone. The program yielded several standout intercepts, including:
- 10m at 2.10 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 94m (MT25RC007)
- 24m at 1.16 g/t gold from 61m (MT25RC008)
- 10m at 1.24 g/t gold from 76m (MT25RC006)
These results affirm the continuity of gold mineralisation both down-dip and along strike. Notably, the Merlin discovery is situated just 400 metres north of the Mertondale 3-4/North Resource, which already hosts an estimated 138,000 ounces of gold. This proximity reinforces the possibility of a significant expansion to the resource base at Merlin.
Geology Supports Broader Resource Potential
The Merlin Prospect lies within the Mertondale East Shear Zone, a region emerging as a pivotal gold-bearing structure in the area. Historical data from Merlin have recorded grades as high as 17.5 g/t gold, supporting the consistency and reliability of mineralisation.
Similar to other nearby deposits like Merton’s Reward and Mertondale 5, the gold mineralisation at Merlin is found within basalt and felsic porphyry rock formations. This consistency suggests the potential for further high-grade extensions, particularly as the gold shoot is expected to plunge northward at a gentle angle.
Strategic Exploration and Testing Ahead
Patronus Resources is planning an additional phase of RC drilling in the third quarter of 2025 to follow up on these promising results. These efforts will target the continuation of the high-grade shoot and explore the broader Merlin trend. Alongside this, metallurgical testing is set for the fourth quarter of 2025 to evaluate gold recovery prospects from the newly uncovered mineralisation.
This development further strengthens Patronus Resources' broader Cardinia Gold Project, which holds a one-million-ounce resource base. As part of the evolving gold landscape in Australia, Patronus (ASX:PTN) continues to attract attention from investors tracking resource growth stories among emerging and established ASX200 stocks.
With Merlin demonstrating both shallow and high-grade potential, the next exploration phase is expected to further outline the scale of this gold system and its contribution to the company’s strategic portfolio in the region.
