Patronus Resources Ltd (ASX:PTN) has announced the discovery of a high-grade gold shoot at its Merlin Prospect, part of the 100%-owned Cardinia Gold Project in Western Australia’s Leonora region.
The latest results further extend the company's 12-kilometre-long Mertondale East trend, which continues to demonstrate significant growth potential.
Shallow, high-grade intercepts boost exploration prospects
The recent 12-hole reverse circulation (RC) drilling program, which spanned 1,698 metres, targeted a north-plunging trend at Merlin and returned several notable intersections. Among the standout results were:
- 10m @ 2.10 grams per tonne (g/t) Au from 94m (MT25RC007)
- 24m @ 1.16 g/t Au from 61m (MT25RC008)
- 10m @ 1.24 g/t Au from 76m (MT25RC006)
These results highlight the continuation of high-grade gold mineralisation in the area, with the mineralisation remaining open down-dip and along strike. The Merlin discovery lies just 400 metres north of the Mertondale 3-4/North Resource, which contains an estimated 138,000 ounces of gold, further solidifying the potential for an expanded resource at Merlin.
Plan map showing significant down hole intercepts for each of the 12 holes of the Merlin programme.
Strategic location within Mertondale East Shear Zone
Merlin is located within the highly prospective Mertondale East Shear Zone, which is rapidly emerging as a key gold-bearing structure in the region. Historical drilling at the prospect has also produced significant gold intercepts, including up to 17.5 g/t Au, adding further confidence to the potential of this area.
The mineralisation observed at Merlin is similar to that found at other nearby deposits, such as Merton’s Reward, Mertondale 3-4 and Mertondale 5, where the mineralisation is associated with basalt and felsic porphyry intrusions. Similar to these deposits, the company expects the mineralisation at Merlin to continue plunging in a northerly direction about 15 degrees from horizontal.
Long section of the Mert South to Merlin trend looking west showing max au intercepts against the 2025 Optimised Pit outline
Next steps: Follow-up drilling and metallurgical testing
Patronus is planning further exploration to build on the promising results at Merlin. Additional RC drilling is scheduled for the third quarter of 2025, targeting extensions of the high-grade gold shoot and testing the Merlin trend to the north.
In parallel, metallurgical test work will be undertaken in the fourth quarter to assess the gold recovery potential from the newly discovered mineralisation.
Patronus managing director John Ingram said the discovery at Merlin strengthens the Mertondale East corridor’s “exceptional prospectivity”.
"The grades and widths we’re seeing — such as 24 metres grading 1.16 g/t gold and 10 metres grading 2.1 g/t gold — are consistent with the shallow oxide gold we’ve been targeting in this area,” he said. “With the mineralisation remaining open, Merlin presents a clear opportunity for Patronus to rapidly build on the 1Moz Cardinia Gold Project."