Patronus Unveils New High-Grade Gold Shoot at Merlin, Boosting Mertondale East Potential
Patronus Resources has discovered a new high-grade gold shoot at its Merlin Prospect within the Mertondale East Shear Zone, reinforcing the growth trajectory of its Cardinia Gold Project in Western Australia.
- New high-grade gold shoot identified over 450m strike at Merlin Prospect
- 12-hole RC drilling program yields significant shallow gold intercepts
- Mineralisation remains open along strike and down-dip, prompting further drilling
- Merlin located just 400m north of existing 138,000oz Mertondale 3-4/North resource
- Follow-up drilling and metallurgical test work planned for late 2025
Discovery Highlights
Patronus Resources Limited (ASX – PTN) has announced a promising new discovery at its Merlin Prospect, part of the 100%-owned Cardinia Gold Project in Western Australia's Leonora region. A recent 12-hole reverse circulation (RC) drilling program, covering nearly 1,700 metres, has revealed a high-grade gold shoot extending over 450 metres of strike. This discovery lies within the highly prospective 12-kilometre-long Mertondale East Shear Zone, a corridor already known for significant gold mineralisation.
Drilling Results and Geological Context
The drilling campaign returned several notable shallow intercepts, including 10 metres at 2.10 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 94 metres, 24 metres at 1.16 g/t from 61 metres, and 10 metres at 1.24 g/t from 76 metres. These results align with historical drilling data that recorded even higher grades, such as a 2-metre intercept grading 17.46 g/t gold. The mineralisation remains open both down-dip and along strike, indicating potential for further expansion.
Geologically, the Merlin Prospect is situated just 400 metres north of the established Mertondale 3-4/North resource, which contains approximately 138,000 ounces of gold. The mineralisation is structurally controlled within steeply dipping shear zones and associated with felsic porphyry intrusions, which are often linked to higher-grade zones. This structural setting is typical of orogenic gold systems prevalent in the region.
Strategic Significance and Next Steps
Managing Director John Ingram emphasised the importance of the discovery, stating it underscores the exceptional prospectivity of the Mertondale East corridor. The grades and widths observed support the shallow oxide gold target that Patronus has been pursuing, and with mineralisation remaining open, Merlin offers a clear avenue to build upon the existing 1 million ounce resource at Cardinia.
Looking ahead, Patronus plans to undertake follow-up RC drilling in the third quarter of 2025 to test extensions of the high-grade shoots and further explore the northern trend. Additionally, initial metallurgical test work is scheduled for the fourth quarter, which will provide critical data for future processing and development considerations.
Broader Project Context
The Cardinia Gold Project, bolstered by the recent merger with PNX Metals, now boasts a combined gold Mineral Resource exceeding 1.2 million ounces. Patronus’s strategic focus on the Leonora region leverages a strong pipeline of exploration and development assets, including base metals and uranium projects in the Northern Territory. The Merlin discovery adds momentum to the company’s growth strategy, potentially enhancing shareholder value as the project advances.
Bottom Line?
With mineralisation open and follow-up drilling imminent, Patronus’s Merlin discovery could be a catalyst for significant resource growth at Cardinia.
Questions in the middle?
- How will upcoming metallurgical test results influence the processing strategy for Merlin’s gold mineralisation?
- What are the potential resource upgrades expected from the planned Q3 drilling program?
- Could the Merlin discovery trigger renewed exploration interest along the entire 12km Mertondale East Shear Zone?
