Patronus lifts Mertondale gold growth potential with high-grade results

• Patronus hits high-grade gold in follow-up RC drilling at Mertondale
• Mineralisation now extends 1.5km north of existing resource
• Metallurgical testwork is underway

Special report: Patronus has unveiled another batch of promising gold results from the Mertondale project with high-grade hits confirming strong growth potential across the broader Cardinia gold asset east of Leonora in WA.

Follow-up RC drilling revealed more potential at the Merlin prospect with results of up to 13m at 3.71g/t Au from 28m and 25m at 1.01g/t from 77m.

The mineralisation now extends 1.5km north of the 480,000oz Mertondale resource, highlighting the scale and continuity of the system along the 10km Mertondale Shear Zone.

Meanwhile, Patronus Resources’ (ASX:PTN) step-out drilling at Gargamel, just south of Merton’s Reward, has confirmed mineralisation stretching another 500m to the south.

Notable shallow intercepts include 16m at 0.81g/t Au from 18m and 6m at 1.65g/t from surface, suggesting the potential for low-cost, near-surface additions to the resource base.

Complementing the exploration results, metallurgical drilling in resource areas has returned up to 11m at 7.72g/t Au from 89m and 19m at 2.74g/t from 32m, reaffirming the continuity and grade of mineralisation while providing key samples for testwork.

Prepped for resource expansion

Patronus believes the 22-hole 2934m RC program has strengthened confidence in the Mertondale system and sets the stage for resource growth.

PTN managing director John Ingram said the company demonstrated continuous mineralisation extending north and south of the current resource areas, with several zones open along strike and at depth.

“With metallurgical testwork already underway and additional drilling planned for 2026, Mertondale continues to emerge as a cornerstone asset within the broader Cardinia Gold Project,” Ingram said.

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Cardinia historical production and location in gold hotspot

Formed through the August merger of Kin Mining and PNX Metals, Patronus is backed by a seasoned leadership team and a strong balance sheet with $79m in cash and liquid investments.

The Cardinia project, just 40km from Leonora, is close to existing infrastructure and third-party operations, and features free milling ore that lends itself to processing using conventional carbon-in-leach operations.

It hosts the Mertondale and Cardinia East deposits with resources of 10.4Mt grading 1.4g/t, or 480,000oz of contained gold, and 10.4Mt at 1.4g/t, or 475,000oz of contained gold, respectively.

Mertondale also features historical production of 274,724oz at an average grade of 4.73g/t and has mining proposal and access approved while Cardinia East’s mining proposal is well advanced.

This article was developed in collaboration with Patronus Resources, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.