DARWIN, Australia: Patronus Resources has defined a 1.5-kilometre J25 gold target after completing its 2026 surface sampling programme at the Pine Creek Project in the Northern Territory.
The ASX-listed explorer said in-fill sampling returned individual surface gold results of up to 0.99 grams per tonne. The anomaly follows the Western Shear Zone and extends across a coherent structural trend.
Patronus first identified J25 during its 2025 programme, when sampling on a 400-metre-by-400-metre grid returned gold grades of 0.21 g/t and 0.22 g/t.
The 2026 programme tightened spacing to 100 meters by 400 metres. Results included 0.99 g/t, 0.57 g/t, 0.20 g/t and 0.11 g/t gold, according to the company.
Managing Director John Ingram said the anomaly was notable because it followed a clear structural trend in an area with limited modern exploration.
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The wider sampling programme covered 3,032 locations. It also refined the Cardamom and Bay Leaf prospects at Burnside SW and the Mountain Goat and Snow Leopard prospects at Mt Margaret.
Four drill rigs are active elsewhere across the Northern Leases and Burnside North. However, Patronus has not said that drilling has started at J25. The company said it will integrate the surface data before finalising J25 drilling plans.
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Results from about 500 outstanding samples at Jessops are expected to form the final tranche of the 2026 surface programme. Patronus reported A$65 million in cash and liquid investments as of June 30, 2026.