Patronus Uncovers New Gold Targets at Pine Creek Ahead of 2026 Drilling

Exploration Breakthrough at Pine Creek

Patronus Resources (ASX – PTN) has announced the completion of Phase 1 of its inaugural surface sampling program at the Pine Creek Project in the Northern Territory. The extensive program, comprising 4,718 samples collected on a 400m by 400m grid, has returned assay results that reveal additional district-scale gold anomalism, particularly at the Eastern Flank and Burnside SW target areas.

These findings build on earlier results and underscore the effectiveness of Patronus’ integrated exploration strategy, which combines modern geophysical reprocessing, structural mapping, and geochemical sampling. The company’s Managing Director, John Ingram, highlighted that these results validate their systematic approach and reveal significant untapped potential in a region that has seen limited modern exploration.

Key Gold Anomalies and Geological Context

The Eastern Flank area, situated along the Woolwonga Shear corridor, a major regional structure known for hosting historical gold deposits, has yielded four coherent gold anomalies named Suplex, Bodyslam, Snakebite, and Pedigree. Notably, the Pedigree anomaly returned a peak assay of 1.25 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, indicating promising mineralisation associated with fold hinges and fault splays in a favourable geological setting adjacent to granite intrusives.

At Burnside SW, two principal gold trends, SW Burnside and Cosmo North, have been delineated. SW Burnside features a broad 6.5-kilometre corridor of anomalous gold coinciding with the altered margins of the Burnside Granite within the Koolpin Formation. This geological setting is analogous to known intrusion-related gold systems worldwide, which often host significant deposits. Cosmo North presents a 2.5-kilometre anomalous trend along a north-northwest structure, with further detailed mapping planned to refine target prioritisation.

Next Steps and Strategic Outlook

Following the completion of the initial sampling phase, Patronus has conducted infill sampling on a tighter 100m by 400m grid over the high-priority Eastern Flank anomalies, with assay results expected shortly. Detailed field mapping is also underway at Burnside SW to better understand the complex geology and support future drill targeting.

These efforts feed into a growing pipeline of high-quality, drill-ready targets that Patronus plans to test aggressively during the 2026 field season, pending permitting and the conclusion of the wet season. The company’s strong cash position of $78 million as of September 2025 provides a solid financial foundation for this campaign.

Broader Portfolio and Market Position

Patronus Resources holds a diversified portfolio including the Cardinia Gold Project in Western Australia, boasting over 1 million ounces of gold resources, and base metals projects such as Iron Blow and Mt Bonnie. The Pine Creek Project itself covers more than 1,500 square kilometres in a highly prospective orogenic belt known for gold and uranium deposits.

With a disciplined exploration approach and a strong balance sheet, Patronus is positioning itself for transformational growth. The recent surface sampling results at Pine Creek add momentum to this trajectory, potentially unlocking new value for shareholders as the company advances towards drilling and resource definition.