Catalina Resources Unveils 48m of Shallow High-Grade Gold at Yerilgee

Exceptional First Hole Results at Chicken Little

Catalina Resources Limited (ASX: CTN) has announced a breakthrough in its exploration efforts at the Yerilgee Project, located in Western Australia's Central Yilgarn region. The first reverse circulation drill hole at the Chicken Little Prospect has delivered an impressive 48-metre intersection averaging 2.61 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, starting from a shallow depth of approximately 15 metres. Notably, this includes an 8-metre section grading 11.6 g/t gold, highlighting a concentrated high-grade core within a broader mineralised envelope.

Geological Significance and Continuity

The mineralisation is hosted within banded iron formation, a geological setting often associated with significant gold deposits. The continuity of elevated gold grades across multiple consecutive one-metre samples reinforces the robustness of Catalina's geological model. Importantly, the drill hole ended in mineralisation, indicating that the gold system remains open at depth and may extend further, warranting additional drilling to delineate its full scale.

Context Within Broader Exploration Campaign

This result forms part of Catalina's Phase 1 drilling campaign, which has completed nearly 8,700 metres of reverse circulation and aircore drilling across the Central Yilgarn Project. While assays from the remaining 10 holes at Chicken Little, totaling 655 metres, are still pending, the initial findings significantly enhance the prospectivity of the area. Historical drilling and surface sampling had previously identified a mineralised corridor approximately 400 metres in length, and these new results provide strong evidence of a coherent, structurally controlled gold system.

Financial Position Supports Aggressive Follow-Up

Following a recent portfolio rationalisation and placement to Newcam Metals Pty Ltd, Catalina expects to hold an indicative cash balance of around A$4.32 million. This solid financial footing positions the company well to undertake systematic follow-up drilling at Chicken Little without the immediate need for capital raising. Executive Director Ross Cotton described the results as a "genuine step-change" for the Yerilgee Project, emphasizing the potential for strike and depth extensions that could translate into a resource-scale discovery.

Looking Ahead

With approximately 4,000 samples still to be assayed from the Phase 1 program, the coming months promise to shed further light on the extent and grade continuity of the gold system at Yerilgee. The combination of shallow, wide, and high-grade mineralisation is exactly the kind of architecture that exploration companies seek in the Yilgarn Craton, a region renowned for its world-class gold deposits. Catalina's methodical approach, backed by strong cash reserves, suggests it is well placed to advance this promising project toward a potential resource definition.