Catalina Resources Ltd (CTN.AX) Kirkalocka Drilling Nears Following Field Success

Perth, July 8, 2026 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Catalina Resources Limited (ASX:CTN) announced an advancement of exploration activities at its 100%-owned Kirkalocka Gold Project in Western Australia's Mid-West region.

Following the recent acquisition of the Project, Catalina has rapidly progressed from historical data compilation to active field exploration, with reconnaissance programs completed across four priority gold prospects: Highway, Capra, Avis and 2 Mile Bore.

An initial RC drilling program of approximately 2,200 metres has been planned across the four priority targets and will be finalised following receipt and interpretation of the soil assay results.

HIGHLIGHTS

- Initial ~2,200m RC drilling program planned across four priority gold targets, with drilling targeted to commence following receipt and interpretation of soil assay results.

- Systematic evaluation of multiple gold targets surrounding the Kirkalocka Gold Mine continues to support Catalina's Mid-West Gold growth strategy

- Geological mapping and historical rock-chip sampling confirm encouraging gold mineralisation across multiple target areas.

- Historical rock-chip results at Avis include up to 9.89g/t Au.

- Historical drilling confirms gold mineralisation at Highway and 2 Mile Bore, including 6m @ 1.79g/t Au from 42m and 1m @ 4.66g/t Au from 34m.

Executive Director, Ross Cotton, commented:

"Kirkalocka is an important part of our Mid-West Gold strategy of systematically consolidating and advancing a district-scale gold inventory surrounding the Kirkalocka processing facility. With multiple priority targets located adjacent to an established gold mine and processing infrastructure, we believe the Project offers significant exploration upside and a compelling opportunity to build value through exploration success.

Our priority has been to rapidly transition the Project from historical review to drill-ready targets, and we have made excellent progress in a short period of time.

The field reconnaissance work combined with historical assay data have delineated priority targets, this work has allowed us to confidently prioritise drill targets across Highway, Capra, Avis and 2 Mile Bore.

We're keen to get drill rigs turning at Kirkalocka as soon as possible. The work completed to date has put us in a strong position to move rapidly into drilling, and we expect that to occur in the near-term following completion of the current soil program, receipt of the and assay results."

Kirkalocka Project Background

The Kirkalocka Gold Project is located within the southern Wydgee-Meekatharra Greenstone Belt and includes tenure immediately adjacent to the Kirkalocka Gold Mine, which hosts a published Mineral Resource of approximately 240,000 ounces of gold. The Project is also located adjacent (Figure 1*) to the 2.0Mtpa Kirkalocka Gold Processing Plant, which is being advanced towards recommencement by Gylden Resources Limited.

Catalina Resources has rapidly advanced exploration activities at Kirkalocka completing initial reconnaissance across four priority gold targets: Highway, Capra, Avis and 2 Mile Bore (Figure 1). The program included geological mapping, prospect reviews and rock-chip sampling to assess the prospectivity of each target and identify opportunities for near-term drill testing.

Highway Prospect

The Highway Target comprises a fold closure interpreted from airborne magnetic data and supported by geological mapping (Figure 2*). An amphibolite unit forms the core of the fold structure and, together with minor interbedded banded iron horizons represents the primary target horizon.

Historical drilling has confirmed the presence of gold mineralisation associated with this amphibolite sequence.

The target is characterised by a magnetic anomaly associated with a banded iron formation (BIF) within the fold closure. Previous drilling returned encouraging gold intersections, including:

- 6m @ 1.38g/t Au from 27m in hole KKA795; and
- 6m @ 1.79g/t Au from 42m in hole KKA796.

These drillholes are located on either side of the Great Northern Highway. Gold anomalism is associated with ferruginous saprolite developed from weathered banded iron formation units, highlighting the potential for structurally controlled gold mineralisation along the fold axis within the target area.

Capra

The Capra target lies on the northwestern flank of the Wydgee syncline.

Previous soil sampling recovered elevated gold values close to a possible offset zone in the syncline where steeply dipping banded iron and chert formations underlie mafic volcanic units. Brecciated and pitted quartz and chert were recovered in rock chip samples from close to the contact between the volcanics and the chemical sediments. This suggests that mineralised fluids may possibly have intruded along the brittle/ductile contact close to the offset zone in the syncline. Major north-south faulting controlling the western flank of the syncline lies about 200 metres to the west of the prospect which could represent an important conduit for mineralised fluids.

While historical drilling has been limited, geological mapping and historical soil geochemistry have identified several compelling targets that warrant systematic follow-up. Further close-spaced soil sampling is underway to better define priority targets, with the results to guide the initial RC drilling program.

Avis

The Avis Target is underlain predominantly by high-strain amphibolite, basalt agglomerate and felsic volcanic units, with a north-south oriented banded iron formation forming the eastern ridge of the prospect area (Figure 4*). Gabbroic units occur along the eastern margin and numerous calcrete occurrences have also been mapped.

Several historical workings occur within basalt-hosted quartz veins, indicating previous exploration and mining activity. Structurally, the prospect is characterised by north-south trending wrench-related structures and a series of east-west and east-northeast fault splays, providing favourable pathways for fluid movement and gold deposition.

A major barren quartz vein follows the regional NNE-SSW structural trend along the eastern boundary of the prospect, while transported cover obscures portions of the western and southwestern areas.

Historic rock chip sampling by Mount Magnet South NL (ASX:MUM) in the vicinity of the historical workings returned significant gold anomalism, including:

- 9.89g/t Au (sample 17959);
- 2.59g/t Au (sample 18955);
- 2.08g/t Au (sample 17954); and
- 1.18g/t Au (sample 17956)

Annexure 1 contains full table of rock chip results and location details.

These results support the prospectivity of the Avis Target and warrant further systematic exploration.

2 Mile Bore prospect

The T10 prospect is largely covered by transported material with limited outcrop exposure. The prospect is dominated by a major north-south trending structure, the Cuddingwarra Shear, which separates basaltic and felsic volcanic units from migmatites, granitic and gabbroic rocks to the east (Figure 5*).

The primary exploration focus is the prospective basalt-amphibolite sequence adjacent to the main shear corridor, particularly where northeast-southwest-trending faults offset the main structure. These structural positions are considered favourable sites for gold mineralisation.

Historical drilling within the broader target area has intersected gold mineralisation associated with amphibolite and basalt units. Reconnaissance mapping also identified coarse-grained gabbro exposed along two traverses. Previous drilling1 within medium-grained gabbro in drillhole CWRC-6807800-002 returned:

- 1m @ 4.66g/t Au from 34m; and
- 1m @ 0.64g/t Au from 30m.

These results demonstrate the potential for gold mineralisation within both mafic lithologies and structurally controlled settings adjacent to the Cuddingwarra Shear.

Next Steps

Catalina is rapidly progressing the Kirkalocka Gold Project towards drilling. The Company has completed its historical technical review, target generation and reconnaissance field program with an initial ~2,200m RC drilling program now planned.

Soil sampling and heritage assessment are currently underway. Results from the soil program will be integrated with historical drilling, geological mapping and geophysical datasets to finalise drill hole locations with RC drilling expected to commence in the near-term.

*To view tables and figures, please visit:
https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/7E9VB92G

About Catalina Resources Ltd

Catalina Resources Ltd (ASX:CTN) is a mineral exploration company focused on discovering and advancing gold and multi-commodity projects in tier-one jurisdictions. Backed by a technically experienced team with deep industry knowledge, Catalina is committed to creating value through focused exploration across highly prospective and underexplored regions in Western Australia.

The company's core assets are located in the Central Yilgarn and Laverton regions, two of the most historically productive and geologically endowed gold provinces in the country. Both projects have demonstrated the potential to host significant mineralisation, with early-stage drilling already delivering promising results.

  

Related Companies