** Shares of Ballard Mining Ltd BM1.AX rise as much as 11.7% to A$0.480, their biggest intraday pct gain since August 7

** Gold explorer hits its highest level since August 15

** Co finds gold at the Neptune prospect at Mt Ida Gold Project in Western Australia

** YTD, stock up 31.1%, including current session's moves

(Reporting by Ananya Verma in Bengaluru)

((ananya.verma@thomsonreuters.com;))