** Shares of Australia's Leeuwin Metals LM1.AX rise as much as 47.4% to A$0.28, their highest level since mid-November 2023

** Stock posts its biggest intraday pct gain since August 4; on track to record its second consecutive day of gains, if trend holds

** The mineral explorer finds shallow high-grade gold from first drilling at Evanston Prospect within Marda Gold Project in Western Australia (WA)

** Near 903,421 shares change hands, 3.9x the 30-day average volume

** Stock has risen 85.7% this year, including session's gains

(Reporting by Roshan Thomas in Bengaluru)

((Roshan.Thomas@thomsonreuters.com;))