** Ardiden ADV.AX soars as much as 71.1% to A$0.325, highest since July 18, 2023
** Gold explorer announces merger with Canadian bullion firm Lac Gold
** Lac Gold shareholders to get 101.4 mln ADV shares as consideration
** Ardiden raises A$10 mln ($6.6 mln) at A$0.20/share, 5.3% premium to last close, to fund merger
** YTD, ADV surges 137%
($1 = A$1.5242)
(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)
((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com))