** Shares of Australia's Strickland Metals STK.AX rise as much as 13.2% to A$0.215, post their biggest intraday pct gain since November 12

** Mineral explorer said on Tuesday it discovered new body of high-grade gold and base metals mineralisation from initial exploration drilling at Red Creek Prospect in Rogozna project, Serbia

** Co completes A$55 million ($38.61 million) placement at A$0.16 per share, a 15.8% discount to stock's last closing price

** Around 15.8 mln shares change hands, nearly 5.6x 30-day average

** STK up 7.7% YTD

($1 = 1.4245 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Keshav Singh Chundawat in Bengaluru)

((Keshav.singhchundawat@thomsonreuters.com))