DAKAR, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Australian miner Predictive

Discovery ( PDIYF ) and Canada's Robex Resources ( RSRBF ) said

they will merge in a A$2.35 billion ($1.55 billion) all-share

deal, creating a mid-tier gold producer in West Africa.

Under the deal, Robex shareholders will receive 8.667

Predictive shares for each Robex share, giving them about 49%

ownership of the combined company, according to a joint

statement released late on Sunday.

The new company will be listed in Sydney and seek a dual

listing on Canada's TSX Venture Exchange.

The merger brings together Predictive's Bankan and Robex's

Kiniero gold projects in Guinea, which are just 30 km (18.64

miles) apart, with output expected to surpass 400,000 ounces

annually by 2029, supported by 9.5 million ounces in resources

and 4.5 million ounces in reserves.

Buoyed by record-high gold prices, the gold mining sector is

in a period of consolidation, as firms leverage strong margins

to scale through mergers and acquisitions.

Robex's Kiniero mine, set to begin production in December,

will help fund development of Bankan, which targets a final

investment decision in mid-2026, the two miners said.

Guinea, better known for bauxite and iron ore, is attracting

fresh interest in gold exploration despite longstanding

challenges from artisanal mining and a recent regulatory

crackdown.

Canada's Fortuna Mining ( FSM ), for example, signed a

joint venture this month with Australia's DeSoto Resources

to explore the Siguiri basin in northeastern Guinea.

Robex CEO Matthew Wilcox will lead the merged company, while

PDI's chief Andrew Pardey will chair it.

The deal has backing from Robex's major shareholders Cohen

Group and Eglinton Mining, which hold a combined 25% of the

company. It is expected to close by year-end, pending court and

shareholder approvals.

($1 = 1.5175 Australian dollars)