Premier1 Lithium has significantly expanded a gold-in-soil anomaly at its Rochefort Prospect in Western Australia, confirming high-grade assays and revealing a larger prospective geological footprint. The company plans further targeted exploration in early 2026.
- Gold-in-soil anomaly at Rochefort expanded to 350m by 350m
- Peak gold assays up to 11.7 g/t confirmed in infill soil sampling
- Reprocessed airborne magnetic data reveals larger quartz dolerite host
- Rochefort structurally favorable and near Crown Prince gold deposit
- Ultrafine™ soil program and drilling planned for first half of 2026
Expanding Gold Footprint at Rochefort
Premier1 Lithium Limited (ASX, PLC) has announced a significant advancement in its gold exploration efforts at the Rochefort Prospect, part of the Abbotts North Project in Western Australia's prolific Murchison region. Recent infill soil sampling has expanded the gold-in-soil anomaly to an impressive 350 metres by 350 metres, with peak assay results reaching up to 11.7 grams per tonne (g/t) of gold. This anomaly remains open to the south beneath shallow colluvial cover, suggesting further potential for discovery.
The Rochefort anomaly now rivals surface expressions of major gold systems within the Yilgarn Craton, a world-renowned geological province. The expanded footprint and high-grade assays provide compelling evidence for a concealed gold system beneath thin transported cover, a key factor in unlocking new exploration targets.
Geological Context and Structural Advantage
Reprocessing of historical airborne magnetic data has revealed a substantially larger quartz dolerite host rock footprint than previously understood. This dolerite unit, known to host several world-class gold deposits such as Northern Star Resources’ Golden Mile and Regis Resources’ Rosemont, intrudes tightly folded ultramafic stratigraphy at Rochefort. This structural setting is highly favorable for gold mineralization due to the contrasting rock rheologies that can concentrate mineralizing fluids.
Importantly, Rochefort lies just 20 kilometres from the Crown Prince deposit, a recent discovery and development success owned by New Murchison Gold Limited. Crown Prince boasts a resource of 2.2 million tonnes at 3.9 g/t gold for 279,000 ounces, with mining and ore shipments already underway. This proximity underscores Rochefort’s potential within the same underexplored greenstone belt.
Strategic Exploration Plans for 2026
Premier1’s Exploration Manager, Paul Smith, highlighted the significance of the results, noting the anomaly’s large footprint and the plan to deploy the company’s proprietary Ultrafine™ soil sampling technology in early 2026. This approach aims to systematically track the gold system beneath the transported cover and refine drill targets ahead of a planned drilling campaign in the first half of next year.
The company’s methodical, low-cost exploration strategy over the past 12 months is beginning to pay dividends, with Rochefort emerging as a priority target among several promising prospects within the Abbotts North Project. The ongoing integration of geophysical, geological, and geochemical data is expected to generate steady news flow as exploration advances.
Cautious Optimism Amid Early-Stage Exploration
While the expanded anomaly and high-grade soil assays are encouraging, it is important to note that no drilling results have been reported yet, and the gold system remains concealed beneath transported cover. Geological similarities to nearby deposits do not guarantee economic mineralization at Rochefort. Nonetheless, the combination of a large-scale anomaly, proven host rocks, favorable structure, and proximity to an active mine provides a strong foundation for further exploration.
Bottom Line?
Premier1 Lithium’s Rochefort Prospect is shaping up as a compelling gold target, with early results setting the stage for a critical exploration phase in 2026.
Questions in the middle?
- Will upcoming drilling confirm the extent and grade of gold mineralization beneath the colluvial cover?
- How will the Ultrafine™ soil sampling refine the understanding of the concealed system?
- Can Rochefort replicate the success of nearby Crown Prince and other world-class deposits?