Premier1 Advances Yalgoo Drilling and Rochefort Gold Targets with New Surveys

Maiden Drilling at Yalgoo Targets Untapped Hydrothermal Gold System

Premier1 Lithium Limited (ASX:PLC) has completed its inaugural reverse circulation drilling campaign at the 100%-owned Yalgoo Gold Project, delivering the first systematic test of a large-scale hydrothermal gold system at the Mt Kersey prospect. The 16-hole program, totalling 2,776 metres, focused on four key prospects within a 5 km² mineralised hub centred on the existing Wadgingarra resource. Mt Kersey stands out due to coincident gold and multi-element soil anomalies, including molybdenum, bismuth, tellurium, tungsten, arsenic, copper, and zinc, and surface rock chips grading up to 26.4 g/t Au, a combination not previously drill-tested at meaningful depths.

The program also included follow-up drilling at Carlisle and Crescent South, where Premier1 had previously intersected high-grade gold, such as 10 metres at 3.1 g/t Au and 3 metres at 31.5 g/t Au respectively. Geological logging is ongoing, with assay results anticipated in early Q2 2026. These results will be pivotal in defining follow-up drill targets and potentially expanding the known mineralisation footprint beyond the current 13,000-ounce inferred resource at Wadgingarra. The company's recent exploration efforts at Yalgoo build on its strategic consolidation of 266 km² tenure within the Yalgoo–Singleton Greenstone Belt, a proven gold province flanked by Ramelius Resources and Capricorn Metals. This landholding acquisition, completed in January 2026, removes previous farm-in complexities and positions Premier1 to drive exploration with full ownership.

Geophysical Surveys Extend Rochefort Gold Anomaly Ahead of Planned Drilling

Meanwhile, at the Abbotts North Project, Premier1 has advanced its Rochefort Gold Prospect with a high-resolution ground gravity survey and an UltraFines™ soil orientation survey. The gravity data confirm that gold mineralisation is structurally controlled, occurring at the intersection of multiple major faults and lithological contacts within altered quartz dolerite host rocks. This setting mirrors those of significant Yilgarn gold systems, lending weight to the prospect's potential scale and grade.

The UltraFines™ method, which re-assayed soil samples with enhanced sensitivity, returned higher gold-in-soil values than standard assays, including a peak of 42.9 ppb Au compared to 30.2 ppb Au previously. This validates the technique's effectiveness in detecting gold anomalies beneath shallow transported cover, extending the known Rochefort anomaly footprint. The coherent ~400m by 350m gold-in-soil anomaly remains open along strike and under cover, supporting the case for imminent maiden drilling planned for Q2 2026, pending regulatory approvals. These developments follow a series of geophysical advances, including the recent completion of the gravity survey, which sharpened drill targeting and structural understanding.

Funding and Exploration Outlook

Premier1's exploration expenditure for the quarter was $157,000, supported by non-dilutive funding from the Western Australian Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme and drilling credits with Strike Drilling. The company ended the quarter with $1.59 million in cash, providing a runway for ongoing exploration activities. Payments to related parties amounted to $87,000, primarily director remuneration. The company is progressing heritage clearances and working closely with traditional owners to ensure responsible exploration practices.

With assay results pending from Yalgoo and Rochefort drilling imminent, Premier1 is poised to refine its understanding of these gold systems. The combination of maiden drilling and advanced geophysical techniques, including the innovative UltraFines™ soil sampling, is enhancing target definition and could unlock significant value in underexplored but highly prospective Western Australian greenstone belts.

Premier1’s strategy to consolidate ground and apply precision exploration tools reflects a disciplined approach to unlocking gold resources in proven yet underexplored corridors. The pending assay data and upcoming drill programs will be critical to validating the extent and grade of mineralisation, setting the stage for potential resource growth.

These developments come as Premier1 prepares to commence its maiden drilling at Rochefort, targeting a strong gold anomaly near the producing Crown Prince deposit, a move that underscores the company’s commitment to advancing its portfolio in a competitive gold region. The integration of structural geology, geochemistry, and geophysics exemplifies a modern exploration approach that could differentiate Premier1 in the crowded WA gold exploration sector.

Investors should watch closely for assay releases and regulatory updates that will shape the near-term trajectory of Premier1’s gold projects.

Premier1’s maiden drilling at Yalgoo and its geophysical advances at Rochefort are part of a broader push to unlock value in Western Australia’s prolific mineral belts, leveraging both strategic acquisitions and cutting-edge exploration methods to identify new gold resources.

Premier1’s recent program builds on high-grade hits at Carlisle and the discovery of a new VMS corridor at Yalgoo, highlighting the potential for district-scale mineralisation beyond the Wadgingarra resource. This exploration momentum is complemented by the company’s upcoming maiden drilling at Rochefort, designed based on recent gravity and magnetic surveys that confirm compelling structural targets for gold mineralisation. These combined efforts position Premier1 as a notable player in Western Australia’s evolving gold landscape.

Premier1’s maiden RC drilling at Yalgoo and the advances at Rochefort are detailed further in recent updates, including the high-resolution gravity survey at Rochefort and the high-grade Carlisle hits at Yalgoo. The company’s imminent maiden drilling at Rochefort is also covered in the planned maiden drilling at Rochefort announcement, underscoring the coordinated exploration push across its portfolio.