Premier1 Gears Up for Major Gold Drilling Campaign in Western Australia
Premier1 Lithium is poised to commence a significant reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at its high-priority Mt Kersey gold prospect, located within the newly consolidated Yalgoo Gold Project in Western Australia's Murchison region. This move follows the company's recent acquisition of full ownership of the project, which spans 266 square kilometres of the prospective Yalgoo greenstone belt.
Building on Existing Resources and Untapped Potential
The Yalgoo project already boasts a maiden inferred resource at the Wadgingarra prospect, estimated at 150,000 tonnes grading 2.7 grams per tonne gold for 13,000 ounces. This shallow, near-surface resource remains open along strike and at depth, providing a solid base for expansion. Mt Kersey, situated immediately east of Wadgingarra, represents one of the most compelling untested targets in the district.
Planned drilling will focus on a preserved hydrothermal system that extends over one kilometre along strike, coinciding with strong gold and multi-element soil anomalies. These include molybdenum, bismuth, tellurium, tungsten, and arsenic, indicating a complex mineralised environment.
Encouraging Surface Results and Geological Setting
Surface exploration has yielded promising high-grade rock chip samples, with assays returning up to 26.4 grams per tonne gold and 14.2 grams per tonne gold near historical workings. These results suggest the potential for higher-grade mineralisation at depth within a structurally intricate setting.
Geologically, Mt Kersey is hosted within a sequence of sediments, banded iron formation, gabbro, komatiitic basalts, and late-stage intrusive units. Mineralisation appears concentrated along secondary structures in the hanging wall of a major deep-tapping inverse fault, a classic configuration for gold systems in the Murchison region.
Strategic Location and Development Advantages
The Yalgoo district is established gold country, located within trucking distance of processing hubs operated by Ramelius Resources and Capricorn Metals. This proximity to existing infrastructure, including Ramelius' Mt Magnet mill and Capricorn's nearby operations, de-risks future development and enhances the project's economic viability. Should Premier1 delineate a viable resource at Mt Kersey, it could leverage these facilities for faster value realisation.
Historical drilling in the area has been limited, typically stopping short of 40 metres and missing key structural targets. Subsequent exploration by other companies also avoided core geochemical anomalies, leaving Mt Kersey largely untested at meaningful depths.
Drilling Program Details and Financial Support
The upcoming RC program will comprise approximately 15 drill holes totalling 3,700 metres, targeting identified structural corridors and geochemical highs. These targets were pinpointed through geological mapping, reinterpretation of historical data, and analysis of a 2024 drone magnetic survey.
Strike Drilling has been awarded the contract, with operations scheduled to begin mid-month. Drilling costs will be partially offset by up to $180,000 in co-funding from the WA Government's Exploration Incentive Scheme, along with an existing $176,000 drilling credit, significantly reducing cash outlay for Premier1.
Executive director Simon Phillips emphasised that the full acquisition of the Yalgoo Gold Project provides Premier1 with complete exposure to Mt Kersey and its surrounding prospects, positioning the company within an emerging large-scale mineralised hub.
With major players like Ramelius Resources and Capricorn Metals already active nearby, Yalgoo is emerging as a tightly held gold corridor in the Murchison. Success at Mt Kersey could not only add ounces to Premier1's portfolio but also integrate the company into a district with ready infrastructure, offering multiple pathways to swiftly transform discovery into value.
