Lander West Gold Soil Sampling Programme Commences

First Development Resources PLC

05 October 2026

 

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5 October 2026

First Development Resources plc

(“First Development”, “FDR” or the “Company”)

Lander West Gold Soil Sampling Programme Commences

Priority sampling begins as Phase I exploration advances

First Development Resources plc (AIM: FDR), the Australian-focused exploration company, announces the commencement of its priority soil-sampling programme across Red Handed, Red Hackle and part of the Giles target area at Lander West in the Northern Territory.

The programme will build on historical surface sampling and help assess the wider gold targets. Separately, the Company is planning Phase I, Stage II drilling to follow up the most prospective areas identified by Stage I.

HIGHLIGHTS

•          Soil sampling underway: approximately 620 Priority 1 field stations are planned across Red Handed, Red Hackle and part of Giles.

•          Wider target assessment: soil assays will be assessed with geology and geophysics to guide future exploration across these target areas.

•          Stage I milestone: eight reverse circulation drill holes totalling 1,593 metres have been completed, confirming gold mineralisation in bedrock at Red Handed.

•          Next steps: preparations for Stage II drilling are progressing to follow up the most prospective areas identified in Stage I. The drilling programme is independent of the soil results.

Tristan Pottas, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

“Completing Stage I drilling and confirming gold mineralisation in bedrock at Red Handed was an important milestone. The soil programme now underway will extend our surface dataset across three priority target areas.”

“In parallel, we are preparing Stage II drilling to follow up the most prospective Stage I intersections along strike and down dip. The aim will be to identify areas of higher gold grade and greater mineralised thickness, and to test whether the mineralisation is continuous. These separate programmes provide a clear sequence of fieldwork and results as exploration advances.”

SOIL SAMPLING PROGRAMME

FDR’s operational partner, Euro Exploration, has commenced the priority soil programme. Approximately 620 field stations are planned across Red Handed, Red Hackle and part of the Giles target area. Sampling lines cover gaps in historical coverage and areas around interpreted geological structures, magnetic features and previous drilling.

Quality-control samples will be included, bringing the expected laboratory submission to approximately 650 samples.

Laboratory analysis will include gold and associated elements, such as arsenic and antimony. The results will be considered alongside geological and geophysical information to guide subsequent exploration.

Figure 1: Priority soil-sampling stations across Red Handed, Red Hackle and part of the Giles target area.

PHASE I - STAGE II DRILLING

The Company has entered into an agreement with a drilling contractor for Phase I Stage II drilling at Red Handed. The programme will follow up the Stage I results reported in September 2026 and does not depend on the soil results. The drilling method, hole locations, depths and programme size are being finalised. Mobilisation remains subject to contractor availability and operational planning.

Drilling will test along strike and down dip from the more prospective Stage I intersections to assess gold grade, mineralised thickness and continuity. Geological interpretation will also inform the final hole design.

Both the soil sampling and Stage II drilling programmes will be funded from existing cash resources. The Company expects to update the market on the drilling plan and mobilisation schedule once finalised, and on results from each programme when available.

INITIAL PHASE I RESULTS AND RATIONALE

Stage I comprised eight reverse circulation (“RC”) drill holes for 1,593 metres. At Red Handed, hole 26LWR08 intersected 7m @ 0.40 g/t gold from 50m downhole, including 2m @ 0.98 g/t gold. The strongest gold response was in sulphide-bearing dolerite, a useful guide for follow-up drilling.

Historical hole RHB108 returned 16m @ 0.30 g/t gold from 12m downhole, including 2m @ 1.93 g/t gold. It is approximately 834 metres from 26LWR08. Continuity between the intersections has yet to be established; the gaps in surface sampling and drilling warrant further work.

Qualified Person Statement

The technical information contained in this disclosure has been reviewed and approved by Mr Nicholas O’Reilly (MSc, DIC, MIMMM QMR, MAusIMM, FGS), who is a qualified geologist and acts as the Qualified Person under the AIM Rules - Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies. Mr O’Reilly is a principal consultant working for Mining Analyst Consulting Ltd, which has been retained by First Development Resources plc to provide technical support.

For further information visit www.firstdevelopmentresources.com or contact the following:

First Development Resources plc Tristan Pottas (CEO)	Tel: [phone]
Beaumont Cornish Limited Nominated Adviser Roland Cornish / Asia Szusciak	Tel: [phone]
SI Capital Limited Broker Nick Emerson	Tel: [phone]

Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter referred to in it.

Distribution: This announcement has been notified via a Regulatory Information Service and it is not authorised for distribution into North America or any other jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws or regulations of that jurisdiction.

ABOUT FIRST DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

First Development Resources plc (AIM: FDR) is a UK-based exploration company focused on mineral opportunities in Australia. Its principal asset is the 100%-owned Selta Project in the Northern Territory, which includes the Lander West gold targets and other prospective areas for rare earth elements and uranium. Lander West, initial drilling has confirmed gold mineralisation in bedrock. The Company is advancing priority soil sampling and planning follow-up drilling to assess the wider targets and improve its understanding of the gold system. FDR also holds the Wallal Project in Western Australia and is actively reviewing opportunities to expand its Australian project portfolio.

 

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