Primary Hydrogen Corp. has advanced its 2026 work program at the Wicheeda North rare earth element project in British Columbia, moving all components into the field and locking in an October 1 start for the property's maiden drilling.

The company has engaged Radius Drilling Corp. to execute an approximately 1,500-metre drill program proposed to run from October 1 to November 1. Initial drill targets will draw on the 2025 airborne survey and soil program, regional LiDAR, historical geophysics, and newly acquired Phase 1 soil results and preliminary radiometric data.

Phase 1 soil sampling has been completed with samples submitted for analysis, while a second phase of soil sampling is under way across three additional grids selected from historical data, with completion expected by September 23. To further refine targets, Primary has engaged Precision GeoSurveys Inc. to fly a 738 line-kilometre airborne radiometric survey this month at 50-metre line spacing. The survey measures natural gamma radiation to detect elevated thorium, which commonly accompanies rare earth elements in carbonatite rocks.

During the 2025 field season, exploration at Wicheeda North completed 401 line-kilometres of airborne geophysics and collected 533 soil samples, identifying the Grid A-South and Grid D-South anomaly clusters. No drilling has been undertaken on the property to date, and no mineral resource has been estimated.

Primary decided to maintain the October 1 start date despite Phase 2 soil assays still pending, relying on existing baseline data to site opening holes while utilizing subsequent results as drilling progresses.

“We set October 1 as the drill date knowing the second set of soil results would not be back before the rig arrives, and we made that call deliberately,” said David Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of Primary Hydrogen. “The first grid, the airborne survey and last year's data give us what we need to site the opening holes. The Phase 2 results will be in hand while we are still drilling, and they will guide the holes that follow. Waiting for every result before turning a drill would have pushed us out of the season.”

— Chief Executive Officer

Read the full announcement: Primary Hydrogen Completes Initial Soil Sampling, Engages Contractors and Sets October 1 Drill Start at Wicheeda North