** Shares of Australia's Lefroy Exploration LEX.AX rise as much as 12.5% to A$0.18, their highest since September 9

** Gold explorer says assay results highlight exceptional upside across the Lucky Strike Gold Deposit in Western Australia targeting a potential Stage 2 expanded pit shell design

** About 900,000 shares change hands, nearly 4.7x 30-day average

** Stock has more than doubled in value so far this year

(Reporting by Keshav Singh Chundawat in Bengaluru)

((Keshav.singhchundawat@thomsonreuters.com))