Alligator Energy (ASX:AGE) completed the first well pattern at its Samphire uranium project field recovery trial, marking a key step in demonstrating in-situ recovery performance under real field conditions, according to a Tuesday Australian bourse filing.
The results met or exceeded the scoping study assumptions, confirming the strong technical viability of uranium recovery from the Samphire paleochannel system, per the filing.
Key outcomes included strong permeability and fluid connectivity, around 70% uranium recovery within about 70 pore volumes, wellfield flow rates exceeding 5 liters per second, efficient reagent use within international benchmarks, and solution grades averaging 115 milligrams per liter of triuranium octoxide, the filing said.
Groundwater chemistry and salinity had no negative impact, wellfield control remained stable, and ion exchange and elution performed successfully, confirming downstream processing viability.
The company will initiate a second well pattern targeting lower-grade, less permeable zones to further assess recovery variability and refine future wellfield design, with results expected in the third quarter, the filing added.
The company's shares rose 2% in recent Tuesday trade.