Alligator Energy (ASX:AGE) has returned uranium recoveries exceeding 55% from 39 pore volumes at the Samphire Uranium Project Field Recovery Trial (FRT) in South Australia.
The company says pregnant lixiviant grades from the wellfield peaked above 200 milligrams per litre triuranium octoxide and currently remain above 100 milligrams per litre triuranium octoxide, based on onsite laboratory assays.
Alligator began uranium extraction at the project on 23 March, as reported by Mining.com.au.
The trial conducted 39 pore volumes to date, with one pore volume representing the amount of solution required to fill natural void spaces within the contained orebody in the well pattern once.
Reagent consumption required to achieve the recoveries remains in line with expectations, reflecting efficient leaching conditions and favourable operating parameters.
CEO Andrea Marsland-Smith says the results validate the wellfield design and operating assumptions.
“We are delighted with these results, which represents a strong validation of the wellfield design and operating assumptions outlined in our Scoping Study,” Marsland-Smith says.
“Achieving greater than 55% recovery at this stage of the trial, with reagent consumption in line with expectations, demonstrates the effectiveness of the ISR process under field conditions.”
The company says flow rates, permeability and porosity performance remain consistent with design assumptions. The outcomes provide confidence in the permeability and connectivity of the wellfield, as well as the project’s ability to achieve targeted uranium tenor and recovery assumptions.
Final results are expected by the end of April 2026, with results currently being validated by duplicate assay at a NATA certified external laboratory.
Alligator is progressing towards 70 pore volumes with further optimisation of recovery. The company says the results to date demonstrate consistent solution flow and wellfield performance.
Alligator Energy is a uranium and energy metals project developer and explorer, focusing on the development of uranium production in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Alligator Energy
