Saturn Metals (ASX:STN) said metallurgical test work using column leach testing on near-surface oxide and transitional material from its Apollo Hill gold project in Western Australia delivered gold recovery of 86% achieved in 95 days, according to a Thursday Australian bourse filing.

The test work was designed to confirm the suitability of the material for bulk tonnage gold mining and mineral processing using heap leach methods, the filing said.

The gold recovery across the full grade range is higher than the one used in the preliminary economic assessment for the project.

Saturn Metals' shares climbed over 9% in recent trading on Thursday, earlier reaching their highest point in three years.