Alligator Energy (ASX:AGE) said its first well pattern at the Samphire uranium project field recovery trial in Australia has progressed to about 39 pore volumes of the planned 70, according to a Friday Australian bourse filing.

The company said that the results to date demonstrate performance consistent with its models and supporting assumptions outlined in the December 2023 scoping study.

The company added that pregnant lixiviant grades produced from the wellfield peaked at over 200 milligrams per liter of uranium oxide and currently remain above 100 milligrams per liter, with uranium recovery exceeding about 55% from the 39 pore volumes processed to date.

Reagent consumption required to achieve these recoveries remains in line with expectations, reflecting efficient leaching conditions, while results from the onsite laboratory are being validated by duplicate assay at an external laboratory, with more detailed results to be released in due course, the filing added.