As a result of detailed metallogenic and country studies, Variscan Mines has focussed its efforts into Europe and has formed a wholly owned EU subsidiary, Variscan Mines SAS. It has employed an experienced technical team to acquire high quality projects within this highly prospective, but largely forgotten region. In June 2013 Variscan announced that it had secured its first exploration licence in Brittany, France, the first exploration licence granted to a mining company in that country for more than two decades.
Now Variscan has received approval for its second exploration licence in France. The St Pierre licence covers an area of 386 km2 around the La Bellière gold mine, which until 1952 is reported to have produced approximately 334,000 oz of gold from ore averaging 12 g/t Au. Mining was conducted intermittently over a strike length of 1.6 km to a maximum depth of 170 m below surface.
Gold mineralisation at La Bellière is shear hosted and contains high grade quartz veins up to 16 m wide surrounded by zones of lower grade stockwork mineralisation. The potential of the La Bellière shear system to host multi-million ounce deposits is considered good.
The regional exploration potential is also considered excellent, with additional sub-parallel shear zones evident.
Aside from two shallow BRGM holes drilled during the 1980s, no significant exploration is believed to have been conducted within the area since 1952.
The approval confirms Variscan’s capacity to work together with the French Government and local communities and within the French mining code.
Variscan will compile geological data and commence mapping/structural studies to generate short term drill targets around the old mine workings and undertake auger geochemical surveying over the shear zones to define new targets.
Additional licence applications covering other prospective French projects are within the approvals process.
The Connexion reports this “is just one of more than a dozen requests for licences to mine for metals including copper, zinc and lead, that have been filed with the government.
Variscan CEO Michel Bonnemaison said: “They lost the vein in the 1950s, but it should still be there. We’ll see if we can find it again.”
“The company has also filed eight other applications for licences to explore for tin, copper, zinc and tungsten at locations across France,” The Connexion reports.
