Variscan Mines (ASX:VAR) has completed half of the planned 16 reverse circulation holes at the Belleville gold prospect within the St Pierre Gold Project located in France.
The 1,000 metre, 16 hole program at Belleville is testing a strong 900 x 400 metre bedrock gold anomaly where previous sampling recorded rock chips up to 21.5 g/t gold.
Samples from the drilling are now being shipped to Ireland for assaying with first assays expected later this month.
The drilling is believed to be the first reverse circulation drilling for mineral deposits to be completed in mainland France.
The St Pierre gold project, which hosts the Belleville prospect surrounds the historic La Bellière gold mine which produced 334,000 ounces at 12 g/t gold.
Variscan is also in the process of evaluating a secondary listing on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange due to significant European interest.
The company board considers an AIM listing attractive due to access to European and U.K. capital markets, proximity to France projects, enhanced liquidity and diversified shareholder base.
As part of this strategy Variscan has appointed Stewart Dickson to the board and as CEO.