Variscan Mines (ASX:VAR) has confirmed that drilling has recommenced at the Belleville gold prospect within the St Pierre Gold Project located in France.
For safety and security reasons, drilling was halted earlier in the week.
Variscan has completed half of the 1,000 metre, 16 hole program at Belleville which 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 being shipped to Ireland for assaying with first assays expected later this month.
Stewart Dickson, CEO, commented: “I would like to thank the French authorities for the speedy and efficient way in which they have approached this matter.
“We can now move forward with our plans which, ultimately, should bring jobs and increased prosperity to this part of France.”
Variscan’s joint venture partner, Red Metal (ASX:RDM) also recently drilled iron and copper sulphides over a 59 metre interval at the Woolatchi target located in South Australia.
The Woolatchi target is subject to a joint venture giving Red Metal the right to earn 70% from Variscan for any discovery.
The 59 metre interval of strong hydrothermal magnetite alteration was from 604 metres depth and contained abundant magnetic iron sulphides and minor visible copper sulphide mineralisation.