Aquitaine Metals head Chris Taylor says his newest project in southwestern France could surpass one of the biggest recent discoveries of his storied career for scale and richness.

Privately owned Aquitaine is preparing to start drilling its Limousin Mining District project early next month, said Taylor, who took over as CEO Jan. 21. Located 150 kilometres southwest of Bordeaux, the project offers what Taylor calls the best Tier 1 gold opportunity since Great Bear Resources’ Red Lake discovery at Ontario’s Dixie project in Aug. 2018.

Taylor gained industry recognition for leading Great Bear to a C$1.8 billion pre-resource acquisition by Kinross Gold (TSX: K; NYSE: KGC) in 2022. He said his latest project shows his preference for large, high-grade systems that have district-scale discovery potential.

“At Great Bear, we uncovered a 6-million-ounce resource where no one expected it,” told The Northern Miner this week by phone. “Here, we’re working with a district that could be several times larger, supported by exceptional data, political will and infrastructure.”

High grade

The initial 8,800-metre drill program will test high-grade zones and extensions at the Laurieras and Moulin de Cheni mines, Taylor said. The project spans 330 sq. km of exclusivity, featuring over 200 km of gold-bearing structures and 23 past-producing mines.

“This district has 200 km of gold-bearing faults compared to Red Lake’s 20 km, with similar high-grade panels within a lower-grade halo,” Taylor said. “The potential here is enormous and we’re just beginning to scratch the surface.”

Rich past

Historical mining and exploration data, worth C$430 million, include 222,000 metres of drilling, 66,000 drill core assays and geophysical surveys.

COGEMA, a French mining company, operated in the area from 1988 to 2002, producing 1 million oz. gold at an average grade of 12.5 grams gold per tonne underground and 7-8 grams gold per tonne in open pits. Before that, smaller-scale operations in the 1920s and 1940s produced about 300,000 oz. at an average of 20 grams gold per tonne.

The district has over 900 ancient Gallic mining sites from 500 BCE. Gold grades there reportedly ranged from 20 to 80 grams per tonne. This suggests a rich, extensive mineralized system.

Red Lake’s Great Bear

Geotechnical work shows the Limousin mineralized tract is larger than the Red Lake Camp combined, Aquitaine documents show. The Red Lake gold camp has produced over 30 million ounces of gold since its 1925 discovery. It is one of Canada’s most prolific gold mining districts.

Red Lake gave rise to Goldcorp, now the world’s largest gold producer, Newmont (NYSE: NEM, TSX: NGT, ASX: NEM, PNGX: NEM). The camp still attracts exploration and development dollars.

Kinross has since drilled more than 420 km on an expanded 120-sq.-km Great Bear land package. An updated resource based on drilling to April last year in three zones (LP, Hinge and Limb) estimated Great Bear to hold 30.3 million measured and indicated tonnes grading 2.81 grams gold per tonne for 2.7 million oz. gold and another 25.5 million inferred tonnes at 4.74 grams gold for 3.9 million gold ounces.

Taylor believes the deposit will ultimately yield north of 10 million ounces.

Critical mineral upside

Besides gold, the Limousin project also offers antimony – a critical mineral that’s used in military applications, fire retardants and high-tech optics. It accompanies the gold as an accessory mineral in stibnite form.

“The antimony potential alone could elevate this project to critical mineral status in France and attract EU funding,” Taylor said. He noted the EU’s drive to secure domestic supplies of strategic minerals as a key advantage, especially with China controlling most of the global antimony market.

Historical data shows that antimony and polymetallic massive sulphides, like copper, zinc, lead and silver, are found in and near gold zones. This creates potential extra revenue streams for the project.

Ready to drill

Aquitaine’s French subsidiary, Compagnie des Mines Arédiennes (CMA), secured drill permits in just three months – much faster than in most jurisdictions. This efficiency reflects France’s commitment to reviving domestic mining, Taylor suggested.

“France is moving decisively to rebuild its mining industry, recognizing the economic and strategic importance of these resources,” Taylor said. He praised the local expertise of CMA’s team, led by Yves Guise, who has decades of mining experience in the region.

The Phase 1 drill program will verify high-grade historical datasets. It will also explore underground extensions of known mineralization. The Laurieras and Moulin de Cheni mines, the primary targets, have yielded ore grades of 10 to 15 grams gold per tonne at depths of up to 400 metres. More targets include undrilled areas identified through historical surface work and geophysics.

Taylor sees this as only the beginning. “With the scale of this district and the amount of untouched ground, the discovery potential is immense.”

District scale

The Limousin Mining District has excellent infrastructure. It has roads, power lines and is near the A20 highway and Rochefort port. The project area is close to Saint-Yrieix la Perche, a location offers industrial and logistical support for exploration activities. The region’s skilled workforce and mining tradition support the project, according to Taylor.

Aquitaine Metals is privately held with strong backing from directors and Great Bear shareholders. “This is a long-term opportunity to not only discover gold but also contribute to Europe’s strategic mineral independence,” he said.

Taylor is well aware of Limousin’s potential.

“This district combines incredible history with even greater potential,” he said. “The discoveries we make here could change the landscape of European mining.”

Source: MINING.COM – Read More