A mine will soon open in this French region. Several tens of tons of gold are buried underground.
The gold rush is about to be relaunched in France. A deposit of several tens of tonnes of gold was discovered in the center-west of France. The site will soon be used to extract large quantities of the most precious metal in the world. Through a decree published by the Ministry of the Economy, the State has given its authorization. The stated objective is to increase “the independence of France and Europe in terms of gold supply”.
While Guyana, the Pyrenees, the Gard and the Côtes d’Armor are considered the territories with the most gold resources in France, the eyes are now turning to the Dordogne and the Haute-Vienne. Straddling these two departments, in the heart of Limousin, between the cities of Limoges, Brive-la-Gaillarde, Périgueux and Angoulême, a perimeter of gold search was defined. Covering 39.2 square kilometers, this area encompasses the municipalities of Jumihac-le-Grand (Dordogne), Le Chalard and Ladignac-le-Long (Haute-Vienne).
This land has always been conducive to gold operations. Already in Antiquity, some Gallic tribes dug the gold veins that were in the soil of these rocky lands. Broadcasts in the region have thus continued over the centuries, from the Middle Ages, to the present day, via the Renaissance and the two world wars. Called “Mine du Bourneix”, the exploitation closed in 2002. However, geologists recently discovered a gold deposit that had been under radars so far.
-Estimates suggest the presence of “several tens of tons of gold” still unexploited in the basement. According to Thomas Poitrenaud, geologist and president of the Arédiennes mines, the sector constitutes “one of the most important gold districts in France, with golden concentrations of international averages”. A boon to seize at a time when the kilogram of gold is sold more than 94,500 euros on the market.
Aurelius resources, a subsidiary of a British group specializing in mining, has obtained the exclusive research permit. The project is not limited to gold: prospecting also concerns other precious metals such as silver, tin, copper, zinc, lead, nickel and lithium.
The exploration phase, which will extend over a minimum period of five years, will make it possible to precisely assess the potential of the deposit. The first analyzes suggest promising prospects with the opening of a mine at the end of this study period.
However, this project arouses concerns within the local population. The Stop Mines 87 association has notably expressed its concerns about the environmental impact of the project. The main points of vigilance concern the risks of soil pollution and water consumption, which could reach considerable volumes. Faced with these fears, the impact study carried out by the operator recognizes the existence of potential pollution, but describes them as “temporary”.
