I would love to agree and say yes a major like Xstrata will buy into RoF soon.

However IMHO it is unlikely to happen any time soon.

All the majors learned from the mistakes Inco made at Voisey's Bay. They showed their hand way too soon and got caught up in a bidding war and let Friedland outfox them.

Besides it will take years before Cliffs gets infrastructure in place to get at the chromite.

The majors know they can sit back and wait for consolidation and more discoveries before they make a move.

But don't think for a minute that they are not watching what is going on. For instance Xstrata sent representatives to talk to Nemis long ago.

The mining community is actaully a small but close knit community. Xstrata (and other) management are well aware of every drill hole, assay, press release and strategy move made before it is done. They already have a plan and a strategy in case the time comes when it is appropriate to make a move. They will not wait till the last minute to devise a plan.

A large company like Vale could simply lure Jeremy Neimi (for example) back to his home town of Sudbury by offering him an attractive position. Then they would have all the info they need about Noront (for example).

Unfortunately I do not expect a major to show its hand for some time in the furure.

SN