Sorry for being a newbie...  Still doing some DD.  To whom are you referring to when you say "The Big Four"?

In the dissemination of a mountain of information while attempting to do a newbie's due diligence, I came accross an interest find.  The following companies all have something common; BMK, LEX, KWG, KCR, NOT, EVR, UXG, SPQ and I suspect (but not confirmed with more research) GUY, GPO, RBY, GZZ, CX and MAI.

They all appear to be using Diagnos' CARDS (Computer Aided Resources Detection Software) to help predict highly probably locations.  NOT used research material that was done for KWG in 2005 to apparently pin point their September find last year (see http://www.diagnos.ca/english/pdf/News%20room/2007/en/October_18_2007.pdf on Diagnos' Web Site).

The other interesting fact is that 4 of the for sure that are using Diagnos' software have a direct ownership to McEwen Capital (who recently acquired 8.8% interest in BMK).  Half of the 'not sure' have indirect or direct joint ventures with those that do (still working on confirming this).  LEX recently 'mandated' that they use Diagnos' software (see http://www.diagnos.ca/english/pdf/News%20room/2008/en/January_15_2008.pdf for more info).  LEX is 49% owned by McEwen Capital.  UXG recently made a similar announcement (see http://www.diagnos.ca/english/pdf/News%20room/2007/en/November_26_2007.pdf). 

Diagnos and KWG have been working together to re-analyse its McFaulds Lake area data done in 2005 for KWG and working on a 50/50 joint venture.

My question is (after this lengthy intro); If this software seems to be so good and appears to be backed by McEwen Capital (who I imagine don't like to loose money), are we, BMK that is, drilling in the areas identified by the software?  See royalty aggrement with Diagnos (http://www.diagnos.ca/english/pdf/News%20room/2005/en/DIAGNOS%20signs%20royalty%20agreement%20with%20MacDonald%20Mines%20-%20March%2014,%202005.pdf).

Also worthy of noting is the fact that Diagnos does not charge large sums of money for their services.  They prefer setting up revenue streams and royalty payments.  As more than half of the companies around the "Ring of Fire" seem to be using this company's software, a good bet might be to invest in Diagnos because if any exploration company makes it big in this area, so will they.

Of course I'm still a newbie and may have had one too many glasses of wine before posting this.  Comments are always welcomed.

Cheers!