You were not alone with this thought. Somewhere's back a few hundred posts, another thoughtful writer gave this explanation. With the markets soft and money getting scarce, and Noront needing money, they could not wait. It would not have been prudent to do so. Your thought assumes that Noront will hit successfully and then Noront would get more from a PP. Suppose they hit a dud??? It's possible. Then where would we be?? I think the safe bet was what management did. Also, there is hardly anyone here who does not respect Noront's team. I'm among them, so, as much as your point has merit, if we did strike more ore, I do not like the prospects if we didn't. Just the view I agree with.