"Now, add to the mix the Chromite......now here it appears we add value to the chrome by incurring additional capital costs....more value by concentrating the chrome and further added value with the addition of a smelter.....it appears, however, the smelter comes with a hefty capital cost"

Your treatment of the issue of chromite in your equation seems meagre here. The company describes this find, though not fully explored nor appraised, as massive in quantity and importance. I think you could discount the nickel altogether and just bank on the chromitite quite nicely. Smelter certainly not required initially and ice roads would be quite workable.