"For the longer term, however, management is moving aggressively to expand and diversify, he said, including purchase of additional iron-ore assets, expanding coal-mining capacity and launching a major mining venture to produce ferrochrome, a raw material for stainless steel."

So, if anyone has concerns about where their investment in the ROF, regardless of which company, they really only have to pay attention to the above statement, particularly the last two phrases.

The intention, as stated here is to develop the infrastructure and facilities to support a "major mining venture".

If Cliff's is successful with their offer for FWR, they will have total control of 2 claims groups, plus 50% of another 3 claims groups, within a prospective area of several thousand similar land packages, or put another way, maybe 1% of the prospective land in the camp. Does anyone even remotely think they are going to proceed with this buildout based on that amount? Does anyone think that Cliff's will be satisfied that they have the chrome on FWR land and part of the jv with SPQ/KWG, and proceed on the assumption that they will have any control on the chrome market going forward? Does anyone doubt that maybe NOT has just guaranteed that anyone holding any of these plays in the immediate area of interest is going to be singing a happy tune in 2010?

There has been much said on these forums over the past month as to whether a person should be invested in one play as opposed to the other, but if one takes a step back from the monitor and looks at things on a larger scale, I think they will realize that, in all probability, this is going to be our year.

Happy New Year to all.

K