Do you think he(Wes) knows something that us retailers do not? Off course he does.

Chromite is a mineral that is processed in a concentrator to produce ferro-chrome, a mixture of chromium metal and iron that is the feedstock for stainless steel.

Even if a chromite mine were to be developed, it isn’t clear yet whether or not a concentrator would be built near the mine site or in an urban area like Thunder Bay. But any decision to build a concentrator would be accompanied by the need for new power generating capacity, Hanson says.

Speaking of Noront’s failed bid for Freewest, Hanson said the company wanted to be a consolidator in the Ring of Fire area and saw chromite as an “add-on’’ to its existing exploration efforts, which are currently focused on nickel-copper-platinum at Eagle’s Nest.

Hanson said selling the company’s chromite assets is only one of a number of options that the company would consider if Noront needs cash to put Eagle’s Nest into production.

A ceo of Noront since June 2009, Hanson is a 50-year-old native of Cape Breton, who has been involved in just about every aspect of mining since he graduated from Mount Allison University in 1982.

Having been granted the opportunity to sit in the corner office and build his own team, he hopes to turn Noront into Canada’s next mining company.

The company has about $30 million on hand to fund its exploration efforts.

“We have a strong position in a very strong mineral district and we still believe that the best mineral discoveries (in the Ring of Fire) are yet to come,’’ Hanson said.