Please check my answer and see if I made any serious mistakes... Thanks.

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njdevils950003
This is a serious question. For me anyway. Do you know exactly how long it is going to be before the drilling? Basically, did they say an exact date or say Definately in April 2012, or something like this. I'm not being sarcastic or anything, I just want to know. Or did they need more things to get done first before the drills get going? For me, this is going to be the most important piece to bring this SP up in a more consistent pattern.
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First of all, let me make something perfectly clear. You are never going to get a concrete answer to a question like that.

It's impossible - they don't know themselves. They can set a target time frame, but with all of the regulations, MSHA coming in at will and finding busy work for them to do, it just aint gonna happen.

I think people should get off of the "need" to see exact dates on things that are impossible to provide.

For instance, before they can start drilling in the Sinker Tunnel:

MSHA has just recently told them they have to rock bolt the whole Sinker Tunnel (which shouldn't be required since it is in solid granite).

They have to decide where they want to start. I think they have a pretty good idea of that already.

Then they have to blast out a "chamber" in that area of the tunnel in order to be able to position the drill at the angle they want. Remember, they are going to be drilling up into the mountain from the tunnel, the drill has to be positioned at a precise angle to target the area in the mountain they want to "hit". The tunnel is only 10' or so in diameter (anybody measure it?). So they need a big "room" blasted out. This will be done by an outside contractor with experience in such things.

Then they have to extend the high pressure air line to the chamber.

I believe they also have to have some kind of safety room moved in there. (not sure about that, but if it exists, msha will probably require it).

Also not sure if they have to have the Golden Chariot opened up - I think that is required to mine, not explore.

There is probably other stuff I've missed here.

Ok now you tell me an exact date that this will happen... LOL

To drill up on the mountain:
The snow has to go away.

They need to decide where to start. Again, I think they probably already have a good idea, but remember they have a gung ho young geologist up there working directly with RS and the other geologists and he's constantly looking for new places.

They need to move the equipment up.

I don't know what kind of bureaucratic crap they will run into.

There is probably other stuff I've missed.

Please provide me with an exact date that each of the above can commence.

And, remember, all of this drilling is EXPLORATION, not mining. What it will provide is fodder for the 43-101, which is targeted to be filed in January (no exact date provided as it is a "process").

I really also doubt that we will be getting very detailed reports on the results of the drilling. Of course, they will go into the 43-101, but I doubt we will see much of anything other than that. They may come out with some PR's that give a general idea of results, but this stuff is pretty proprietary I would think.

One of the primary results of all this drilling will be a three dimensional map of the inside of the mountain. I doubt that will ever be published. Would you tell everybody exactly where in your back yard you buried your stash?

So, I think we should quit demanding "exactly" how long things are going to take and "exactly" what date things are going to start. Let's let them continue to do the IMO good job they have been doing lately.