Here is a good answer to my question (And probably the reason ZEN has not gone down this road) I recieved via a private message.  Since it was a private message I will not reveal the author.  

"No, it is not possible to finance the project by processing extracted ore. Until there is a mining lease granted, which requires a feasibility study and other engineering reports, the minerals in the ground are the property of the government. During exploration, limited rights to perform tests on mineral samples are granted. It is possible to obtain a ministerial grant that allows for the sale of material, but that must be obtained separately and concurrent to a bulk sample permit, which requires the filing of an environmental assessment and site closure plan.

The rules are written in this way to prevent companies from doing an end around the rigorous assessments required to get a mining lease.

Furthermore, processing costs would exceed revenue, no matter what anyone is suggesting here and elsewhere."