Also "critical" would be Rare Earth Elements - if not more so than copper - which I understand to be at or near the surface in the Hay Mountain area.  If so, costly deep drilling would not be required to explore/develop that, meaning a partner should be easier to acquire than for copper at Hay Mountain.  Same too for the Carlin-style gold prospect nearby.   

So what's the hold-up on these options to copper?  Mining is booming everywhere else in the world.