RE: Joint VenturesYou've raised some good points. Just two comments I'd like to add:
1] It's not overly surprising that blue-chip JV partners keep much of their exploration activity close to their chests. If an exploration discovery is of sizable proportions such as the Ni discovery in Labrador (Friedland/Inco), or the GK diamond discovery in the NWT (MPV/DeBeers), oftentimes the major will want to accumulate shares in the JV junior while taking their sweet time in addressing the "..full, true, and plain disclosure" requirements.
Then again it also depends on the wording of many JV agreements as to how news should or must be disseminated.
2] GNM's approach reminds me a little of the sales strategy used by many successful realtors, and that is to "list, list, list". Then let others do the grunt work.
Just thinking out loud!
Long and patient,
Brit