RE: Shoot first, ask questions later 'they actually have to put of 50% of the expenses to earn that right.'-- true, up to a point.
TNR will still earn a 25% pro-rated interest of copper produced beyond that stipulation.
Some estimate that TNR's share will amount to 8 Billion tonnes or more over the life of the mine.
If copper is produced at an estimated recovered market value less expenses of < $3/lb, that is still lucrative.
Roughly, divide 8/3 and you get 2.667. A quick estimate of $2.67 BILLION to be gained by TNR far outweighs any millions that remain to be spent.
Even if it costs $500 million to commission a producing mine, total costs will no doubt be met by investment partnerships through JV's and capital offerings that will infuse cash externally.
The upshot is that nobody is being stopped here as the weeds of litigation are cleared away.
This settlement is good for both sides because both parties have incentive to cooperate and it lets both sdes PROCEED!