RE: RE: RE: Happy trails Sorry Johnny, I was responding to "longcycleplayer"'s post, most of which was, in my opinion, incorrect.
The area south/outside of the Athabasca Basin has had very little exploration done on it. Almost nothing. Basically greenfields exploration for the whole area. It's not like projects in BC or Ontario, most of which have all had some sort of historical work done on them, exposing some sort of anomaly or showing.
Closeology 101. Most of the companies with claims surrounding PLS (especially to the south) have no idea what's on their claims. Data from old reports is limited. There are regional compilation airborne maps that cover some of the area. Ainsworth from Alpha found an old report with a radon anomaly, and the followed up on it-- ON THE GROUND! Results from the ground program were promising, so they THEN flew an airborne.
What did the airborne do for them? Per my understanding, the initial one really didn't do much, and it took subsequent ground work to refine the targets. Like radon sampling. And then another one or two airborne surveys after that (can't remember exactly).
Before I continue, let me remind you...
Alpha had a target BEFORE flying their first airborne survey
The claims surrounding PLS are indeed highly prospective, but from a money-management perspective, what makes more sense:
--Doing some ground work (prospecting with a scint, lake sediment sampling, maybe radon survey), then following up on any anomalous areas with an airborne survey...
...OR....
--Doing the complete opposite, flying the $100,000+ airborne survey first, over a block of claims you've never set foot on, and then do ground follow up on any anomalies...
I sure as hell know which option I'd choose. Walk before you run. Keep in mind what kind of data you get from these surveys. Unless your junior has a trained geophysicist on staff (most don't but do, Forum for example), you're going to get the company that flies the survey to interpret the data for you. You are PAYING them to come up with anomalies and targets. Which is great, but... are they real anomalies? Or are they nothing? Doesn't take a rocket science to maniuplate data into a pretty map. Pay attention to the legends...
A few other things...
-in NO jurisdiction that I know of are airborne surveys worth 1.5x assessment credit. Maybe that was true historically, but it is certainly not true now.
-airborne surveys are NOT the first step taken by most juniors. Most companies have a TARGET first, to justify spending the $100K+
Skyharbour won't drill this year, if ever. But to be fair, most of the PLS area co's won't drill this year, if ever. In 1-2 years, the current landholders will either trim back their already massive land positions, or drop them completely, at which time new companies will move in, with new money, and continue the work.
JUST MY OPINION!