RE:My comments comes past experiences. Fbedard, it might make some sense to analyse any data already available about Abcourt's present properties to determine if any high grade or larger width lower grade mineralization could be better defined by some future drilling program.
Today's high cost transportation expenses put a hold on mining development of properties with lower potential. If Abcourt's secondary properties hold little such value, then they would hold little value to the operation at the Sleeping Giant mill. And they probably couldn't be sold to anyone else.
A proper 43-101 resource estimate always needs to be done to determine what value these properties might add to Abcourt's portfolio.
Abcourt also has secondary copper and zinc properties that may hold some value if they are also better defined. But unless the company can find some means to get the Barvue mill up and running, those properties will likely add little value to the company at the present time.
I am not too impressed with joint ventures done with small operators in the region. I believe that Mr. Hinse felt the same way. These so called joint ventures often lead add little appreciable value for anyone as they are frequently ignored by the other party involved. The other exploration company involved tends to focus the expendure of its limited capital (always in short supply) on other projects which it hopes to derive the most benefit.
Successful joint ventures need to be done with a junior miner with some significant amount of capital which is willing and able to risk. There needs to be some indication of extreme high grade resources or large volumes of available lower grade ore before these juniors show any interest.
And why would Abcourt want to buy more undeveloped properties when they cannot already better define the ones that they already own?
Whatever Abcourt decides to do, they need additional capital to do it. So until the Sleeping Giant mine becomes a profitable operation for the company, it might make better sense to toll mill any nearby mining possibilities as long as the other partner is willing to take on most of the risk.
Toll milling is the best immediate option now. It would be better to mill ore from an operation that is reasonably close and holds greater promise of higher grade or easily to mined, lower grade ore.
Elder's low grade ore was found in narrow widths that were too expensive to properly mine and transport to the mill. It had to be closed with the high price of fuel.
Keep in mind that any possibility of acquiring higher grade ore in significant volumes cheaply is always something junior miners may be looking for. Competition with a junior is out of the question for Abcourt mines. But for those companies that may be hoping to restart an older mine, it might be a better place for Abcourt to start in some joint venture operation if the other party is certain that they have something of value to share.
All the best! Java