RE:Buyers There is no doubt there are interested parties, the number and quality of people watching Cynthia's LinkedIn posts is telling enough. But as Lambo states, no one knows until the paper is on the table.
Regarding Barrick, I think they are a long shot. A major producer stepping up, although possible, would be against all normal progression of majors acquiring juniors. History shows majors leg in with a +/-10% stake, funding exploration, then an additional stake taking them close to 50%, then later a full acquisition when production is imminent. Also stock buy back is irrelevant. And evidence of the opposite. Using up cash they would need for an acquisition, and stock price of acquirers tend to fall following an acquisition announcement vs the rise in price for the acquired.
That said if there is a buyer, and I believe there is, it is more likely an independent investor group that has surplus cash and looking to move the project forward quickly and capitalize on another flip.