CG, you may be correct that there is a tentative deal based on +10,000m of drilling.

If the results show that the mine can be expanded and the top of the mountain can be lopped off and the waste rock is converted (which is possible).... then +$1.0B buyout would still need to come from somewhere. (Not to mention +$3.0B for CAPEX)

My bet is Teck would utilize another major player(s) to pony up funds towards the project in 2014. If thats the case, who is ready to drop that kind of cash to team up Teck?

Copper is steady, Gold is steady. The Global Economy is looking steadier. I'd keep an eye on what the big players are doing/contemplating for 2014.