One weakness to that comparison is that ground hogs dig. That is something that  basically stopped at SC once they discovered there was enough minerals to mine. Imagine that! Finding paydirt causes the project to stop. 

Yep, and the project is stopped for no other reason than what is implied by the old prospecting adage:

"The honorable brotherhood of joint prospectors remains sound so long as nothing is found."

But fear not that the oldest joint-venturing scam in the book is being played on us.... because Dr. Keevil 2017 book says:

"Never rest on your ores"

What are the odds?!!? Maybe a direct hypocritical slap in our face, eh?