Mining giants are on the prowl for acquisitions, but several attractive targets are still waiting out permitting issues in the countries where they operate.

According to Dundee Securities analyst Mark Smith, Aurelian Resources [TSX:ARU] is catching the eye of several majors, but Ecuador’s new mining legislation is pending - causing the majors to be hesitant.

The same holds true for Gabriel Resources [TSX:GBU], which is waiting for an environmental permit in Romania, and Crystallex [AMEX:KRY; TSX:KRY], which is still waiting out long delays in receiving permits for its operations in Venezuela.