Excellent news... Very savvy way to proceed. This is how Franco-Nevada became a very successful company. Get other people to spend money on some of your claims, let them take all the risk, and if they hit the jackpot, you retain control and 50%. Now NOT's agressive staking makes even more sense - this is also a business venture - option out their claims and generate cash in the process, while retaining control and 50%.

This also forces immediate active exploration programs on these claims, whereas NOT might might not have targeted this ground for years.

Nothing short of great news... It really surprises me that Al does not get this. Al, the whole area is "The Ring of Fire", and these optioned claims only represent a small portion of NOT's claims in this entire region.

Regards,

B.