Yes and a few of those are solid deals in that the jv partners have the financial strength to carry through on their 'promises'.

Given the state of the markets and lack of cash by some I have to question how a few of these have any hope of coming good on their agreements. Some of these 'good old boys' have jv agreements on a lot of other properties requirying investment so somebody is going to lose out.

Now 'lose out' doesn't mean anything more than, in Noront's case, that they get the upfront money or shares and eventually take back the claim. Seems penny ante stuff and not what Noront should be aiming for in it's transition into more senior mining/exploration company.

The only reason I can come up with is that a claim has to have money spent on it or you lose it and Noront has so darn much land claimed for exploration that working all of it is next to impossible. Therefor they are willing to deal in order to get claims worked.

Before anyone jumps all over me consider that this same question was raised by an analyst way back when talk of bringing in a Major as partner was being bandied about.