i would think that the first one with his foot in the door would be in the best shape. i do agree it would be best if the 4 or 5 companies were brought to geather first but i am talking say a buy into noront at around 15 to 20 %. thinking about this if it were to happen it would likely make all the plays around noront worth alot more. may be more then they should be at this time with out more drilling. a buy in would lite up the area. here is a few more majors to consider. norilsk-----fnx mining-----barrick-----ciffs natural res.-------freeport-mcmoran----newmo... some might not be big enought & not their field. but this play is about postioning yourself for the next 100 plus years in a very friendly mining stable country. i'm not sure when it is too early to make a move. friendly or hostile. anyway its fun to think & dream of what could happen. ps say someone gets in at $7 a share for 15 % that would be 160 million. then i think we would see 20 drills, alot of joint ventures. maybe even windfall moving ahead & becoming a mine. there would be alot of action if there were a wack of cash come into noront. there is so much land up there that hasn't been touched & its going to take alot of cash. lets let a major pay the way instead of filling the pockets of pp,s.