Think about it. Contractor to do a transportation feasibility study, top notch mining management and board members, Eagle One projected mine cost study, deep drills, etc. etc.
All that stuff and people aren't cheap ! So if NOT becoming a miner of it's own deposit is all just a smoke screen, then that's a lot of dough to spend for that purpose. And the end result would have to be well worth the disguise.
I'm starting to believe that NOT just may end up mining this themselves or more likely, in a JV with a major miner. (get it, major-miner, hah !)....Ahem...anyways, again I say it sure is a lot of money to spend if there isn't a real solid plan in place.
And NOT hasn't backed down on saying that they intend to mine the Nest. But maybe it is all just a smoke screen and the amount of money being spent is insignificant compared to the riches that lay ahead.
Just thinking on a Monday afternoon......
strato-mine