Here is an example of what a deal on a large, new mining project can look like, and with one party being a familiar name.  Hudbay bought Rosemont (from the Augusta group) near Hay Mountain.

https://www.doubleview.ca/doubleview-and-hudbay-sign-definitive-option-agreement-to-advance-the-hat-copper-gold-porphyry-project/

BUT, in this case, the property had already been drilled.  More importantly, grades are very much lower than we are expecting at Hay Mountain, and the location is exceedingly remote (meaning very high extraction costs). 

...not drawing any conclusions here, ...for information only.