This is very important news. But, as important as it seems, it is not clear what it means. We have acquired significant new claims containing "Carlin style gold" deposits, but only amounting to $10 million in identified resource- and aquired for "significant amounts of money". At the same time, not equally emphasized, is the startling statement that the North Slopes claims are being abandoned. While there's always a tinge of regret for those most persistent of us- which must be many-considering how long we have hung in here- whenever something of potential value is relinquished- this is likely a good move and one consistant with past maneuvers. Consider Big Chunk and consider Bonanza Hills. These were huge course corrections- particuarly Big Chunk. But the idea was that it freed us up to pursue hopefully better opportunities- like HM.

I would like to think the the focus is still on the core holding of HM. While giving up NS helps focus resources on HM- does spending funds on the new claims do the opposite? Hopefully not. I would hope that it will provide another opportunity to ultimately fund HM exploration. This would explain why it would make sense to acquire a claim valued at only $10 million. Does that sum sound familiar? It is one of the figures cited needed to complete a full campaign of exploration at HM. Although, hopefully, this is just what has already identified and most likely much more remains to be identified in the new claims. But it was mentioned that the gold that was found in high concentration was intersected by "shallow angle" drilling. Does this mean that more might be identified or even recovered easily at shallow, easily accessable depths? If so- this might be the key. If easily and shallow- and, more  importantly- cheaply accomplished additional drilling can be done- this might attract additional investment early on. And/or it might  even be cheaply and relatively easily recoverable- all with the aim of using those assets to fund drilling at HM- the ultimate goal. Now that the claims are in our hands- and maybe this is why JB has been so secretive- perhaps he will provide a more complete picture of future plans.