"if an armed guard did go and confiscate everything, there must have been a good reason, I'd imagine."  

It really doesn't do anyone any good to to promulgate made up stories and innuendo. 

The facts are- there was an armed gunman - and the only "good reason"- would be described by words like coercion, strong arm and - maybe according to some- the "R" word. What was taken was a priceless historical record which included old documents from preceding geologists as well as old records and maps documenting Jim Briscoe's own prior explorations. In addition to being useful for exploration- many were of truly historical value about this colorful region. Some were hand written- some were on obsolete floppy discs- and some had been painstakenly transferred to more current formats. 

After confiscating these records, along with the computers holding some of this information, as well as random other office items as mentioned, BG- instead of carefully curating and protecting them, essentially shoved them into a non-climate controlled storage facility where they remain mouldering and unprotected, now possibly overrun with mice and- being in this region- even raising the spector of Hanta disease virus- thus so essentially destroyed and rendered useless. 

In addition to their general value- and value to their rightful owner- namely- James Briscoe- Mr. Briscoe had been utilizing them for the benefit of Liberty Star in his exploratory efforts on its behalf. I don't believe BG has had the inclination or ability to put them to use and do the same.

So- since they are now essentially inaccessable- they were not only taken from Mr. Briscoe- but from Liberty Star and its shareholders. 

Many can only speculate as to Brett Gross's hateful, vindictive, spiteful and selfdestructive motivation in carrying out this act.