"...might defer commitment(s) until such was in hand, the better to bargain with.

True enough, but of late, he's been gambling with his own money.  How much of that is too much?

Of further note, Mr. Bryce makes no mention of metals; I think he is deferring to the lab for that.  But he does mention chalcopyrite, which is typically found in copper ore.

With apologies to Willy, I will now change my opinion and offer instead that this could be THE discovery hole.

VP