I agree with your post in so far as I have gained information from following some of the companies you mentioned. I have made losses on BDG and LVR/PSV and profits on VRE and DIO. I nolonger hold any of these.
One gold (and rare earths) explorer with a JORC resource you did not mention is NAV. Intersuisse has had a buy recommednation on NAV.
Have you looked at it. NAV is looking to start mining gold in a small way. They have several $million in cash. I have a small holding in NAV and MDL, and a bigger holding in a total spec (PRE).