I think you are on the right track
@2ic , I had already written off the value of the Ti Fe Ni and V in the TM1 reefs as they are worthless bulk commodities at the moment, and I can't see BHP taking leave of their senses and rejigging their entire proposed plant at Nebo-Babel to cater for these scientific curiosities/oddball metals that would involve the worlds most complex flowsheets in the middle of b^&tf^%k no-where. I would imagine that BHP are now going back over the original OZL numbers of Nebo-Babel and Succoth projects and writing off anything that has any nickel in it to a value of $0, and then redoing the economics of the project as a Cu only. Chances are - it won't stack up as a reasonable retunr on investment for Cu compared to the combined OZL/BHP Cu assets in South Australia or other expansion options in Chile. I could easily see BHP taking their project from the fast lane to a parking bay until things become clearer about the future of Ni.
No-one foresaw the Ni market pooping its pants, so no blame attributed to the OZL guys - if the project had higher Cu grades and lower Capex it would be an absolute winner.
As far as the PGM content of the TM1 reefs - I would like to see much higher grades to help the economics of the project. As @2ic points out, the outcrop has had the bejesus rock chip sampled at the surface so strike extent and overall continuity are not the problem, it just needs more width and higher grades of Cu and PGM's to assist in the economics and thus more drilling.
