A very reasonable question you ask there H4E but the answer is...

A very reasonable question you ask there H4E but the answer is how long is a piece of string.

It's not so much the looking into the potential sale, as it is the detail that goes into the signed contact. There can be many agreements/ disagreements during the negotiations, such as:
Value of goods (given current rising Nickel price)
Terms of payment (up front money or period repayment)
Settlement Date
Perhaps an ongoing Royalty agreement
Land access for trucking materials
Water access if required
Is it a Sale, Joint Venture or an Off-Take Agreement
These are just a few of the many factors that would need bedding down before documents are prepared for signing.

In addition, we have the legal representation on both sides that will need to stamp their monogram on contract wording, even it's only to justify their exorbitant fees. Can you imagine how much toing and froing is required between legal offices just to get a signable document, not forgetting that we are still in the Christmas holiday season.

Unfortunately, the process can be painfully protracted, even if a Heads of Agreement has been signed outlining terms of sale.

Given the current confidential nature surrounding/ suppressing any defined Nickel discussion, I expect we are well down the track with drafting then signing the contract, to be immediately followed by a 'very' price sensitive announcement.

AIMO and DYOR