Meet the Nova Team, page-88

Agree @Guemar the most likely approach for NVA is to provide up the asset with sufficient resources to justify a Preliminary Economic Analysis or Feasibility Study. Design an economically strong project and a buyout will happen in due course. The key is getting the project design right and they have plenty of projects to learn from.

The general model in North America is that juniors define the resource and complete the study phase. Fewer companies develop North American assets on their own (although Victoria Gold is a Junior that developed the asset themselves ).

The story of the Coffee Project buyout is worth a read.

https://www.mining.com/web/goldcorp-kaminak-deal-sealed/
( my speculation on a buyout scenario is here )

On safety/environmental aspects leach pad designs have multiple impermeable barriers, leak detection/recovery and a secondary safety liner.



When the mine is decommissioned the pads are nowadays completely decommissioned and neutralised as part of the rehabilitation process.

A number of leach processes are also being developed that don't use Cyanide.

https://www.miningreview.com.au/glycine-offers-environmentally-friendly-potential-metal-leaching/

https://enviroleach.com/mining/
&
https://enviroleach.com/wp-content/uploads/ETI-Investors-Deck-2.8.pdf