Hi Nerdy
This is really a impossible question to answer at this time regarding MC. Like I said previously, IMO, that I will want to see a detailed design, Process Flow Sheet for production and anticipated CAPEX for design and construction costs before making any assessment if this is viable. As an example , in a email reply to someone, BB stated about precip in process, this is a Precipitation circuit where slurry after HPAL and CCD's goes to another area where basically ,as other things happen as well , massive amounts of H2S gas are mixed under low pressure with slurry to turn it from laterite nickel to nickel sulphide which is much easier to refine (Ambatovy in Madagascar also uses this process). But also with this another Clave is added, in Murrin's case, to extract more iron oxide from the slurry.
It is all about the design of these plants if they will be viable or not.
Companies supplying finance whether it be banks, JV partners or god forbid Bondholders engage their own engineering firms as PMC's (Project Management Consultants) to inspect the design and process and they go thru it with a fine tooth comb before deciding on finance approval. Obviously if it is already a tried and hopefully refined design and process flow this process is much easier. Lloyds of London on the Goro project had a outstanding PMC of their own people.
In regards to Flem and Thack there is no real info yet that you can go on for Resource. In the case of Flem only very preliminary drilling with further drilling this year (though it does look promising) and Thack, only unreleased as yet, Aerial Mag surveys.
As I said a few weeks ago nearology is nothing in the mining world until resource is proven with extensive drilling program.
But as BB has stated many times, and rightfully so, Sconi is the primary project at the moment.
The rest will come later, you cannot try and do three projects at once. The only companies with the resources to do this are companies like BHP and Rio and even then during the Iron ore boom they spaced them out so as not to be overwhelmed.
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