RE: Next week20 Jun 2021 13:28
Personally I would expect the framework of a deal to have already been set out and the results of the trials etc are being awaited in order to confirm it.
You don't get to the point where you have identified a method of mining, have conducted due diligence visits etc without having already agreed a deal in principle.
Not to say that there still arent I's to dot and all that but you don't do this much work on either side unless you have agreed the bones of a deal in principle.