I'm not sure I understand your question.  If there is leachable ore, it will be below the capping.  If so, drilling is still required.  Certainly drilling to depth will be more expensive than just making several comparatively shallow holes to below the capping.  But if drills are going to be on-site anyway I think it would be wiser to look at the full potential offered by the Phase 1 program rather than risk the whole ball game on a limited/cheaper program that could cause the company to fail, possibly leaving behind a more deeply buried treasure.

I believe the mention of skarn-type, near surface ore is a subject of note because it could mean faster start-up and earlier income while concurrently pursuing the more significant, deeper target, not something to be done in place of that.