Could equity crowdfunding fix junior mining's financial woes? The Globe and Mail asked this question of a number of PDAC participants, and heard a variety of responses. The least optimistic of which came from one of the sector's most accomplished faces.

"The trouble with mining and exploration is it requires large amounts of capital," Mr. Beatty said. "We're doing a project in Poland right now where every single hole costs over $2 million dollars and we need to have 20-30 holes before we can define a really good deposit. I think crowdfunding is fine if you're trying to do something socially innovative, or a neat little idea or something with some social justice attached to it, but for mining I think it's an absolute dream."

Related: Investor Ross Beaty: Now's the time to look at the metals sector