I agree with your comment about the little mining companies (presumably pinkies and OTCs) - yes, almost all are scams. Especially the ones you listed.
But 99% of big board mining companies are scams too? Freeport is a scam? Asarco? BHP? Barrick? And so on? I do believe they actually mine, and they actually produce a product. Their business practices and ethics may be questionable at times, but I am not sure how you can compare big board companies to the shitty pinks and OTCs.
And you really think it is possible to short a stock that is below a dollar, or in the single digit cents, as this will certainly be sooner or later?