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Note 2. Cash, Investments, and Restricted Cash | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Cash Investments And Restricted Cash | Note 2. Cash, Investments, and Restricted Cash Cash Our cash is maintained in various financial institutions, with a large majority of our cash balances at December 31, 2011 invested in either U.S. government paper (treasury or agency) or U.S. government or treasury money market funds which are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). A small portion of our cash balances are held in bank accounts insured by the FDIC for either unlimited amounts (for non-interest-bearing accounts) or up to $250,000 per institution (for interest-bearing accounts). Some of these balances were in interest-bearing accounts and exceeded the $250,000 federally insured limit applicable for those institutions. We have not experienced losses on cash balances exceeding the federally insured limits, but there can be no assurance that we will not experience such losses in the future. Investments No current investments were held at December 31, 2011. At December 31, 2010, the fair value of our current investments was $1.5 million, with a cost basis of approximately $0.8 million. This investment was sold in February 2011 for proceeds of $1.4 million, resulting in a pre-tax gain of approximately $0.6 million. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the fair value of our non-current investments was $3.9 million and $1.2 million, respectively. Marketable equity securities are carried at fair market value, as they are classified as “available-for-sale.” The basis of our non-current investments, representing equity securities, was approximately $3.5 million and $0.2 million, respectively, at December 31, 2011 and 2010. During the fourth quarter of 2011, we recognized a $0.1 million loss in current earnings on impairment of equity shares, as we determined the impairment to be other-than-temporary. In January 2010 we sold stock having a cost basis of approximately $0.6 million for proceeds of $1.1 million, resulting in a pre-tax gain of approximately $0.5 million. At December 31, 2011, total unrealized gains of $0.4 million for investments held having a net gain position and total unrealized losses of $47 thousand for non-current investments held having a net loss position were included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Restricted Cash and Investments Various laws and permits require that financial assurances be in place for certain environmental and reclamation obligations and other potential liabilities. Restricted investments primarily represent investments in money market funds and certificates of deposit. These investments (which included current and non-current balances) are restricted primarily for reclamation funding or surety bonds and were $0.9 million at December 31, 2011, and $10.3 million at December 31, 2010.

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- Definition The entire footnote disclosure for cash and cash equivalents and investments, including restricted amounts. Cash and equivalents include: (1) currency on hand (2) demand deposits with banks or financial institutions (3) other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits (4) short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments maturing within three months from the date of acquisition qualify. Investments include investments in Certain Debt and Equity Securities (and certain other trading assets) which include all debt and equity securities (other than those equity securities accounted for under the equity or cost methods of accounting) with readily determinable fair values. Other trading assets include assets that are carried on the balance sheet at fair value and held for trading purposes. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise that is in the form of a security. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities (and other trading assets). + References No definition available. + Details
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