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Note 2 - Cash, Investments, and Restricted Cash | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Restricted Cash And Investments [Abstract] |
Cash Restricted Cash And Investments [Text Block] | 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, 2014 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”) or the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation ("CDIC"). A small portion of our cash balances are held in bank accounts insured by the FDIC for up to $250,000 per institution and by the CDIC for up to CAD$100,000 per institution. Investments At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the fair value of our non-current investments was $4.9 million and $7.0 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 $7.3 million and $9.8 million, respectively, at December 31, 2014 and 2013. During the third quarter of 2014 and fourth quarter of 2013, we recognized $2.4 million and $3.0 million losses, respectively, in current earnings on impairments of equity shares, as we determined the impairments to be other-than-temporary. In 2014, we acquired common stock in other mining companies for a total cost of $0.6 million. At December 31, 2014, total unrealized loss positions of $2.0 million, net of unrealized gains of $21 thousand, for our non-current investments were included in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Our non-current investments balance as of December 31, 2014 includes our ownership of approximately 29% of the outstanding common shares of Typhoon Exploration Inc. ("Typhoon"), having a cost basis of $0.7 million and fair value of $0.5 million, and our ownership of approximately 19% of Brixton Metals Corporation ("Brixton"), having a cost basis of $0.5 million and a fair value of $0.3 million. We elected to apply the fair value option accounting method to the Typhoon and Brixton investments upon those investments meeting the criteria for equity method accounting. We evaluate the accounting treatment of our individual investments based on whether we believe our ownership percentage and other factors indicate that we have the ability to exercise significant influence in the financial and/or operational decisions of the investee. As of December 31, 2014, we have determined that no other investments held by us meet the criteria for equity method accounting. 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, certificates of deposit, and guaranteed investment certificates (Canadian deposits). 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, 2014, and $5.2 million at December 31, 2013. The decrease in restricted cash was attributed to a modification of Casa Berardi's reclamation funding, which substituted a letter of credit for previously held cash collateral. In June of 2014, we successfully modified the type of financial guarantee for reclamation work required by the Quebec Mining Act from restricted cash deposits to a letter of credit. This allowed the release of formerly restricted cash totaling $7.5 million.

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