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Note 2 - Cash, Investments, and Restricted Cash | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015
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, 2015 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, 2015 and 2014, the fair value of our non-current investments was $1.5 million and $4.9 million, respectively. Marketable equity securities are carried at fair market value, and are primarily classified as “available-for-sale.” As discussed below, our non-current investments also include marketable equity securities for which the fair value option has been elected. The basis of our non-current investments, representing equity securities, was approximately $4.0 million and $7.3 million, respectively, at December 31, 2015 and 2014. During 2015 and 2014, we recognized $2.5 million and $2.4 million losses, respectively, in current earnings on impairments of equity shares, as we determined the impairments to be other-than-temporary. In 2015 and 2014, we acquired common stock in other mining companies for a total cost of $0.9 million and $0.6 million, respectively. At December 31, 2015, total unrealized loss positions of $2.6 million, net of unrealized gains of $5 thousand, for our non-current investments were included in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Our non-current investments balance as of December 31, 2015 includes our ownership of certain equity securities, having a cost basis of $1.0 million and fair value of $0.3 million, for which we elected to apply the fair value option accounting method upon those investments meeting the criteria for equity method accounting in prior years. As of December 31, 2015, 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 $1.0 million at December 31, 2015, and $0.9 million at December 31, 2014. In June of 2014, we modified the type of financial guarantee for reclamation work required at Casa Berardi by the Quebec Mining Act from restricted cash deposits to a letter of credit, which was replaced by a surety bond in 2015. This allowed the release of formerly restricted cash totaling $7.5 million.

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