Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2018
Notes to Financial Statements
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Recently adopted accounting pronouncements Compensation—Stock Compensation In May 2017, Accounting Standard Update (ASU) No. 2017 - 09 was issued to provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. The adoption of this guidance, effective December 1, 2017, had no impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements or disclosures. Recently issued accounting pronouncements Restricted Cash In November 2016, ASU No. 2016 - 18 was issued related to the inclusion of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. This new guidance requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash. This update is effective in fiscal years, including interim periods, beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this guidance will result in the inclusion of the restricted cash balances within the overall cash balance and removal of the changes in restricted cash activity. Furthermore, the Company will be required to reconcile cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets to the total shown in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The Company anticipates adopting this new guidance effective December 1, 2018, and does not expect it to have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements or disclosures. Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments In August 2016, ASU No. 2016 - 15 was issued related to the statement of cash flows. The new guidance will require the Company to make an accounting policy election to classify distributions received from equity method investees (Donlin Gold LLC and Galore Creek Partnership) using a cumulative earnings approach or a nature of the distribution approach. The election will affect the classification of future distributions on the statement of cash flows as cash inflows from operating activities or investing activities. The new guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year and interim periods beginning December 1, 2018, and early adoption is permitted. The Company has evaluated this guidance and does not expect it to have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements or disclosures. The Company anticipates retrospectively adopting the new guidance effective December 1, 2018. Leases In February 2016, ASU No. 2016 - 02 was issued related to leases, which was further amended in September 2017 by ASU No. 2017 - 13 and in January 2018 by ASU No. 2018 - 01. The new guidance modifies the classification criteria and requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from most leases on the balance sheet. The new guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning December 1, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company anticipates adopting the new guidance effective December 1, 2019. Adoption of this guidance is not expected to materially increase the Company’s assets and liabilities. Classification and Measurement of Financial Instruments In January 2016, ASU No. 2016 - 01 was issued to amend the guidance on the classification and measurement of financial instruments, which was further amended in February 2018 by ASU No. 2018 - 03. The new guidance requires entities to measure equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method at fair value and recognize any changes in fair value in net income. The new guidance also amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. The new guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning December 1, 2018 and early adoption is not permitted. The Company expects the updated guidance to result in a reclassification of unrealized holding gains and losses and deferred income taxes related to investments in marketable equity securities from Accumulated other comprehensive loss to Accumulated deficit in the Consolidated Balance Sheets upon adoption. Accumulated other comprehensive loss at February 28, 2018 included $737 of net unrealized holding gains and deferred income taxes related to marketable equity securities that will be reclassified to Accumulated deficit upon adoption.

NOTE

– SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

Compensation—Stock Compensation

May 2017,

Accounting Standard Update (ASU)

No.

2017

was issued to provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. The adoption of this guidance, effective

December 1, 2017,

had

impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements or disclosures.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

Restricted Cash

November 2016,

ASU

No.

2016

was issued related to the inclusion of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. This new guidance requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash. This update is effective in fiscal years, including interim periods, beginning after

December 15, 2017

and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this guidance will result in the inclusion of the restricted cash balances within the overall cash balance and removal of the changes in restricted cash activity. Furthermore, the Company will be required to reconcile cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets to the total shown in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The Company anticipates adopting this new guidance effective

December 1, 2018,

and does

not

expect it to have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements or disclosures.

Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments

August 2016,

ASU

No.

2016

was issued related to the statement of cash flows. The new guidance will require the Company to make an accounting policy election to classify distributions received from equity method investees (Donlin Gold LLC and Galore Creek Partnership) using a cumulative earnings approach or a nature of the distribution approach. The election will affect the classification of future distributions on the statement of cash flows as cash inflows from operating activities or investing activities. The new guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year and interim periods beginning

December 1, 2018,

and early adoption is permitted. The Company has evaluated this guidance and does

not

expect it to have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements or disclosures. The Company anticipates retrospectively adopting the new guidance effective

December 1, 2018.

Leases

February 2016,

ASU

No.

2016

was issued related to leases, which was further amended in

September 2017

by ASU

No.

2017

and in

January 2018

by ASU

No.

2018

01.

The new guidance modifies the classification criteria and requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from most leases on the balance sheet. The new guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning

December 1, 2019

and early adoption is permitted. The Company anticipates adopting the new guidance effective

December 1, 2019.

Adoption of this guidance is

not

expected to materially increase the Company’s assets and liabilities.

Classification and Measurement of Financial Instruments

January 2016,

ASU

No.

2016

was issued to amend the guidance on the classification and measurement of financial instruments, which was further amended in

February 2018

by ASU

No.

2018

03.

The new guidance requires entities to measure equity investments that do

not

result in consolidation and are

not

accounted for under the equity method at fair value and recognize any changes in fair value in net income. The new guidance also amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. The new guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning

December 1, 2018

and early adoption is

not

permitted. The Company expects the updated guidance to result in a reclassification of unrealized holding gains and losses and deferred income taxes related to investments in marketable equity securities from Accumulated other comprehensive loss to Accumulated deficit in the Consolidated Balance Sheets upon adoption. Accumulated other comprehensive loss at

February 28, 2018

included

$737

of net unrealized holding gains and deferred income taxes related to marketable equity securities that will be reclassified to Accumulated deficit upon adoption.