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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

NOTE 1 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

        Basis of Presentation:    McEwen Mining Inc. (the "Company") was organized under the laws of the State of Colorado on July 24, 1979 and formerly operated under the name of US Gold Corporation. On January 24, 2012, the Company changed its name to McEwen Mining Inc. after the completion of the business combination with Minera Andes Inc. Since its inception, the Company has been engaged in the exploration for, development of, production and sale of gold and silver.

        Basis of Consolidation:    The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

        Statements of Cash Flows:    The Company considers cash in banks, deposits in transit, and highly liquid debt instruments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents.

        Concentrations:    The Company maintains cash in accounts which may, at times, exceed federally insured limits. At December 31, 2011, the Company has bank account balances of approximately $16.1 million in excess of the federally insured limits of $100,000.

        Property and Equipment:    Office furniture, equipment, inactive milling equipment and vehicles are carried at cost net of accumulated depreciation. Normal maintenance and repairs are charged to operations while expenditures for major maintenance and improvements are capitalized. Gains or losses on disposition are recognized in operations. The carrying value of inactive milling and mining equipment reflects historic costs, as adjusted for permanent impairment. The Company evaluates the carrying value of inactive milling and mining equipment periodically or more often when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.

        Property Holding Costs:    Holding costs to maintain a property on a care and maintenance basis are expensed in the period they are incurred. These costs include security and maintenance expenses, lease and claim fees and payments, and environmental monitoring and reporting costs.

        Mineral Property Interests:    Mineral property interests include acquired mineral, development and exploration stage properties, which are considered tangible assets. The amount capitalized relating to a mineral property interest represents its fair value at the time of acquisition, either as an individual asset purchase or as a part of a business combination. The value of mineral property interest is primarily driven by the nature and amount of mineralized material believed to be contained in the properties. If a mineable ore body is discovered, the capitalized costs would be amortized when production begins using the units-of-production method.

        Exploration Costs:    Exploration costs include costs incurred to identify new mineral resources, evaluate potential resources, and convert mineral resources into proven and probable reserves. Exploration costs are expensed as incurred.

        Proven and Probable Reserves:    The definition of proven and probable reserves is set forth in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Proven reserves are reserves for which (a) quantity is computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes, grade and/or quality are computed from the results of detailed sampling and (b) the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are spaced so closely and the geological character is so well defined that size, shape, depth and mineral content of the reserves are well-established. Probable reserves are reserves for which quantity and grade and/or quality are computed from information similar to that used for proven (measured) reserves, but the sites for inspection, sampling, and measurement are farther apart or are otherwise less adequately spaced. The degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven (measured) reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observations.

        As of December 31, 2011 none of the Company's mineralized properties contain resources that satisfy the definition of proven and probable reserves.

        Design, Construction, and Development Costs:    Certain costs to design and construct mining and processing facilities may be incurred prior to establishing proven and probable reserves. The Company classifies the Phase 1 development of the El Gallo Complex as an exploration stage project, and accordingly, substantially all costs, including design, engineering, construction, and installation of equipment are expensed.

        Development costs are capitalized when proven and probable reserves exist and the property is a commercially minable property. Mine development costs incurred either to develop new ore deposits, expand the capacity of operating mines, or to develop mine areas substantially in advance of current production are capitalized. Costs incurred to maintain current production or to maintain assets on a standby basis are charged to operations. Costs of abandoned projects are charged to operations upon abandonment. The Company evaluates, at least quarterly, the carrying value of capitalized mineral property interest costs and related property, plant and equipment costs, if any, to determine if an impairment needs to be recorded.

        Impairment of Long-Lived Assets:    The Company reviews and evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the net book value to fair value. When the net book value exceeds fair value, an impairment loss is measured and recorded.

        Mineral properties are monitored for impairment based on factors such as the Company's continued right to explore the area, exploration reports, assays, technical reports, drill results and its continued plans to fund exploration programs on the property. The Company uses the market approach to estimate the fair value of the properties by using a combination of the observed market value per square mile in the region and an observed market value per ounce of mineralized material. The Company is unable to estimate undiscounted future net cash flows from its operations due the nature of its mineralized material. As such, the appropriate evidence to perform estimates of future cash flows is not available and would not be accurate in supporting the Company's long-lived assets. For purposes of recognition and measurement of an impairment loss, the Company groups its properties by geological mineral complex, as this represents the lowest level at which the Company allocates its exploration spending independent of other assets and liabilities. For the Battle Mountain Complex, as described in the Properties section (Item 2) of the annual report on Form 10-K, the Company has separated its properties into three regions, due to their physical separation, for the purposes of impairment testing. The three regions are North (BMX), East (Slaven Canyon) and West (Fish Creek).

        Depreciation:    Depreciation is computed using straight-line methods. Office furniture, equipment and light vehicles are being depreciated over the estimated economic lives ranging from 3 to 5 years. Trailers, heavy vehicles and other site equipment are being depreciated over estimated economic lives from 5 to 15 years. Buildings are being depreciated over an estimated economic life of 20 years.

        Asset Retirement Obligation:    The Company records the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation ("ARO") in the period that it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. Ongoing environmental and reclamation expenditures are credited to the ARO as incurred to the extent they relate to the ARO and to expense to the extent they do not so apply. The fair value of AROs is measured by discounting the expected cash flows using a discount factor that reflects the credit-adjusted risk free rate of interest, while taking into account an inflation rate. The Company prepares estimates of the timing and amounts of expected cash flows when an ARO is incurred, which are updated to reflect changes in facts and circumstances. Changes in regulations or laws, any instances of non-compliance with laws or regulations that result in fines, or any unforeseen environmental contamination could result in a material impact to the amounts charged to earnings for reclamation and remediation. Significant judgments and estimates are made when estimating the fair value of AROs. Expected cash flows relating to AROs could occur over long periods of time and the assessment of the extent of environmental remediation work is highly subjective. Considering all of these factors that go into the determination of an ARO, the fair value of the AROs can materially change over time. A change in the credit adjusted risk free rate and inflation rate used will not have a material impact on the ARO liability balance as the ARO amount is not significant in relation to the Company's overall balance sheets.

        Foreign Currency:    The functional currency for the Company's operations is the U.S. dollar. All monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a currency which is not the U.S. dollar are translated at current exchange rates at each balance sheet date and the resulting adjustments are included in a separate line item under other income (expense). Revenue and expense in foreign currencies are translated at the average exchange rates for the period.

        Stock-Based Compensation:    The Company accounts for stock options at fair value as prescribed in ASC Section 718-20-25. The Company estimates the fair value of each stock option at the grant date by using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and provides for expense recognition over the service period, if any, of the stock option.

        Comprehensive Loss:    In addition to net loss, comprehensive loss includes all changes in equity during a period, such as cumulative unrecognized changes in fair value of marketable equity securities classified as available-for-sale or other investments.

        Per Share Amounts:    Basic earnings or loss per share includes no dilution and is computed by dividing income or loss available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common and exchangeable shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings or loss per share reflect the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings of the Company and are computed in accordance with the treasury stock method based on the average number of common shares and dilutive common share equivalents outstanding. In these financial statements, warrants and stock options are not considered in the computation of diluted earnings per share as their inclusion would be anti-dilutive for the periods presented.

        Income Taxes:    The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC Section 740-10-25 using the liability method, recognizing certain temporary differences between the financial reporting basis of liabilities and assets and the related income tax basis for such liabilities and assets. This method generates either a net deferred income tax liability or asset for the Company, as measured by the statutory tax rates in effect. The Company derives the deferred income tax charge or benefit by recording the change in either the net deferred income tax liability or asset balance for the year. The Company records a valuation allowance against any portion of those deferred income tax assets when it believes, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax asset will not be realized.

        Use of Estimates:    The Company's consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. The more significant areas requiring the use of management estimates and assumptions relate to environmental, reclamation and closure obligations; estimates of fair value for reporting units and asset impairments; valuation allowances for deferred tax assets; reserves for contingencies and litigation; and estimates with respect to assumptions regarding stock-based compensation expense. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates.

        Fair Value of Financial Instruments:    ASC Section 825-10-50 requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments. Fair value estimates discussed herein are based upon certain market assumptions and pertinent information available to management as of December 31, 2011.

        The carrying values of financial instruments approximate their fair values. These financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, marketable equity securities, short-term investments, accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Fair values were assumed to approximate carrying values for these financial instruments since they are short term in nature and their carrying amounts approximate fair value or they are receivable or payable on demand.