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2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiary, the New Jersey Mill Joint Venture (“NJMJV”). Intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated. The portion of entities partially owned by other investors is presented as non-controlling interests on the consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations.

Accounting for Investments in Joint Ventures

For joint ventures where the Company holds more than 50% of the voting interest and has significant influence, the joint venture is consolidated with the presentation of non-controlling interest. In determining whether significant influence exists, the Company considers its participation in policy-making decisions and its representation on the venture’s management committee.

For joint ventures in which the Company does not have joint control or significant influence, the cost method is used. Under the cost method, these investments are carried at the lower of cost or fair value. For those joint ventures in which there is joint control between the parties, the equity method is utilized whereby the Company’s share of the ventures’ earnings and losses is included in the statement of operations as earnings in joint ventures and its investments therein are adjusted by a similar amount. The Company periodically assesses its investments in joint ventures for impairment. If management determines that a decline in fair value is other than temporary it will write-down the investment and charge the impairment against operations.

At December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company’s percentage ownership and method of accounting for each joint venture is as follows:

	December 31, 2017			December 31, 2016
Joint Venture	% Ownership	Significant Influence?	Accounting Method	% Ownership	Significant Influence?	Accounting Method
NJMJV	65%	Yes	Consolidated	65%	Yes	Consolidated
Butte Highlands Joint Venture (“BHJV”)	50%	No	Cost	50%	No	Cost

Non-controlling Interests

Non-controlling interests in the net assets of consolidated subsidiaries are identified separately from the Company’s stockholders’ equity and its net income (loss). Non-controlling interests represent non-controlling investor’s initial contribution at the date of the original acquisition and the non-controlling investor’s share of changes in equity since that date.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes for items such as depreciation lives and methods, potential impairment of long-lived assets, deferred income taxes, fair value of forward gold contracts, fair value of stock based compensation, estimation of asset retirement obligations and reclamation liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when title and risk of ownership of metals or metal bearing concentrate have passed and collection is reasonably assured. Revenue from the sale of metals may be subject to adjustment upon final settlement of estimated metal prices, weights and assays, and are recorded as adjustments to revenue in the period of final settlement of prices, weights and assays; such adjustments are typically not material in relation to the initial invoice amounts. Revenues from mill operations and custom milling are recognized in the period in which the milling is performed and collection of payment is deemed probable. Revenue from harvest of raw timber is recognized when a contract has been established, the timber has been shipped, and payment is deemed probable. Sales of timber found on the Company’s mineral properties are not a part of normal operations.

Inventories

Inventories include concentrate inventory and supplies inventory. Concentrate inventory is valued at the lower of full cost of production or estimated net realizable value based on current metal prices. Costs consist of mining, transportation, royalties, and milling costs including applicable overhead, depreciation, depletion and amortization relating to the operations. Costs are allocated based on the stage at which the ore is in the production process. Supplies inventory is stated at the lower of cost or estimated net realizable value. At December 31, 2017 inventories consisted of $219,660 in concentrate inventory and $25,494 in supplies inventory. At December 31, 2016 all inventory was concentrate inventory.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the liability method. Under this method deferred income tax liabilities or assets are determined at the end of each period using the tax rate expected to be in effect when the taxes are expected to be paid or recovered. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the deferred tax assets if there is uncertainty regarding their realization.

Uncertain tax positions are evaluated in a two-step process, whereby (i) it is determined whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position and (ii) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority would be recognized.

Fair Value Measurements

When required to measure assets or liabilities at fair value, the Company uses a fair value hierarchy based on the level of independent, objective evidence surrounding the inputs used. The Company determines the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements in their entirety fall. The categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Level 1 uses quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities, Level 2 uses significant other observable inputs, and Level 3 uses significant unobservable inputs. The amount of the total gains or losses for the period are included in earnings that are attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to those assets and liabilities still held at the reporting date.

During 2017 and 2016, the Company determined fair value on a recurring basis as follows:

December 31,

2017

December 31,

2016

Fair Value Hierarchy

Liabilities:

Forward gold contracts (Note 14)

(920,579)

(1,386,228)

Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of financial instruments including cash and cash equivalents, reclamation bond, note receivable, notes payable to related parties, and notes payable approximate their fair values.

Concentration

In 2016 and 2017, the Company has sold its gold flotation concentrate product to a concentrate broker, H&H Metals Corp, a related party (see Note 12). In 2017 and 2016 floatation concentrates accounted 98% and 76.4%, respectively, of all gold sales. The remaining 2% and 23.6% in 2017 and 2016, respectively, were dore and gold impregnated in carbon sold to DH Fell and SIPI Metals Corp.

Net Income (Loss) Per Share

Net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net amount excluding net income (loss) attributable to a non-controlling interest by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted net income (loss) per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur from common shares issuable through stock options, warrants, and other convertible securities. For the year ended December 31, 2017, stock options of 2,750,000 and warrants of 1,200,000 are included in the calculation of diluted income per share. Excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation were 4,912,500 options and 8,095,834 warrants. These options and warrants were excluded because the exercise prices were greater than the average trading prices of the Company’s common stock for the period. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the effect of the Company’s potential issuance of shares from the exercise of 7,500,000 stock options and 10,737,500 warrants would have been anti-dilutive. Accordingly, only basic net loss per share has been presented.

Reclassifications

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2017 financial statement presentation. Reclassifications had no effect on net income (loss), stockholders' equity, or cash flows as previously reported.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers cash in banks and other deposits with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash and cash equivalents.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are based on the estimated useful lives of the assets and are computed using straight-line or units-of-production methods. The expected useful lives of most of the Company’s buildings are up to 50 years and equipment life expectancy ranges between 2 and 10 years. When assets are retired or sold, the costs and related allowances for depreciation and amortization are eliminated from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in operations.

Mineral Properties

Significant payments related to the acquisition of mineral properties, mineral rights, and mineral leases are capitalized.

If a commercially mineable ore body is discovered, such costs are amortized when production begins using the units-of-production method based on estimated reserves. If no commercially mineable ore body is discovered, or such rights are otherwise determined to have no value, such costs are expensed in the period in which it is determined the property has no future economic value.

Mine Exploration and Development Costs

The Company expenses exploration costs as such in the period they occur. Mine development costs are capitalized as deferred development costs after proven and probable reserves have been identified. Amortization of deferred development costs is calculated using the units-of-production method over the expected life of the operation based on the estimated recoverable mineral ounces.

Pre-Development Activities

Pre-development activities involve cost incurred that may ultimately benefit production, such as underground ramp development, pumping, and open-pit development, which are expensed due to the lack of evidence of economic development, which is necessary to demonstrate future recoverability of these expenses. These costs are charged to operations as incurred.

Claim Fees

Unpatented claim fees paid at time of staking are expensed when incurred. Recurring renewal fees which are paid annually are recorded as other current assets and expensed over the course of the year.

Impairment of Long-Lived Asset

The Company evaluates the carrying amounts of its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable from the estimated future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. Estimated undiscounted future net cash flows from each mineral property are calculated using estimated future production, three-year average metals prices, operating capital and costs, and reclamations costs. An impairment loss is recognized when the estimated discounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of an asset are less than the carrying amount of the asset. The Company’s estimates of future cash flows are subject to risks and uncertainties. It is reasonably possible that changes in estimates could occur which may affect the expected recoverability of the Company’s investments in mineral properties.

Asset Retirement Obligations and Remediation Costs

Mineral properties are subject to standards for mine reclamation that have been established by various governmental agencies. Asset retirement obligations are related to the retirement of the mine when a contractual obligation has been established and a reasonable estimate of fair value can be determined. These obligations are initially measured at fair value with the resulting cost capitalized at the present value of estimated reclamation costs. An asset and a related liability are recorded for the fair value of these costs. The liability is accreted and the asset amortized over the life of the related asset. Adjustments are made for changes resulting from either the timing or amount of the original estimate underlying the obligation. If there is an impairment to an asset’s carrying value and a decision is made to permanently close the property, changes to the liability are recognized and charged to the provision for closed operations and environmental matters. Separate from asset retirement obligations, the Company records liability for remediation costs when a reasonable estimate of fair value can be determined. Accrued remediation costs are not discounted.

Reclamation Bond

Various laws and permits require that financial assurances be in place for certain environmental and reclamation obligations and other potential liabilities. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had a $103,320 and $58,000 reclamation bond, respectively, for the Golden Chest Mine.

Stock Based Compensation

All transactions in which goods or services are received for the issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock or options to purchase shares of common stock are accounted for based on the fair value of the goods or services received or the fair value of the equity interest issued, whichever is more reliably measurable. The value of common stock awards is determined based upon the closing price of our stock on the date of the award. The Company estimates the fair value of stock-based compensation using the Black-Scholes model, which requires the input of some subjective assumptions. These assumptions include estimating the length of time employees will retain their vested stock options before exercising them (“expected life”), the estimated volatility of our common stock price over the expected term (“volatility”), employee forfeiture rate, the risk-free interest rate and the dividend yield. Changes in the subjective assumptions can materially affect the estimate of the fair value of stock-based compensation.

Derivatives

The Company measures derivative contracts as assets or liabilities based on their fair value. Gains or losses resulting from changes in the fair value of derivatives in each period are recorded in current earnings (losses). None of the Company’s derivative contracts qualify for hedge accounting. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for speculative trading purposes.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09 Revenue Recognition, replacing guidance currently codified in Subtopic 605-10 Revenue Recognition-Overall with various SEC Staff Accounting Bulletins providing interpretive guidance. The new ASU establishes a new five step principles-based framework in an effort to significantly enhance comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions, and capital markets. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. ASU No. 2015-14 defers the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 until annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company has performed an assessment of the impact of implementation of ASU No. 2014-09, and concluded it will not change the timing of revenue recognition or amounts of revenue recognized compared to how revenue is recognized under current policies. ASU No. 2014-09 will require additional disclosures, where applicable, on (i) contracts with customers, (ii) significant judgments and changes in judgments in determining the timing of satisfaction of performance obligations and the transaction price, and (iii) assets recognized for costs to obtain or fulfill contracts.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 Leases (Topic 842). The update modifies the classification criteria and requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for most leases. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of implementing this update on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15 Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The update provides guidance on classification for cash receipts and payments related to eight specific issues. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of implementing this update on the consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18 Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. The update requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect this update to have a material impact on the consolidation financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01 Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The update clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company will apply the provisions of the update to potential future acquisitions occurring after the effective date.

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by FASB that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements upon adoption.