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2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019
Notes |
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 NJMJV partially owned by other investors is presented as non-controlling interest 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. 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, 2019 and 2018, the Company’s percentage ownership and method of accounting for each joint venture is as follows:
| December 31, 2019 | December 31, 2018
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 Interest 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, ongoing contributions, and percentage share of earnings since inception. 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, settlement pricing of gold sales, fair value of stock based compensation, estimation of asset retirement obligations and reclamation liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Revenue Recognition Gold Revenue Recognition and Receivables-Sales of gold sold directly to customers are recorded as revenues and receivables upon completion of the performance obligations and transfer of control of the product to the customer. For concentrate sales, the performance obligation is met, the transaction price can be reasonably estimated, and revenue is recognized generally at the time of shipment at estimated forward prices for the anticipated month of settlement. Due to the time elapsed from shipment to the customer and the final settlement with the customer, prices at which sales of our concentrates will be settled are estimated. Previously recorded sales and accounts receivable are adjusted to estimated settlement metals prices until final settlement by the customer. For sales of dore’ and metals from doré, the performance obligation is met, the transaction price is known, and revenue is recognized at the time of transfer of control of the agreed-upon metal quantities to the customer by the refiner. Gold Revenue Recognition and Receivables, continued-Sales and accounts receivable for concentrate shipments are recorded net of charges by the customer for treatment, refining, smelting losses, and other charges negotiated with the customers. Charges are estimated upon shipment of concentrates based on contractual terms, and actual charges typically do not vary materially from estimates. Costs charged by customers include fixed costs per ton of concentrate and price escalators. Refining, selling and shipping costs related to sales of doré and metals from doré are recorded to cost of sales as incurred. See Note 13 for more information on our sales of products. Other Revenue Recognition-Revenue from harvest of raw timber is recognized when the performance obligation under a contract and transfer of control have both been completed. 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. 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. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company did not have any assets or liabilities that were valued at a fair value measurement other than its gold sales receivable. Due to the time elapsed from shipment to the customer and the final settlement with the customer, management must estimate the prices at which sales of gold concentrates will be settled. Previously recorded sales and accounts receivable are adjusted to estimated settlement metals prices until final settlement by the customer. See Note 13 for further information. 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 Sales In 2018 and 2019, the Company has sold its gold flotation concentrate product to a concentrate broker, H&H Metals Corp, a related party (see Note 13). In 2019 and 2018 floatation concentrates accounted 96% and 91%, respectively, of all gold sales. The remaining 4% and 9% in 2019 and 2018, respectively, was dore’ sold to a third party. 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, 2019, all outstanding stock options (5,262,500) and warrants (12,900,123) were excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share because they were anti-dilutive due to the net loss in that year. For the year ended December 31, 2018, stock options of 6,792,000 and warrants of 1,200,000 are included in the calculation of diluted income per share. Excluded from the 2018 diluted earnings per share calculation were 262,500 options and 12,900,123 warrants. These options and warrants were excluded because their exercise prices were greater than the average trading prices of the Company’s common stock for the respective period. Reclassifications Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2019 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. Consideration received by the Company pursuant to joint ventures or mineral interest agreements is applied against the carrying value of the related mineral interest. When and if payments received exceed the carrying value, the excess amount is recognized as a gain in the consolidated statement of operations in the period the consideration is received. 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 Assets 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, 2019 and 2018, the Company had a $103,320 reclamation bond 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 the Company’s 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 the Company’s common stock price over the expected term (“volatility”), 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. Going Concern The Company has accumulated deficit at December 31, 2019 and incurred a consolidated net loss in 2019 of $726,507. The Company is currently producing from the open-pit and underground at the Golden Chest. During 2019, production generated cash flow from operations of $206,407 compared to cash flow used in operations of $1,415,135 in 2018. Planned production for the next 18 months indicates the trend to improve. In prior years, the Company has been successful in raising required funds for ongoing operations from sale of its common stock or borrowing. Management believes it has the ability to meet its contractual obligations with continuing cash flows from operations, existing cash, and potential financings for the next 12 months. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Accounting Standards Updates Adopted In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02 Leases (Topic 842). The update modified the classification criteria and requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for most leases. The update was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. Adoption of this update as of January 1, 2019 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements because the Company has no long-term operating leases. In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07 Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The update involves simplification of several aspects of accounting for nonemployee share-based payment transactions by expanding the scope of Topic 718 to include nonemployee awards. The update was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. Adoption of this update as of January 1, 2019 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Accounting Standards Updates to Become Effective in Future Periods In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13 Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The update removes, modifies and makes additions to the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. Management is evaluating the impact of this update on the Company’s fair value measurement disclosures.

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