v2.3.0.15
PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT AND MINERAL PROPERTIES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT AND MINERAL PROPERTIES 
PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT AND MINERAL PROPERTIES

Note 7—PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT AND MINERAL PROPERTIES

        "Property, plant, and equipment" and "Mineral properties and development costs" were comprised of the following (in thousands):

 
  September 30, 2011   December 31, 2010  

Buildings and plant

  $ 65,020   $ 55,462  

Machinery and equipment

    226,893     190,662  

Vehicles

    8,699     8,015  

Office equipment and improvements

    13,711     13,333  

Ponds and land improvements

    7,871     6,802  

Construction in progress

    126,651     77,998  

Land

    263     263  

Accumulated depreciation

    (89,790 )   (66,615 )
           

 

  $ 359,318   $ 285,920  
           

Mineral properties and development costs

  $ 42,065   $ 42,288  

Construction in progress

    694     515  

Accumulated depletion

    (9,435 )   (8,431 )
           

 

  $ 33,324   $ 34,372  
           

        Intrepid recorded the following cost for depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion ("DD&A"), including DD&A capitalized into inventory, for the following periods (in thousands):

 
  Three months ended   Nine months ended  
 
  September 30, 2011   September 30, 2010   September 30, 2011   September 30, 2010  

Depreciation

  $ 8,403   $ 6,417   $ 24,358   $ 18,495  

Depletion

    232     212     1,027     897  

Amortization

        55     92     166  

Accretion

    184     176     566     528  
                   
 

Total

  $ 8,819   $ 6,860   $ 26,043   $ 20,086  
                   

        "Mineral properties and development costs" include accumulated costs of approximately $1.4 million as of September 30, 2011, and December 31, 2010, associated with the presently idled HB Solar Solution mine that is being converted to a solar solution mine. Intrepid is actively seeking the required permits and approvals from the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") and the state of New Mexico to resume production from this mine using solution mining techniques and the application of solar evaporation, similar to the operations in Moab, Utah. "Construction in progress" related to property, plant, and equipment associated with the HB Solar Solution mine also includes approximately $30.5 million and $26.7 million as of September 30, 2011, and December 31, 2010, respectively. No depletion or depreciation is currently being recognized on this property or its related assets, as the mine has not yet been placed in service and there is no basis over which to amortize the historical costs.