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Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  
Nature of Operations

Nature of Operations

Gold Resource Corporation (the “Company”) was organized under the laws of the State of Colorado on August 24, 1998. The Company is a producer of doré containing gold and silver and metal concentrates that contain gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc in Oaxaca, Mexico. The Company also has 100% interest in the Back Forty Project, an advanced Exploration Stage Property, located in Menominee County, Michigan, USA.

Acquisition

Acquisition

On December 10, 2021, the Company completed the acquisition of all the issued and outstanding common shares of Aquila Resources Inc. Aquila’s principal asset is its 100% interest in the Back Forty Project located in Menominee County, Michigan, USA. The Back Forty Project has a polymetallic (gold, silver, copper, silver, lead, and zinc) Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide deposit. The Back Forty Project controls surface and mineral rights through ownership, leases with the State of Michigan, and royalties with private parties. The Company considered the appropriate accounting treatment with regards to the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805 Business Combinations and determined it was appropriate to account for this transaction as an asset acquisition. Please see Note 23—Aquila Acquisition in Item 8—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information.

Asset Acquisition

The Company considers the appropriate accounting treatment with regards to the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s ASC 805 Business Combinations for all material merger and acquisition transactions as they occur. The facts and circumstances of each transaction are evaluated to determine the appropriate accounting. Please see Note 23—Aquila Acquisition in Item 8—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information regarding the accounting for the Aquila Transaction that closed on December 10, 2021.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements included herein are expressed in United States dollars and conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its Mexican subsidiary, Don David Gold Mexico S.A. de C.V., and Aquila and its subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting

The Company has organized its operations into three geographic regions. The geographic regions include Oaxaca, Mexico, Michigan, U.S.A., and Corporate and Other. Oaxaca, Mexico represents the Company’s only production stage property. Michigan, U.S.A. is an advanced exploration stage property. The Company’s business activities that are not considered production stage or advanced exploration stage properties are included in Corporate and Other.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. The more significant areas requiring the use of management estimates and assumptions relate to Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves that are the basis for future cash flow estimates utilized in impairment calculations and units-of-production depreciation calculations; asset and liability valuation related to acquisitions; accounting for asset acquisitions; future metal prices, especially as it relates to zinc zero cost collar; environmental remediation, reclamation and closure obligations; estimates of recoverable gold and other minerals in stockpiles; write-downs of inventory, stockpiles to net realizable value; valuation allowances for deferred tax assets and liabilities; valuation of contingent considerations and gold and silver stream agreements, provisional amounts related to income tax effects of newly enacted tax laws; and stock-based compensation. Management routinely makes judgments and estimates about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain and bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications

Certain amounts presented in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. Starting in 2022, the Company stopped presenting Gold and Silver Rounds as a separate line item in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Gold and Silver Rounds are now included within prepaid expenses and other current assets. In 2021, accrued expenses and other current liabilities included the liability for the zinc zero cost collar, which is presented in a separate line on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in 2022. In 2021, exploration expenses included both the Don David Gold Mine (“DDGM”) exploration expenses and the Back Forty Project expenses. In 2022, these are presented on separate lines in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The reclassifications had no effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of all cash balances and highly liquid investments with a remaining maturity of three months or less when purchased. Cash held in Mexican Pesos or Canadian Dollars is converted to U.S. Dollars at the closing exchange rate at year end.

Accounts Receivable, net

Accounts Receivable, net

Accounts receivable consists of trade receivables, which are recorded net of allowance for doubtful accounts from the sale of doré and metals concentrates, as well as net of an embedded derivative based on mark-to-market adjustments for outstanding provisional invoices based on forward metal prices. Please see Note 14—Derivatives and Note 20—Fair Value Measurement in Item 8—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information related to the embedded derivative. As of both December 31, 2022 and 2021, the allowance for doubtful accounts was nil.

Inventories

Inventories

The major inventory categories are set forth below:

Stockpile Inventories: Stockpile inventories represent ore that has been mined and is available for further processing. Stockpiles are measured by estimating the number of tonnes added and removed from the stockpile, an estimate of the contained metals (based on assay data), and the estimated metallurgical recovery rates. Costs are allocated to stockpiles based on relative values of material stockpiled and processed using current mining costs incurred, including applicable overhead and depreciation and amortization relating to mining operations. Material is removed at each stockpile’s average cost per tonne. Stockpiles are carried at the lower of average cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value represents the estimated future sales price of the product based on current and long-term metals prices, less the estimated costs to complete production and to bring the product to sale.

Concentrate Inventories: Concentrate inventories include metal concentrates located either at the Company’s facilities or in transit to its customer’s port. Inventories consist of copper, lead, and zinc metal concentrates, which also contain gold and silver mineralization. Concentrate inventories are carried at the lower of cost of production or net realizable value based on current metals prices.

Doré Inventory: Doré includes gold and silver doré bars held at the Company’s facility. Doré inventories are carried at the lower of cost of production or net realizable value based on current metals prices.

Materials and Supplies Inventories: Materials and supplies inventories consist of chemical reagents, parts, fuels, and other materials and supplies. Cost includes applicable taxes and freight. Materials and supplies inventory is carried at the lower of average cost or net realizable value.

Write-downs of inventory are charged to production costs on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Promissory Note

Promissory Note

A promissory note was acquired in the Aquila Transaction. In October 2021, Aquila sold its Wisconsin assets to Green Light Metals in return for a C$4.9 million ($3.9 million) promissory note. Upon maturity on December 28, 2022, the Company received 12,250,000 private shares of Green Light Metals, which settled the promissory note. The shares received represent 28.5% ownership in Green Light Metals. As of December 31, 2022, the balance of the promissory note receivable was zero. Management chose to account for this investment in Green Light Metals using the fair value option. Please see Note 3—Promissory Note and Note 8—Other Non-current Assets in Item 8—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information related to investment in Green Light Metals.

Property, Plant and Mine Development

Property, Plant, and Mine Development

Land and Mineral Interests: The costs of acquiring land, mineral rights, and mineral interests are considered tangible assets. Administrative and holding costs to maintain an exploration property are expensed as incurred. If a mineable mineral deposit is discovered, such capitalized costs are amortized when production begins using the units of production (“UOP”) method. If no mineable mineral deposit is discovered, or such rights are otherwise determined to have diminished value, costs are expensed in the period in which this determination is made.

Mine Development: This includes the cost of engineering and metallurgical studies; drilling and other related costs to delineate an ore body; and the cost of building access ways, shafts, lateral access, drifts, ramps, and other infrastructure. Costs incurred before mineralization is classified as Mineral Resources are expensed and classified as exploration expenses. Capitalization of mine development project costs that meet the definition of an asset begins once mineralization is classified as Mineral Resources.

Drilling costs incurred during the production phase for operational ore control are recorded as mine development and amortized using UOP. All other drilling and related costs are expensed as incurred.

Mine development costs are amortized using the UOP method based on estimated recoverable ounces in Mineral Reserves.

Property and Equipment: All items of property and equipment are carried at cost. Normal maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred, while expenditures for major maintenance and improvements are capitalized. Gains or losses on disposition are recognized in other (income) expense.

Construction in Progress: Expenditures for new facilities or equipment are capitalized and recorded at cost. Once completed and ready for its intended use, the asset is transferred to property and equipment to be depreciated or amortized.

Depreciation and Amortization: Capitalized costs are depreciated or amortized using the straight-line or UOP method at rates sufficient to depreciate such costs over the shorter of estimated productive lives of such assets or the useful life of the individual assets. The estimates for Mineral Reserves are a key component in determining the UOP depreciation rates. The estimates of Mineral Reserves may change, possibly in the near term, resulting in significant changes to depreciation and amortization rates in future reporting periods. The following are the estimated economic lives of depreciable assets:

Range of Lives

Asset retirement costs

UOP

Furniture, computer and office equipment

3 to 10 years

Light vehicles and other mobile equipment

4 years

Machinery and equipment

UOP to 8 years

Mill facilities and related infrastructure

UOP

Mine development and mineral interests

UOP

Buildings and infrastructure

UOP to 4 years

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Asset impairment is considered to exist if the total estimated future cash flows on an undiscounted basis are less than the carrying amount of the asset. If an impairment is indicated, a determination is made whether an impairment has occurred. Impairment losses are measured either 1) as the excess of carrying value over the total discounted estimated future cash flows, or 2) as the excess of carrying value over the fair value, using the expected fair value technique in the absence of an observable market price. Losses are charged to expense on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. In estimating future cash flows, assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of future cash flows from other asset groups.

Existing Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves are included when estimating the fair value in determining whether the assets are impaired. The Company’s estimates of future cash flows are based on numerous assumptions, including expected gold and other commodity prices, production levels and costs, processing recoveries, capital requirements, and estimated salvage values. It is possible that actual future cash flows will be significantly different from the estimates, as actual future quantities of recoverable minerals, gold and other commodity prices, production levels and costs, and capital requirements are each subject to significant risks and uncertainties.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The recorded amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables from provisional concentrate sales, and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. The recorded amounts for the zinc zero cost collar are based on the London Metal Exchange forward underlying price over a period from the trade date to the payment date. The recorded amount for the equity investment in the common shares of Maritime is based on the closing share price of MAE.V on TSX-V. The company elected the fair value measurement option as the measurement basis for the equity investment in the common shares of Green Light Metals.

Treasury Stock

Treasury Stock

Treasury stock represents shares of the Company’s common stock which have been repurchased on the open market at the prevailing market price at the time of purchase and have not been canceled. Treasury stock is shown at cost as a separate component of equity.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition 

The Company recognizes revenue from doré and concentrate sales.

Doré sales: Doré sales are recognized upon the satisfaction of performance obligations, which occurs upon delivery of doré and when the price and quantity are agreed with the customer. Doré sales are recorded using quoted metal prices, net of refining charges.

Concentrate sales: Concentrate sales are initially recorded based on 100% of the provisional sales prices, net of treatment and refining charges, at the time of delivery to the customer, at which point the performance obligations are satisfied and control of the product is transferred to the customer. Adjustments to the provisional sales prices are made to take into account the mark-to-market changes based on the forward prices of metals until final settlement occurs. The changes in price between the provisional sales price and final sales price are considered an embedded derivative that is required to be separated from the host contract for accounting purposes. The host contract is the receivable from the sale of the concentrates at the quoted metal prices at the time of delivery. The embedded derivative, which does not qualify for hedge accounting, is adjusted to market through revenue each period prior to final settlement. Market changes in the prices of metals between the delivery and final settlement dates will result in adjustments to revenues related to previously recorded sales of concentrate. Sales are recorded net of charges for treatment, refining, smelting losses, and other charges negotiated with the buyer. These charges are estimated upon delivery of concentrates based on contractual terms and adjusted to reflect actual charges at final settlement, which normally occurs within two months. Historically, actual charges have not varied materially from the Company’s initial estimates.

Production Costs

Production Costs

Production costs include labor and benefits, royalties, concentrate and doré shipping costs, mining costs, fuel and lubricants, legal and professional fees related to mine operations, stock-based compensation attributable to mine workers, materials and supplies, repairs and maintenance, explosives, site support, housing and food, insurance, reagents, travel, medical services, security equipment, office rent, tools, and other costs that support mining operations.

Exploration Costs

Exploration Costs

Exploration costs are charged to expense as incurred. Costs to identify new Mineral Resources and to evaluate potential Mineral Resources are considered exploration costs. Exploration activities conducted within the defined Mineral Resources are capitalized.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation under the fair value recognition and measurement provisions of U.S. GAAP. Those provisions require all stock-based payments, including grants of stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance share units (“PSUs”), and deferred share units (“DSUs”) to be measured based on the grant date fair value of the awards, with the resulting expense generally recognized on a straight-line basis in the Consolidated Statements of Operations over the period during which services are performed in exchange for the award. The majority of the awards are earned over a service period of three years. DSUs are earned immediately at grant and are expected to be paid out in cash in the future. PSUs and DSUs are considered liability instruments and marked-to-market each reporting period. The Company's estimates may be impacted by certain variables including, but not limited to, stock price volatility, employee stock option exercise behaviors, additional stock option grants, and estimates of forfeitures.

Reclamation and Remediation Costs

Reclamation and Remediation Costs

Reclamation costs are allocated to expense over the life of the related assets and are periodically adjusted to reflect changes in the estimated present value resulting from the passage of time and revisions to the estimates of either the timing or amount of the reclamation and remediation costs. Reclamation obligations are based in part on when the spending for an existing environmental disturbance will occur. The Company reviews the reclamation obligation at least on an annual basis.

In 2014, the Company became a production stage company and therefore, started capitalizing asset retirement costs along with the asset retirement obligation. Please see Note 11—Reclamation and Remediation in Item 8—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information.

Accounting for reclamation and remediation obligations requires management to make estimates unique to each mining operation of the future costs expected to be incurred to complete the reclamation and remediation work required to comply with existing laws and regulations. Actual costs incurred in future periods could differ from the amounts estimated. Additionally, future changes to environmental laws and regulations could increase the extent of reclamation and remediation work required. Any such increases in future costs could materially impact the amounts charged to operations for reclamation and remediation.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Accumulated other comprehensive loss is presented in the consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity. Accumulated other comprehensive loss is composed of foreign currency translation adjustment effects related to the historical adjustment when the functional currency was the Mexican peso for our Mexico subsidiary. This loss will remain on our Consolidated Balance Sheets until the sale or dissolution of our Mexico subsidiary.

Income and Mining Royalty Taxes

Income and Mining Royalty Taxes

Income and Mining Royalty Taxes are computed using the asset and liability method. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting purposes and the effect of net operating loss and foreign tax credit carryforwards using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are evaluated to determine if it is more likely than not that they will be realized. Please see Note 5—Income Taxes in Item 8—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for additional information.

Net Income Per Share

Net Income Per Share

Basic earnings per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted income per share reflects the dilution that could occur if potentially dilutive securities, as determined using the treasury stock method, are converted into common stock. Potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the calculation when their inclusion would be anti-dilutive, such as periods when a net loss is reported or when the exercise price of the instrument exceeds the average fair market value of the underlying common stock.

Foreign Currency

Foreign Currency

The functional currency for all of the Company’s subsidiaries is the United States dollar (“U.S. dollar”).

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company has considered and assessed the credit risk resulting from its concentrate sales and doré sales arrangements with its customers. In the event that the Company’s relationships with its customers are interrupted for any reason, the Company believes that it would be able to locate another entity to purchase its metals concentrates and doré bars; however, any interruption could temporarily disrupt the Company’s sale of its products and materially adversely affect operating results.

The Company’s Arista and Alta Gracia mines, which are located in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico, accounted for 100% of the Company’s total net sales from operations for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.

Some of the Company’s operating cash balances are maintained in accounts that currently exceed federally insured limits. The Company believes that the financial strength of the depositing institutions mitigates the underlying risk of loss. To date, these concentrations of credit risk have not had a significant impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Streaming liabilities

Streaming Liabilities

The Company presents the gold and silver streaming liabilities initially at fair value and subsequently accreted using a discount rate and risk factor probabilities. The discount rate is the Company’s estimated borrowing rate, and the probabilities consider the completion of the feasibility study, obtaining necessary permits, and the completion of the mine facilities. The adjustment in the value is the accretion of interest, which is booked as other expense.