Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 2 and 9)
Commitments and Contingencies	10. Commitments and Contingencies: In acquiring its interests in mineral claims and leases, Solitario has entered into lease agreements, which may be canceled at its option without penalty. Solitario is required to make minimum rental and option payments in order to maintain its interests in certain claims and leases. See Note 2, “Mineral Properties,” above. Solitario estimates its 2015 property rentals and option payments, excluding certain earn-in payments discussed below, for properties we own or operate to be approximately $975,000, which includes $435,000 of mineral property payments at Mt. Hamilton. Assuming that our joint ventures continue in their current status and that we do not appreciably change our property positions on existing properties; approximately $517,000 of these annual payments are paid or are reimbursable to us by our joint venture partners. MH-LLC is required to make an annual advance minimum royalty payment of $300,000 to an underlying royalty holder at Mt. Hamilton. As of December 31, 2014, the total advance minimum royalty payments made to date were $2,000,000 which may be used to offset the total royalty due to the underlying leaseholder, if any, that may due from production at Mt. Hamilton, after the payment of the $300,000 annual minimum royalty payment. In addition, we may be required to make further payments in the future if we elect to exercise our options under those agreements or if we enter into new agreements. Solitario has entered into certain month-to-month office leases for its field offices in Nevada, Peru and Mexico. The total rent expense for these offices during 2014 and 2013 was approximately $15,000 and $72,000, respectively. In addition, Solitario leases office space under a non-cancelable operating lease for the Wheat Ridge, Colorado office which provides for total minimum rent payments through October of 2015 of $30,000. Per the MH Agreement, Solitario, in order to maintain its 80% interest in MH-LLC, is required to make certain option payments to buy down a portion of an existing 6% net smelter royalty to a 1% net smelter royalty by paying $3,500,000 to an underlying royalty holder on or before commercial completion of the Mt. Hamilton project and by paying $1,500,000 to the underlying royalty holder on or before one year after commercial completion of the Mt. Hamilton project. If Solitario chooses not make these royalty buy-down payments, its interest in Mt. Hamilton would be reduced from 80% to 49% and DHI’s interest in Mt. Hamilton would be increased from 20% to 51%.

Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Commitments and contingencies (Notes 2 and 9)

10. Commitments and Contingencies:

In acquiring its interests in mineral claims and leases, Solitario has entered into lease agreements, which may be canceled at its option without penalty. Solitario is required to make minimum rental and option payments in order to maintain its interests in certain claims and leases. See Note 2, “Mineral Properties,” above. Solitario estimates its 2015 property rentals and option payments, excluding certain earn-in payments discussed below, for properties we own or operate to be approximately $975,000, which includes $435,000 of mineral property payments at Mt. Hamilton. Assuming that our joint ventures continue in their current status and that we do not appreciably change our property positions on existing properties; approximately $517,000 of these annual payments are paid or are reimbursable to us by our joint venture partners. MH-LLC is required to make an annual advance minimum royalty payment of $300,000 to an underlying royalty holder at Mt. Hamilton. As of December 31, 2014, the total advance minimum royalty payments made to date were $2,000,000 which may be used to offset the total royalty due to the underlying leaseholder, if any, that may due from production at Mt. Hamilton, after the payment of the $300,000 annual minimum royalty payment. In addition, we may be required to make further payments in the future if we elect to exercise our options under those agreements or if we enter into new agreements.

Solitario has entered into certain month-to-month office leases for its field offices in Nevada, Peru and Mexico. The total rent expense for these offices during 2014 and 2013 was approximately $15,000 and $72,000, respectively. In addition, Solitario leases office space under a non-cancelable operating lease for the Wheat Ridge, Colorado office which provides for total minimum rent payments through October of 2015 of $30,000.

Per the MH Agreement, Solitario, in order to maintain its 80% interest in MH-LLC, is required to make certain option payments to buy down a portion of an existing 6% net smelter royalty to a 1% net smelter royalty by paying $3,500,000 to an underlying royalty holder on or before commercial completion of the Mt. Hamilton project and by paying $1,500,000 to the underlying royalty holder on or before one year after commercial completion of the Mt. Hamilton project. If Solitario chooses not make these royalty buy-down payments, its interest in Mt. Hamilton would be reduced from 80% to 49% and DHI’s interest in Mt. Hamilton would be increased from 20% to 51%.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies.

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