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Mineral Properties

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

2. Mineral Property

The following table details Solitario’s investment in Mineral Property:

(in thousands)	March 31,	December 31,
	2017	2016
Exploration
La Promesa (Peru)	$ 6	$ 6
Montana Royalty property (US)	40	40
Total exploration mineral property	$46	$46

All exploration costs on our other exploration properties, none of which have proven and probable reserves, including any additional costs incurred for subsequent lease payments or exploration activities related to our projects are expensed as incurred.

Discontinued projects

Solitario dropped its royalty interests in the Aconchi and Norcan exploration properties in Mexico during the three months ended March 31, 2017. There was no capitalized mineral property interest in either of the royalties dropped and Solitario did not record any mineral property write-downs during the three months ended March 31, 2017 or 2016.

Exploration expense

The following items comprised exploration expense:

(in thousands)	Three months ended March 31,
	2017	2016
Geologic and field expenses	$22	$76
Administrative	129	46
Total exploration costs	$ 151	$ 122