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Mineral Property
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]  
Mineral Property

2.        Mineral Property

 

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

(in thousands) June 30, 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 six months ended June 30, 2017, however, there were no capitalized mineral property costs related to these royalties and Solitario did not record any mineral property write-downs during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, Solitario closed its exploration office in Mexico. Solitario recorded a mineral property write-down of $10,000 related to the Norcan and Aconchi properties during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016. In addition, Solitario recorded a loss on other assets in Mexico of $14,000 related to the exit from its exploration activities in Mexico during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.

 

Exploration expense

 

The following items comprised exploration expense:

 

(in thousands) Three months ended
June 30,		 Six months ended
June 30,
  2017 2016 2017 2016
Geologic and field expenses $99  $172  $121  $248 
Administrative 89  48  218  94 
Total exploration costs $ 188  $ 220  $ 339  $ 342