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Mineral Properties | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] |
Mineral Properties | 2. Mineral Properties: The following table details Solitario’s capitalized investment in exploration mineral property:
(in thousands) | December 31,
| 2017 | 2016
Exploration |  |
Lik project (Alaska – US) | $15,611 | $ -
La Promesa (Peru) | 6 | 6
Montana Royalty property (US) | 40 | 40
Total exploration mineral property | $15,657 | $46
Exploration property Solitario's exploration mineral properties at December 31, 2017 and 2016 consist of use rights related to its exploration properties, and the value of such assets is primarily driven by the nature and amount of economic mineral ore believed to be contained, or potentially contained, in such properties. The amounts capitalized as mineral properties include concession and lease or option acquisition costs. Capitalized costs related to a mineral property represent its fair value at the time it was acquired. At December 31, 2017, none of Solitario’s exploration properties have production (are operating) or contain proven or probable reserves. Solitario's exploration mineral properties represent interests in properties that Solitario believes have exploration and development potential. Solitario's mineral use rights generally are enforceable regardless of whether proven and probable reserves have been established. Solitario acquired the Lik project during 2017 in the Acquisition; see Note 1 “Recent Developments” above. In addition to its capitalized exploration properties, Solitario has an interest in its Florida Canyon exploration concession, which is currently subject to a joint venture agreement where joint venture partners made stand-by joint venture payments to Solitario prior to January 1, 2015. Solitario recorded joint venture property payment revenue received in excess of capitalized costs. Per the joint venture agreement, as of December 31, 2017, no further standby joint-venture payments are due to Solitario on the Florida Canyon project. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, Solitario has no remaining capitalized costs related to its Florida Canyon joint venture. Solitario previously sold its mineral interests in its Yanacocha exploration projects and retained a royalty interest. Solitario has no capitalized costs related to its Yanacocha royalty interest. During the year ended December 31, 2016, Solitario acquired certain net smelter royalties on non-producing exploration leases in Montana previously owned by Atna Resources, Ltd. for $40,000. Discontinued projects During 2017, Solitario abandoned its interests in the Aconchi and Norcan exploration properties in Mexico and Solitario no longer holds any interest in those properties. However, there were no capitalized mineral property costs related to these properties and Solitario did not record any mineral property write-downs during the year ended December 31, 2017. During 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 2016. During 2016, Solitario abandoned its interest in its Canta Colorado property in Peru and recorded a mineral property write-down expense of $3,000 related to Canta Colorado. In addition, Solitario recorded a loss on other assets in Mexico of $14,000 related to the cessation of its exploration activities in Mexico during 2016. Exploration Expense The following items comprised exploration expense:
| For the year ended December 31,
(in thousands) | 2017 | 2016
Geologic and field expenses | $447 | $537
Administrative | 252 | 91
Total exploration expense | $699 | $628
Asset Retirement Obligation In connection with the Acquisition, Solitario recorded an asset retirement obligation of $125,000 for Solitario’s estimated reclamation cost of the existing disturbance at the Lik project. This disturbance consists of an exploration camp including certain drill sites and access roads at the camp. The estimate was based upon estimated cash costs for reclamation as determined by the permitting bond required by the State of Alaska, for which Solitario has purchased a reclamation bond insurance policy in the event Solitario or its 50% partner, Teck, do not complete required reclamation. Solitario has not applied a discount rate to the recorded asset retirement obligation as the estimated time frame for reclamation is not currently known, as reclamation is not expected to occur until the end of the Lik project life, which would follow future development and operations, the start of which cannot be estimated or assured at this time. Additionally no depreciation will be recorded on the related asset for the asset retirement obligation until the Lik project goes into operation, which cannot be assured.

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