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Mineral Property

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Extractive Industries [Abstract]

Mineral Property

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

(in thousands)		March 31,				December 31,
		2020				2019
Exploration
Lik project (Alaska – US)		$	15,611			$	15,611
La Promesa (Peru)			6				6
Total exploration mineral property		$	15,617			$	15,617

All exploration costs on our 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.

Royalty sale

On January 22, 2019, Solitario completed the Royalty Sale to SilverStream for Cdn$600,000. On closing of the Royalty Sale, Solitario received Cdn$250,000 in cash and a convertible note from SilverStream in the principal amount of Cdn$350,000 (the “SilverStream Note”). The SilverStream Note was originally due December 31, 2019, accrued 5% per annum simple interest, payable on a quarterly basis, and is convertible into common shares of SilverStream, at the discretion of SilverStream, by providing Solitario a notice of conversion. In December of 2019, Solitario and SilverStream agreed to extend the due date of the SilverStream Note to June 30, 2020, and to increase the interest rate to 8% per annum simple interest. All other terms of the SilverStream Note remained the same. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, Solitario recorded interest income from the SilverStream Note of $5,000 and $2,000, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, Solitario recorded mineral property revenue of $408,000 from the Royalty Sale, consisting of the fair value of the cash received on the date of the sale of $185,000 and the fair value of the SilverStream Note on the date of the sale of $263,000 less the carrying value of the royalties sold of $40,000.

Exploration expense

The following items comprised exploration expense:

(in thousands)		Three months ended March 31,
		2020				2019
Geologic and field expenses		$	90			$	147
Administrative			23				16
Total exploration costs		$	113			$	163

Asset Retirement Obligation

In connection with the acquisition of the Lik project in 2017, 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.