10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

xQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2012

OR

oTRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 001-32074

MINES MANAGEMENT, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

IDAHO	91-0538859
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

905 W. Riverside Avenue, Suite 311 Spokane, Washington	99201
(Address Of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

(509) 838-6050

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o	Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o	Smaller reporting company x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o  No x

At November 14, 2012, 28,999,752 common shares, par value $0.001 per share, were issued and outstanding.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Information contained in or incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may contain forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  The use of any of the words “development”, “anticipate”, “continues”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “project”, “should”, “believe”, or similar expressions are intended to identify such statements.  Forward-looking statements included in this report relate to, among other things, comments regarding further exploration and evaluation of the Montanore Project, including drilling activities, feasibility determinations, including those in the Preliminary Economic Assessment, engineering and environmental studies, environmental, reclamation and permitting requirements and the process and timing and the costs associated with the foregoing; the process and timing associated with the Montanore Project permitting process, including the issuance of biological opinions, a final environmental impact statement and a record of decision and completion of wetland mitigation plans; financing needs, including the financing required to fund the final phases of the Montanore Project advanced exploration and delineation drilling program and a bankable feasibility study; sources of financing; the sufficiency of working capital to complete the rehabilitation of the Libby adit and commence delineation drilling; planned expenditures and cash requirements for 2012 and 2013;planned exploration and evaluation of the Estrella property in Peru, and results of drilling at Estrella; efforts to reduce costs, including reducing manpower; results of the Montanore Project hydrological model and the effects thereof; the search for potential exploration and development opportunities in the mining industry; the possibility of challenges by environmental groups or others to our permitting efforts or planned exploration, development or mining activities; potential completion of a bankable feasibility study and the costs associated therewith; and markets for silver and copper.  We believe the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable.  However, we cannot assure that the expectations will prove to be correct.  Certain cautionary statements are also included elsewhere in this report, including, without limitation, in conjunction with the forward-looking statements.  All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made.  All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us, or persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements.  Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, among others, those factors referenced in the “Risk Factors” section of this report and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and such things as:

·the availability of experienced employees;

·uncertainties associated with developing new mines or mining operations;

·the absence of any history of production;

·the history of losses, which we expect to continue for the foreseeable future;

·uncertainties associated with acquiring new mining properties, including uncertainties regarding the availability of properties or companies to be acquired, the ability to negotiate acquisitions on acceptable terms or to otherwise accomplish such acquisitions, the ability to finance such acquisitions on acceptable terms, and the ability to manage acquired assets or to achieve the goals of the acquisition;

·the absence of proven or probable reserves, and uncertainty regarding whether reserves will be established at our Montanore Project;

·the speculative nature of exploration for mineral resources, including variations in ore grade and other characteristics affecting mining and mineral recoveries, which involves substantial expenditures and is frequently non-productive;

·the need for additional financing to complete the underground evaluation program,  to develop the Montanore Project and to conduct additional exploration at the Estrella project in Peru;

·financial market conditions and the availability of financing, or its availability on terms acceptable to us;

·the availability, terms, conditions, costs, timing of, or delays in receiving required governmental permits and approvals;

·the competitive nature of the mining industry;

·risks inherent in the mining process, including geological, technical, permitting, mining and processing problems;

·changes in geological information and the interpretation thereof;

·worldwide economic and political events affecting the supply of and demand for silver and copper and volatility in the market price for silver and copper;

·ongoing reclamation obligations on the Montanore Project properties;

·significant government regulation of mining activities;

·uncertainty regarding changes in mining or environmental laws that could increase costs and impair our ability to develop our properties;

·environmental risks;

·uncertainty regarding title to some of our properties;

·the potential for a business combination transaction pursuant to which a third party may attempt to acquire us, which may divert management attention and Company resources;

·anti-takeover provisions in our articles of incorporation and bylaws and under Idaho law, which may enable our incumbent management to retain control of us and discourage or prevent a change of control that may be beneficial to our stockholders;

·the volatility of the market price of our common stock;

·our intention not to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future;

·the potential depressive effect of issuances of common stock on the market price of our common stock;

·future dilution of shareholders by the exercise of options, and the depressive effect on the stock price of the existence of a significant number of outstanding options;

·obligations under a long-term contract to sell our silver production; and

·other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

MINES MANAGEMENT, INC.

FORM 10-Q

QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

INDEX

		Page
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.	Financial Statements	i
ITEM 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	10
ITEM 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	12
ITEM 4.	Controls and Procedures	12
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1.	Legal Proceedings	13
ITEM 1A.	Risk Factors	13
ITEM 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	13
ITEM 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	13
ITEM 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	13
ITEM 5.	Other Information	13
ITEM 6.	Exhibits	13
SIGNATURES		14

PART I— FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Contents

	Page
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
Condensed consolidated balance sheets	1
Condensed consolidated statements of operations	2
Condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss	3
Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows	4
Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements	5-9

i

Mines Management, Inc. and Subsidiaries

(An Exploration Stage Company)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

	September 30,2012			December 31,2011
Assets
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	11,792,222		$	17,121,800
Interest receivable	5,077			13,702
Prepaid expenses and deposits	275,473			207,285
Certificates of deposit	1,559,361			1,559,361
Total current assets	13,632,133			18,902,148
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Buildings and leasehold improvements	836,454			836,454
Equipment	6,450,089			6,450,089
Office equipment	344,939			330,356
	7,631,482			7,616,899
Less accumulated depreciation	5,154,386			4,438,799
	2,477,096			3,178,100
OTHER ASSETS:
Available-for-sale securities	23,262			13,276
Reclamation deposits	1,184,966			1,236,846
	1,208,228			1,250,122
	$	17,317,457		$	23,330,370
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	$	498,444		$	370,723
Payroll and payroll taxes payable	40,057			17,631
Warrant derivatives	—			357,977
Total current liabilities	538,501			746,331
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Asset retirement obligation	451,281			435,171
Total liabilities	989,782			1,181,502
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Preferred shares — no par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized; -0- shares issued and outstanding	—			—
Common shares — $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 28,999,752 and 28,739,110 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	29,000			28,739
Additional paid-in capital	86,805,769			86,224,400
Accumulated deficit	(1,117,306		)	(1,117,306		)
Deficit accumulated during the exploration stage	(69,401,885		)	(62,989,076		)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	12,097			2,111
Total stockholders’ equity	16,327,675			22,148,868
	$	17,317,457		$	23,330,370

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

1

Mines Management, Inc. and Subsidiaries

(An Exploration Stage Company)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

	Three Months EndedSeptember 30,						Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,						From Inception of Exploration Stage August 12, 2002 ThroughSeptember 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011			2012
REVENUE:
Royalties	$	6,527		$	8,056		$	27,108		$	18,446		$	147,179
OPERATING EXPENSES:
General and administrative	839,656			1,719,572			2,577,430			3,522,105			32,298,985
Technical services and exploration	1,384,087			680,715			3,005,134			2,048,049			29,952,010
Depreciation	242,469			251,018			733,857			759,108			5,186,439
Legal, accounting, and consulting	130,507			100,533			352,908			425,073			4,598,770
Fees, filing, and licenses	122,390			182,506			176,306			276,736			2,743,124
Impairment of mineral properties	—			—			—			—			504,492
Total operating expenses	2,719,109			2,934,344			6,845,635			7,031,071			75,283,820
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS	(2,712,582		)	(2,926,288		)	(6,818,527		)	(7,012,625		)	(75,136,641		)
OTHER INCOME:
Gain from warrant derivatives	—			126,345			357,977			1,823,552			476,381
Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities	—			—			—			2,005,904			2,005,904
Interest income, net	13,127			34,397			47,741			96,606			3,252,471
	13,127			160,742			405,718			3,926,062			5,734,756
NET LOSS	$	(2,699,455	)	$	(2,765,546	)	$	(6,412,809	)	$	(3,086,563	)	$	(69,401,885	)
NET LOSS PER SHARE (basic and diluted)	$	(0.09	)	$	(0.10	)	$	(0.22	)	$	(0.11	)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (basic and diluted)	28,995,839			28,739,110			28,928,315			27,350,016

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

2

Mines Management, Inc. and Subsidiaries

(An Exploration Stage Company)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (UNAUDITED)

	Three Months EndedSeptember 30,						Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Net Loss	$	(2,699,455	)	$	(2,765,546	)	$	(6,412,809	)	$	(3,086,563	)
Adjustment to net unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	8,081			(29,945		)	9,986			(1,885,159		)
Comprehensive loss	$	(2,691,374	)	$	(2,795,491	)	$	(6,402,823	)	$	(4,971,722	)

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

3

 Mines Management, Inc. and Subsidiaries

(An Exploration Stage Company)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

	Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,						From Inception of Exploration Stage August 12, 2002 Through September 30,
	2012			2011			2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$	(6,412,809	)	$	(3,086,563	)	$	(69,401,885	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Stock-based compensation	306,230			1,233,674			10,905,899
Stock received for services	—			—			(11,165		)
Depreciation	733,857			759,108			5,186,439
Initial measurement of asset retirement obligation	—			—			344,187
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	16,110			15,292			107,094
Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities	—			(2,005,904		)	(2,005,904		)
Gain from warrant derivatives	(357,977		)	(1,823,552		)	(476,381		)
Impairment of mineral properties	—			—			504,492
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Interest receivable	8,625			24,537			(5,077		)
Prepaid expenses and deposits	(68,188		)	(78,107		)	(335,884		)
Accounts payable	127,721			(152,435		)	498,280
Payroll and payroll taxes payable	22,426			27,877			36,877
Net cash used in operating activities	(5,624,005		)	(5,086,073		)	(54,653,028		)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of property and equipment	(32,853		)	—			(7,697,121		)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment	—			—			35,423
Proceeds (purchase) of certificates of deposit	51,880			(39,564		)	(2,683,415		)
Net proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities	—			3,821,252			2,005,904
Increase in mineral properties	—			—			(144,312		)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	19,027			3,781,688			(8,483,521		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds from sale of common stock	275,400			15,337,494			74,881,436
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(5,329,578		)	14,033,109			11,744,887
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	17,121,800			4,866,840			47,335
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	$	11,792,222		$	18,899,949		$	11,792,222
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Interest paid	$	—		$	—		$	65,768

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

NOTE 1  — ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

Organization:

Mines Management, Inc. (the Company) is an Idaho corporation incorporated in 1947.  The Company acquires, explores, and develops mineral properties in North and South America.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

These unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared by the Company in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) for interim financial information, as well as the instructions to Form 10-Q.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by US GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the interim financial statements have been included.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities known to exist as of the date the financial statements are published, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Uncertainties with respect to such estimates and assumptions are inherent in the preparation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements; accordingly, it is possible that the actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions, which could have a material effect on the reported amounts of the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations. Operating results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2012.

For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

(a)Exploration Stage Enterprise

Since the Company is in the exploration stage of operation, the Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 915, Development Stage Enterprises, as it devotes substantially all of its efforts to acquiring and exploring mining interests that management believes should eventually provide sufficient net profits to sustain the Company’s existence.  Until such interests are engaged in commercial production, the Company will continue to prepare its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with this standard.

(b)Mining properties, exploration and development costs

All exploration expenditures are expensed as incurred.  Significant property acquisition payments for active exploration properties are capitalized, including payments to acquire mineral rights.  Once a feasibility study has been completed, approved by management, and a decision is made to put the ore body into production, expenditures to develop new mines, to define further mineralization in existing ore bodies, and to expand the capacity of operating mines, are capitalized and amortized on the units of production basis over proven and probable reserves.  The Company charges to operations the allocable portion of capitalized costs attributable to properties sold.  Capitalized costs are allocated to properties sold based on the proportion of claims sold to the claims remaining within the project area.

(c)Fair value measurements

The Company discloses the inputs used to develop the fair value measurements for the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as well as the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements in their entirety fall.  The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1:  Unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date.

5

Level 2:  Quoted prices in inactive markets for identical assets or liabilities, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, or other observable inputs either directly related to the asset or liability or derived principally from corroborated observable market data.

Level 3:  Unobservable inputs due to the fact that there is little or no market activity.

(d)Stock compensation

The Company measures and records the costs of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award, recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for such award.  Compensation cost is recognized for awards granted and adjusted for awards modified, repurchased or cancelled.

(e)Net loss per share

Basic earnings or loss per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.   Diluted earnings or loss per share is calculated on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period plus the effect of potential dilutive shares during the period.  Potential dilutive shares include outstanding stock options and warrants.  For periods in which a net loss is reported, potential dilutive shares are excluded because they are antidilutive.  Therefore, basic loss per share is the same as diluted loss per share for the periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

(f)Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued guidance regarding the presentation of comprehensive income (loss).  The new standard requires the presentation of comprehensive income (loss), the components of net income (loss) and the components of other comprehensive income (loss) either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income (loss) or in two separate but consecutive statements.  The updated guidance is effective on a retrospective basis for financial statements issued for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011.  The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance effective January 1, 2012, as reflected in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss herein.

(g)Subsequent events

The Company evaluated events and transactions subsequent to the balance sheet date of September 30, 2012 for potential recognition or disclosure in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 2  — CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT:

The Company owns two certificates of deposit for a total of $1,559,361.  These investments mature in August 2013 and bear interest at the rate of 0.30%.

The Company also has a certificate of deposit pledged as security for a Letter of Credit to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality as a reclamation guarantee for the Montanore expansion evaluation program.  This certificate matures on January 3, 2013, bears interest at the rate of 0.55% and renews automatically each year.  This certificate of deposit ($1,124,055 and $1,175,935 at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively) is included with reclamation deposits on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

NOTE 3  — AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:

Available-for-sale securities are comprised of common stocks which have been valued using quoted market prices in active markets. The following table summarizes the Company’s available-for-sale securities:

	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Cost	$	11,165	$	11,165
Unrealized Gains	12,097		2,111
Fair Market Value	$	23,262	$	13,276

6

The Company sold one investment in marketable equity securities during March 2011.  Proceeds from the sale were $3,821,252 and the realized gain from the sale was $2,005,904.  No securities have been sold during 2012.

NOTE 4 — FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

The following table summarizes the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2012, and the fair value calculation input hierarchy level determined to apply to each asset and liability category.  Quoted market prices were used to determine the fair value of available-for-sale securities.  See note 5 for further discussion on the fair value measurement technique used to value the warrant derivatives.  The Company has no financial assets or liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

	Balance at September 30, 2012		Balance at December 31, 2011		Input HierarchyLevel
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	$	23,262	$	13,276	Level 1
Liabilities:
Warrant derivatives	—		$	357,977	Level 3
Asset retirement obligation	$	451,281	$	435,171	Level 3

The following table presents the fair value reconciliation of Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value during the nine months ended September 30, 2012:

	Warrant Derivatives			Asset Retirement Obligation
Balance January 1, 2012	$	357,977		$	435,171
Accretion expense	—			5,286
Gain on warrant derivatives	(336,920		)	—
Balance March 31, 2012	21,057			440,457
Accretion expense	—			5,350
Gain on warrant derivatives	(21,057		)	—
Balance June 30, 2012	—			445,807
Accretion expense	—			5,474
Balance September 30, 2012	$	—		$	451,281

NOTE 5 — WARRANT DERIVATIVES:

The Company had common share purchase warrants with exercise price reset features which qualified for treatment as a derivative liability.  These warrants expired on April 20, 2012.  The warrants did not qualify for hedge accounting and, as such, all changes in the fair value of the warrants were recognized in earnings until they expired.  The Company reported a gain from the change in fair value of these warrants of $-0- and $126,345 in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  Gains of $357,977 and $1,823,552 were recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

NOTE 6 — CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK:

The Company maintains most of its cash and cash equivalents in one financial institution.  Balances are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $250,000.  The Company’s total uninsured bank deposit balance (including certificates of deposit) totaled approximately $14,361,000 as of September 30, 2012.  To date, the Company has not experienced a material loss or lack of

7

access to its invested cash or cash equivalents; however, no assurance can be provided that access to the Company’s invested cash and cash equivalents will not be impacted by adverse conditions in the financial markets.

NOTE 7 — STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

Common Shares:

On March 8, 2011, the Company completed a public offering of 4,800,000 shares of common stock at a price of $3.15 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of $15,120,000 ($14,212,800 in net proceeds after deducting underwriting commissions and a corporate finance fee but before deducting offering expenses).  On April 4, 2011, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment option for 320,000 shares of common stock at a price of $3.15 per share.  The gross proceeds resulting from the over-allotment were $1,008,000 ($947,520 in net proceeds after deducting underwriting commissions and a corporate finance fee but before deducting offering expenses).  Therefore, the total offering was 5,120,000 shares of common stock, resulting in aggregate net proceeds of $15,160,320 before deducting offering expenses.

For a description of the public offering that occurred in 2007 and the sales of common stock during 2007 and 2005, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The warrants associated with the public offering completed in April 2007 expired on April 20, 2012.  No warrants related to this offering were exercised before they expired.  The warrants associated with the sale of stock in October 2005, also expired on April 20, 2012.  Cumulative warrants exercised relating to this issue were 269,620.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, $-0- and 101,435 warrants were exercised for gross proceeds of $-0- and $144,474, respectively.

Preferred Shares:

The Company has authorized 10,000,000 preferred shares, no par value.  Through September 30, 2012, the Company had not issued any preferred shares.

NOTE 8 — STOCK OPTIONS:

There has been no change to the Company’s 2003 and 2007 Stock Option Plans during 2012, other than the items summarized below.  For a description of these Stock Option Plans, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

The Board of Directors authorized the Company to establish the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (“2012 Plan”) which was approved by the shareholders in June 2012.  The Company may grant options to purchase up to 3,000,000 common shares under the 2012 Plan.  The common shares subject to the 2012 Plan may be either authorized and unissued shares or reacquired shares, bought on the market or otherwise, at the discretion of the Board.  The 2012 Plan provides for the issuance of incentive stock options to employees and nonqualified stock options to directors, employees and consultants of the Company.  No participant is eligible to be granted more than 200,000 common shares during any calendar year.  The option exercise price may not be less than 100% of fair market value per share on the date of grant and the options are exercisable within ten years from the date of grant of the option.  The vesting schedule of the options is at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

A summary of the option activity under the Company’s Stock Option Plans as of September 30, 2012, and changes during the period then ended, is presented below:

	Number of Options		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at January 1, 2012	3,601,000		$	1.86
Exercised	(200,000	)	$	0.99
Outstanding at March 31, 2012	3,401,000		$	1.92
Exercised	(5,000	)	$	1.29
Outstanding at June 30, 2012	3,396,000		$	1.92
Issued	456,000		$	1.19
Exercised	(60,000	)	$	1.29
Forfeited or expired	(40,000	)	$	1.29
Outstanding at September 30, 2012	3,752,000		$	1.85	2.99	$	449,040
Exercisable at September 30, 2012	3,672,000		$	1.82	3.05	$	449,040

8

The fair value for each option award is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the assumptions noted in the following table.  Volatility for the periods presented is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common shares over the expected life of the option.  The risk-free rate for periods within the expected term of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant.  The Company does not foresee the payment of dividends in the near term.

	Three Months EndedSeptember 30,						Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Weighted average risk-free interest rate	0.30		%	0.63		%	0.30		%	0.65		%
Weighted average volatility	72.33		%	87.16		%	72.33		%	86.67		%
Expected dividend yield	—			—			—			—
Weighted average expected life (in years)	3.0			3.6			3.0			3.6
Weighted average grant-date fair value	$	0.56		$	1.20		$	0.56		$	1.20

During the three months ended September 30, 2012, there were 60,000 stock options exercised with a weighted average exercise price of $1.29.  There were no stock options exercised during the three months ended September 30, 2011.  The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended September 30, 2012 was $2,400.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, there were 265,000 and 303,000 stock options exercised with a weighted average exercise price of $1.06 and $1.57, respectively.  The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was $212,522 and $218,293, respectively.

A summary of the status of the Company’s nonvested options as of September 30, 2012, and changes during the period then ended, is presented below:

	Number of Options		Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Nonvested at January 1, 2012	730,000		$	1.18
Vested	(650,000	)	$	1.20
Nonvested at March 31,2012	80,000		$	0.99
Granted or Vested	—		—
Nonvested at June 30, 2012	80,000		$	0.99
Granted or Vested	—		—
Nonvested at September 30, 2012	80,000		$	0.99

As of September 30, 2012, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Plans.

Total compensation cost recognized for stock-based employee compensation awards was $255,360 and $1,146,304 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  Total compensation cost recognized for stock-based employee compensation awards was $306,230 and $1,233,674 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  These costs were included in general and administrative expenses and technical services on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.  Cash received from options exercised under all share-based payment arrangements during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was $275,400 and $152,700, respectively.

NOTE 9 — COMMITMENTS:

The Company entered into an Exploration Earn-In Agreement with Estrella Gold Corp. (“Estrella”) on April 5, 2012, pursuant to which the Company could acquire 75% of the Estrella gold and silver exploration property located in central Peru by expending $5,000,000 on exploration activities.  Under the terms of the agreement, the Company is required to make annual cash payments to Estrella of $100,000 prior to the end of the first agreement year ending on February 28, 2013, and $200,000 prior to the end of each subsequent agreement year until the earn-in has been completed.  The Company is also required to

9

expend a minimum of $500,000 in exploration and development expenditures in each of the first and second agreement years.  The Company may terminate this agreement at any time during the earn-in period, however, a minimum of $350,000 in exploration and development expenses is required during the first year of the agreement regardless of whether or not the agreement is terminated.  As of September 30, 2012, the Company has met the first year’s exploration and development expenditure requirements.

ITEM 2.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as well as with the financial statements and related notes and the other information appearing elsewhere in this report.  As used in this report, unless the context otherwise indicates, references to “we,” “our,” the “Company” and “us” refer to Mines Management, Inc. and its subsidiaries collectively.

We are an exploration stage company with a large silver-copper project, the Montanore Project, located in northwestern Montana.  The Montanore Project continues to be the Company’s primary focus.  During 2012, the Company continued planning for the advanced exploration and delineation drilling program at the Montanore Project, principally through the pursuit of federal and state agency permitting approvals.

Overview Third Quarter 2012

·The Biological Consultation between the U.S. Forest Service (“USFS”) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“USFWS”) has been initiated and is expected to conclude with a Biological Opinion.

·Initial drilling at the La Estrella exploration project in Peru was encouraging and has extended the gold and silver mineralized zone.

·The USFS and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (“MDEQ”) issued the completed Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Study (“SDEIS”) in late September 2011.  The comment period on the SDEIS concluded on December 21, 2011.  The USFS and MDEQ are currently incorporating the responses into the Final Environmental Impact Statement (“FEIS”). 

·The Company continues to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps of Engineers”) on the 404 permitting process.  This process will continue concurrently with completion of the FEIS.

·The Company continued meeting with federal and state agencies, members of Congress, Montana legislators, local Lincoln County Commissioners, Libby City officials, business leaders and community members in an effort to keep them informed of the project’s status.

·The Company continued its program to reduce expenditures and conserve cash pending the completion of permitting.

·The Company’s cash and investment position remained strong at $13.4 million as of September 30, 2012.

Current Activities

Montanore:

During the third quarter of 2012, the Company continued to maintain the Libby adit in a care and maintenance condition preparatory to development activities and adit rehabilitation when the Record of Decision is received.  Technical support and assistance were provided for ongoing permitting and environmental efforts.  Gathering of environmental data and reporting to state and federal agencies as part of the permitting process is ongoing.

The Company continued to work on mine plan reviews related to optimization of the Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”). Utilizing the LIDAR generated topographical maps of the project site, the Company also continued work on resource model evaluations and identification of target areas which are being incorporated into the planned underground drill program.  The Company is currently reviewing and updating the cost estimates for the revised delineation drilling program.

La Estrella:

At its La Estrella project in Peru, the Company completed an eight hole diamond core drill program totaling approximately 2,700 meters in August 2012, in a program

10

designed to test the southwestern extent of a gold and silver mineralized zone, which remains open to the north, south, and west.  Seven of the eight holes intersected gold and silver mineralization exceeding 100 meters in thickness.  The 2012 drilling program has extended the known mineralized zone by approximately 300 meters to the west over an extent of approximately 500 meters north to south.  Currently, we are evaluating and modeling the data.

Montanore Permitting and Environmental

The agencies initiated work to prepare the FEIS for the Montanore Project.  The preparation of the FEIS includes updating the document to provide better clarity, additional support information, and other key elements necessary to complete the document.

An equally important aspect of the permitting process involves consultation between the USFS and the USFWS.  The Fisheries Biological Assessment (“BA”) was initiated in April.  A draft revision was submitted for review which has been completed.  The Fisheries BA is being updated along with the completion of a mitigation plan.  Once these two items are completed, the USFWS will commence work on the Biological Opinion (“BO”).

Consultation with regard to the Terrestrial (grizzly bears, etc.) BA has also commenced.  The USFWS has completed an internal review of the Terrestrial BA which was completed by the USFS and submitted in July of 2011.  The USFWS has provided comments to the USFS which is actively addressing those comments.  At the same time, the USFWS has commenced work on portions of the Terrestrial BO that are not subject to USFS updates to the BA. 

The Company continues to work with the Corps of Engineers on the 404 permitting process.  The Corps of Engineers has determined that the application is complete and is analyzing the proposal.  The Clean Water Act requires that the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) play a support role in the analysis.  The Corps of Engineers and EPA are working together on the permitting process, which continues concurrently with the FEIS process schedule.  In addition, the Company continues to communicate with the EPA on information and clarification on the 404 permitting process and related issues.

Completion of the permitting process is contingent upon the completion of the FEIS and issuance of a Record of Decision.

Financial and Operating Results

Mines Management, Inc. is an exploration stage company with a large silver-copper project, the Montanore Project, located in northwestern Montana.   The Company continues to expense all of its expenditures when incurred, with the exception of equipment and buildings which are capitalized.  The Company has no revenues from mining operations.  Financial results of operations include primarily interest income, general and administrative expenses, permitting, project advancement and engineering expenses.

Quarter Ended September 30, 2012

The Company reported a net loss of $2.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 compared to a net loss of $2.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.  The most significant changes in operating expenses were:  (1) a $0.9 million decrease in general and administrative expenses primarily due to the value of stock compensation issued during the third quarter of 2012 compared to 2011mostly offset by (2) a $0.7 million increase in technical services associated with the exploration of the La Estrella Project.  There was also a $0.1 million decrease in other income primarily from the change in the fair market value of warrant derivatives which expired in April of 2012.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012

The Company reported a net loss of $6.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to a net loss of $3.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  The $3.3 million increase in net loss was primarily attributable to the change in other income, including:  (1) a decrease of $1.5 million in the net gain on fair market value of warrant derivatives which expired in April of 2012, and (2) the absence of the 2011 period gain of $2.0 million on the sale of available-for-sale securities.  Operating expenses decreased by $0.2 million with significant changes in the following line items:  (1) general and administrative expenses decreased by $0.9 million primarily due to the higher value of stock compensation issued during the third quarter of 2011 and (2) legal, accounting, consulting, and filing fees decreased for a combined total of $0.2 million due to the absence of various costs associated with the completion of the underwritten public

11

offering during 2011, almost entirely offset by (3) a $1.0 million increase in technical services due to the exploration of the La Estrella Project.

Liquidity

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the net cash used in operating activities was approximately $5.6 million, which is $0.5 million more than the same period during the prior year.  We have continued to limit activity levels, including capital expenditures, until the timing for the receipt of the Record of Decision for the Montanore Project becomes clearer.

We anticipate expenditures of approximately $2.0 million for the final three months of 2012, which we expect to consist of approximately $1.0 million for general and administrative expenses, $0.5 million for permitting, engineering, and geologic studies for the permitting for the Montanore Project and $0.5 million on exploration support including permit renewals and resource modeling at La Estrella.  We expect to fund these expenditures from cash on hand.  Additional external financing would be required following receipt of the Record of Decision to complete the evaluation drilling program and a bankable feasibility study at the Montanore Project and to fund increased exploration efforts at the La Estrella property in 2013.   We expect the timing and amount of additional external financing to be based on the timing of the Record of Decision and planned drilling program for Montanore and on 2012 exploration results and additional exploration plans, if any, for La Estrella.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of September 30, 2012, we had no existing off-balance sheet arrangements (as defined under SEC rules) that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a material current or future effect on our financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

ITEM 3.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The majority of our cash balances are held in U.S. dollars and our long term investment certificates of deposit are denominated in U.S. dollars in local and national banking institutions.  We manage the timing of cash required for review of the permitting and engineering of the Montanore Project and for general corporate purposes utilizing our money market account, and we invest funds not immediately required in certificates of deposit with varying maturities and fixed early retirement costs of three months interest.  Our policy is to invest only in government securities rated “investment grade” or better.

The market prices of base and precious metals such as silver and copper fluctuate widely and are affected by numerous factors beyond the control of any mining company.  These factors include expectations with regard to the rate of inflation, the exchange rates of the U.S. dollar and other currencies, interest rates, global or regional political, economic or banking crises, and a number of other factors.  If the market price of silver or copper should decrease, the value of the Company’s Montanore Project could decline and the Company might not be able to recover its investment in that project.  Any determination to develop or construct a mine would be made long before the first revenues from production would be received.  Price fluctuations between the time that such decisions are made and the commencement of production could affect the economics of the mine.

ITEM 4.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Our management, with the participation of Glenn M. Dobbs, the Company’s President and CEO, and James H. Moore, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, has evaluated the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2012.  Based upon this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed and were effective as of September 30, 2012 to give reasonable assurances that the information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company’s files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and that such information is also accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2012 that has materially affected, or that is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

12

PART II— OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

None.

ITEM 1A.RISK FACTORS

None.

ITEM 2.UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

ITEM 3.DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

None.

ITEM 5.OTHER INFORMATION

None.

ITEM 6.EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.	Title of Exhibit
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C., 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act)
32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C., 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act)
101	The following financial information from Mines Management Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2012, and December 31, 2011, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, and September 30, 2011 and from Inception through September 30, 2012, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, and September 30, 2011, and from Inception through September 30, 2012 and (iv) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Pursuant to rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files on Exhibit 101 are deemed not filed or part of any registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.

13

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	MINES MANAGEMENT, INC.
Date:   November 14, 2012	By:	/s/ Glenn M. Dobbs
		Glenn M. Dobbs
		President and Chief Executive Officer
	By:	/s/ James H. Moore
Date:  November 14, 2012		James H. Moore
		Chief Financial Officer

14

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Glenn M. Dobbs, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Mines Management, Inc.;

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors:

a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 14, 2012
	/s/ Glenn M. Dobbs
	Glenn M. Dobbs
	President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, James H. Moore, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Mines Management, Inc.;

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a.         Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b.         Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c.         Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d.         Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors:

a.         All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b.         Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 14, 2012
	/s/ James H. Moore
	James H. Moore
	Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Mines Management, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

/s/ Glenn M. Dobbs

Glenn M. Dobbs

President and Chief Executive Officer

November 14, 2012

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Mines Management, Inc. and will be retained by Mines Management, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

EX-32.2

EXHIBIT 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Mines Management, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

/s/ James H. Moore

James H. Moore

Chief Financial Officer

November 14, 2012

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Mines Management, Inc. and will be retained by Mines Management, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

XML

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK: (Details) (Cash and cash equivalents, Concentration of credit risk, USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 item
Cash and cash equivalents | Concentration of credit risk
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
Number of financial institutions	1
Maximum balances insured by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation	$ 250,000
Uninsured bank deposit balance	$ 14,361,000

XML

AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:

AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:

NOTE 3  — AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:

Available-for-sale securities are comprised of common stocks which have been valued using quoted market prices in active markets. The following table summarizes the Company’s available-for-sale securities:

	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Cost	$	11,165	$	11,165
Unrealized Gains	12,097		2,111
Fair Market Value	$	23,262	$	13,276

The Company sold one investment in marketable equity securities during March 2011.  Proceeds from the sale were $3,821,252 and the realized gain from the sale was $2,005,904.  No securities have been sold during 2012.

XML

COMMITMENTS: (Details) (Exploration Earn-In Agreement, Estrella Gold Corp., USD $)	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Apr. 05, 2012
Exploration Earn-In Agreement | Estrella Gold Corp.
Commitments
Percentage of Estrella exploration property located in central Peru that could be acquired by the company			75.00%
Amount to be expended on exploration activity for acquiring certain percentage of Estrella exploration property	$ 5,000,000
Annual cash payments to be made prior to the end of the first agreement year ending on February 28, 2013		100,000
Annual cash payments to be made prior to the end of each subsequent agreement year until the earn-in has been completed		200,000
Minimum amount of expenditure in exploration and development activity in each of the first and second years		500,000
Minimum amount of expenditure in exploration and development activity to be paid during the first year if the agreement is terminated		$ 350,000

XML

CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT:

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT:

CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT:

NOTE 2  — CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT:

The Company owns two certificates of deposit for a total of $1,559,361.  These investments mature in August 2013 and bear interest at the rate of 0.30%.

The Company also has a certificate of deposit pledged as security for a Letter of Credit to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality as a reclamation guarantee for the Montanore expansion evaluation program.  This certificate matures on January 3, 2013, bears interest at the rate of 0.55% and renews automatically each year.  This certificate of deposit ($1,124,055 and $1,175,935 at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively) is included with reclamation deposits on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 11,792,222	$ 17,121,800
Interest receivable	5,077	13,702
Prepaid expenses and deposits	275,473	207,285
Certificates of deposit	1,559,361	1,559,361
Total current assets	13,632,133	18,902,148
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Buildings and leasehold improvements	836,454	836,454
Equipment	6,450,089	6,450,089
Office equipment	344,939	330,356
Total property and equipment, gross	7,631,482	7,616,899
Less accumulated depreciation	5,154,386	4,438,799
Total property and equipment, net	2,477,096	3,178,100
OTHER ASSETS:
Available-for-sale securities	23,262	13,276
Reclamation deposits	1,184,966	1,236,846
Total other assets	1,208,228	1,250,122
Total assets	17,317,457	23,330,370
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	498,444	370,723
Payroll and payroll taxes payable	40,057	17,631
Warrant derivatives		357,977
Total current liabilities	538,501	746,331
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Asset retirement obligation	451,281	435,171
Total liabilities	989,782	1,181,502
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred shares - no par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized; -0- shares issued and outstanding
Common shares - $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 28,999,752 and 28,739,110 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	29,000	28,739
Additional paid-in capital	86,805,769	86,224,400
Accumulated deficit	(1,117,306)	(1,117,306)
Deficit accumulated during the exploration stage	(69,401,885)	(62,989,076)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	12,097	2,111
Total stockholders' equity	16,327,675	22,148,868
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 17,317,457	$ 23,330,370

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	9 Months Ended		122 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$ (6,412,809)	$ (3,086,563)	$ (69,401,885)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Stock-based compensation	306,230	1,233,674	10,905,899
Stock received for services			(11,165)
Depreciation	733,857	759,108	5,186,439
Initial measurement of asset retirement obligation			344,187
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	16,110	15,292	107,094
Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities		(2,005,904)	(2,005,904)
Gain from warrant derivatives	(357,977)	(1,823,552)	(476,381)
Impairment of mineral properties			504,492
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Interest receivable	8,625	24,537	(5,077)
Prepaid expenses and deposits	(68,188)	(78,107)	(335,884)
Accounts payable	127,721	(152,435)	498,280
Payroll and payroll taxes payable	22,426	27,877	36,877
Net cash used in operating activities	(5,624,005)	(5,086,073)	(54,653,028)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of property and equipment	(32,853)		(7,697,121)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment			35,423
Proceeds (purchase) of certificates of deposit	51,880	(39,564)	(2,683,415)
Net proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities		3,821,252	2,005,904
Increase in mineral properties			(144,312)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	19,027	3,781,688	(8,483,521)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds from sale of common stock	275,400	15,337,494	74,881,436
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(5,329,578)	14,033,109	11,744,887
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	17,121,800	4,866,840	47,335
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	11,792,222	18,899,949	11,792,222
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Interest paid			$ 65,768

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS: (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	$ 23,262	$ 13,276
Liabilities:
Asset retirement obligation	451,281	435,171
Recurring basis | Level 1
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	23,262	13,276
Recurring basis | Level 3
Liabilities:
Warrant derivatives		357,977
Asset retirement obligation	$ 451,281	$ 435,171

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WARRANT DERIVATIVES: (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		122 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012
WARRANT DERIVATIVES:
Gain from warrant derivatives	$ 126,345	$ 357,977	$ 1,823,552	$ 476,381

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ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

NOTE 1  — ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

Organization:

Mines Management, Inc. (the Company) is an Idaho corporation incorporated in 1947.  The Company acquires, explores, and develops mineral properties in North and South America.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

These unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared by the Company in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) for interim financial information, as well as the instructions to Form 10-Q.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by US GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the interim financial statements have been included.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities known to exist as of the date the financial statements are published, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Uncertainties with respect to such estimates and assumptions are inherent in the preparation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements; accordingly, it is possible that the actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions, which could have a material effect on the reported amounts of the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations. Operating results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2012.

For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

(a)Exploration Stage Enterprise

Since the Company is in the exploration stage of operation, the Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 915, Development Stage Enterprises, as it devotes substantially all of its efforts to acquiring and exploring mining interests that management believes should eventually provide sufficient net profits to sustain the Company’s existence.  Until such interests are engaged in commercial production, the Company will continue to prepare its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with this standard.

(b)Mining properties, exploration and development costs

All exploration expenditures are expensed as incurred.  Significant property acquisition payments for active exploration properties are capitalized, including payments to acquire mineral rights.  Once a feasibility study has been completed, approved by management, and a decision is made to put the ore body into production, expenditures to develop new mines, to define further mineralization in existing ore bodies, and to expand the capacity of operating mines, are capitalized and amortized on the units of production basis over proven and probable reserves.  The Company charges to operations the allocable portion of capitalized costs attributable to properties sold.  Capitalized costs are allocated to properties sold based on the proportion of claims sold to the claims remaining within the project area.

(c)Fair value measurements

The Company discloses the inputs used to develop the fair value measurements for the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as well as the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements in their entirety fall.  The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1:  Unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date.

Level 2:  Quoted prices in inactive markets for identical assets or liabilities, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, or other observable inputs either directly related to the asset or liability or derived principally from corroborated observable market data.

Level 3:  Unobservable inputs due to the fact that there is little or no market activity.

(d)Stock compensation

The Company measures and records the costs of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award, recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for such award.  Compensation cost is recognized for awards granted and adjusted for awards modified, repurchased or cancelled.

(e)Net loss per share

Basic earnings or loss per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.   Diluted earnings or loss per share is calculated on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period plus the effect of potential dilutive shares during the period.  Potential dilutive shares include outstanding stock options and warrants.  For periods in which a net loss is reported, potential dilutive shares are excluded because they are antidilutive.  Therefore, basic loss per share is the same as diluted loss per share for the periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

(f)Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued guidance regarding the presentation of comprehensive income (loss).  The new standard requires the presentation of comprehensive income (loss), the components of net income (loss) and the components of other comprehensive income (loss) either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income (loss) or in two separate but consecutive statements.  The updated guidance is effective on a retrospective basis for financial statements issued for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011.  The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance effective January 1, 2012, as reflected in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss herein.

(g)Subsequent events

The Company evaluated events and transactions subsequent to the balance sheet date of September 30, 2012 for potential recognition or disclosure in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Preferred shares, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred shares, shares issued	0	0
Preferred shares, shares outstanding	0	0
Common shares, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common shares, shares authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common shares, shares issued	28,999,752	28,739,110
Common shares, shares outstanding	28,999,752	28,739,110

XML

AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES: (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:

Schedule of the Company's available-for-sale securities

	September 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Cost	$	11,165	$	11,165
Unrealized Gains	12,097		2,111
Fair Market Value	$	23,262	$	13,276

XML

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 14, 2012
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	MINES MANAGEMENT INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000066649
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		28,999,752
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3

XML

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS: (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

Schedule of financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value on a nonrecurring basis

	Balance at September 30, 2012		Balance at December 31, 2011		Input HierarchyLevel
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	$	23,262	$	13,276	Level 1
Liabilities:
Warrant derivatives	—		$	357,977	Level 3
Asset retirement obligation	$	451,281	$	435,171	Level 3

Schedule of fair value reconciliation of level 3 liabilities measured at fair value

	Warrant Derivatives			Asset Retirement Obligation
Balance January 1, 2012	$	357,977		$	435,171
Accretion expense	—			5,286
Gain on warrant derivatives	(336,920		)	—
Balance March 31, 2012	21,057			440,457
Accretion expense	—			5,350
Gain on warrant derivatives	(21,057		)	—
Balance June 30, 2012	—			445,807
Accretion expense	—			5,474
Balance September 30, 2012	$	—		$	451,281

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		122 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012
REVENUE:
Royalties	$ 6,527	$ 8,056	$ 27,108	$ 18,446	$ 147,179
OPERATING EXPENSES:
General and administrative	839,656	1,719,572	2,577,430	3,522,105	32,298,985
Technical services and exploration	1,384,087	680,715	3,005,134	2,048,049	29,952,010
Depreciation	242,469	251,018	733,857	759,108	5,186,439
Legal, accounting, and consulting	130,507	100,533	352,908	425,073	4,598,770
Fees, filing, and licenses	122,390	182,506	176,306	276,736	2,743,124
Impairment of mineral properties					504,492
Total operating expenses	2,719,109	2,934,344	6,845,635	7,031,071	75,283,820
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS	(2,712,582)	(2,926,288)	(6,818,527)	(7,012,625)	(75,136,641)
OTHER INCOME:
Gain from warrant derivatives		126,345	357,977	1,823,552	476,381
Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities				2,005,904	2,005,904
Interest income, net	13,127	34,397	47,741	96,606	3,252,471
Total other income (loss)	13,127	160,742	405,718	3,926,062	5,734,756
NET LOSS	$ (2,699,455)	$ (2,765,546)	$ (6,412,809)	$ (3,086,563)	$ (69,401,885)
NET LOSS PER SHARE (basic and diluted) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.22)	$ (0.11)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (basic and diluted)	28,995,839	28,739,110	28,928,315	27,350,016

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CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK:

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK:

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK:

NOTE 6 — CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK:

The Company maintains most of its cash and cash equivalents in one financial institution.  Balances are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $250,000.  The Company’s total uninsured bank deposit balance (including certificates of deposit) totaled approximately $14,361,000 as of September 30, 2012.  To date, the Company has not experienced a material loss or lack of access to its invested cash or cash equivalents; however, no assurance can be provided that access to the Company’s invested cash and cash equivalents will not be impacted by adverse conditions in the financial markets.

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WARRANT DERIVATIVES:

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

WARRANT DERIVATIVES:

WARRANT DERIVATIVES:

NOTE 5 — WARRANT DERIVATIVES:

The Company had common share purchase warrants with exercise price reset features which qualified for treatment as a derivative liability.  These warrants expired on April 20, 2012.  The warrants did not qualify for hedge accounting and, as such, all changes in the fair value of the warrants were recognized in earnings until they expired.  The Company reported a gain from the change in fair value of these warrants of $-0- and $126,345 in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  Gains of $357,977 and $1,823,552 were recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS: (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012
Warrant Derivatives
Fair value reconciliation of level 3 liabilities measured at fair value
Balance at the beginning of the period		$ 21,057	$ 357,977
Gain on warrant derivatives		(21,057)	(336,920)
Balance at the end of the period			21,057
Asset Retirement Obligation
Fair value reconciliation of level 3 liabilities measured at fair value
Balance at the beginning of the period	445,807	440,457	435,171
Accretion expense	5,474	5,350	5,286
Balance at the end of the period	$ 451,281	$ 445,807	$ 440,457

XML

STOCK OPTIONS: (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

STOCK OPTIONS:

Summary of stock option activity

	Number of Options		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at January 1, 2012	3,601,000		$	1.86
Exercised	(200,000	)	$	0.99
Outstanding at March 31, 2012	3,401,000		$	1.92
Exercised	(5,000	)	$	1.29
Outstanding at June 30, 2012	3,396,000		$	1.92
Issued	456,000		$	1.19
Exercised	(60,000	)	$	1.29
Forfeited or expired	(40,000	)	$	1.29
Outstanding at September 30, 2012	3,752,000		$	1.85	2.99	$	449,040
Exercisable at September 30, 2012	3,672,000		$	1.82	3.05	$	449,040

Schedule of assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options

	Three Months EndedSeptember 30,						Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Weighted average risk-free interest rate	0.30		%	0.63		%	0.30		%	0.65		%
Weighted average volatility	72.33		%	87.16		%	72.33		%	86.67		%
Expected dividend yield	—			—			—			—
Weighted average expected life (in years)	3.0			3.6			3.0			3.6
Weighted average grant-date fair value	$	0.56		$	1.20		$	0.56		$	1.20

Schedule of nonvested options

	Number of Options		Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Nonvested at January 1, 2012	730,000		$	1.18
Vested	(650,000	)	$	1.20
Nonvested at March 31,2012	80,000		$	0.99
Granted or Vested	—		—
Nonvested at June 30, 2012	80,000		$	0.99
Granted or Vested	—		—
Nonvested at September 30, 2012	80,000		$	0.99

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COMMITMENTS:

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

COMMITMENTS:

COMMITMENTS:

NOTE 9 — COMMITMENTS:

The Company entered into an Exploration Earn-In Agreement with Estrella Gold Corp. (“Estrella”) on April 5, 2012, pursuant to which the Company could acquire 75% of the Estrella gold and silver exploration property located in central Peru by expending $5,000,000 on exploration activities.  Under the terms of the agreement, the Company is required to make annual cash payments to Estrella of $100,000 prior to the end of the first agreement year ending on February 28, 2013, and $200,000 prior to the end of each subsequent agreement year until the earn-in has been completed.  The Company is also required to expend a minimum of $500,000 in exploration and development expenditures in each of the first and second agreement years.  The Company may terminate this agreement at any time during the earn-in period, however, a minimum of $350,000 in exploration and development expenses is required during the first year of the agreement regardless of whether or not the agreement is terminated.  As of September 30, 2012, the Company has met the first year’s exploration and development expenditure requirements.

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STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

NOTE 7 — STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

Common Shares:

On March 8, 2011, the Company completed a public offering of 4,800,000 shares of common stock at a price of $3.15 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of $15,120,000 ($14,212,800 in net proceeds after deducting underwriting commissions and a corporate finance fee but before deducting offering expenses).  On April 4, 2011, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment option for 320,000 shares of common stock at a price of $3.15 per share.  The gross proceeds resulting from the over-allotment were $1,008,000 ($947,520 in net proceeds after deducting underwriting commissions and a corporate finance fee but before deducting offering expenses).  Therefore, the total offering was 5,120,000 shares of common stock, resulting in aggregate net proceeds of $15,160,320 before deducting offering expenses.

For a description of the public offering that occurred in 2007 and the sales of common stock during 2007 and 2005, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The warrants associated with the public offering completed in April 2007 expired on April 20, 2012.  No warrants related to this offering were exercised before they expired.  The warrants associated with the sale of stock in October 2005, also expired on April 20, 2012.  Cumulative warrants exercised relating to this issue were 269,620.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, $-0- and 101,435 warrants were exercised for gross proceeds of $-0- and $144,474, respectively.

Preferred Shares:

The Company has authorized 10,000,000 preferred shares, no par value.  Through September 30, 2012, the Company had not issued any preferred shares.

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STOCK OPTIONS:

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

STOCK OPTIONS:

STOCK OPTIONS:

NOTE 8 — STOCK OPTIONS:

There has been no change to the Company’s 2003 and 2007 Stock Option Plans during 2012, other than the items summarized below.  For a description of these Stock Option Plans, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

The Board of Directors authorized the Company to establish the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (“2012 Plan”) which was approved by the shareholders in June 2012.  The Company may grant options to purchase up to 3,000,000 common shares under the 2012 Plan.  The common shares subject to the 2012 Plan may be either authorized and unissued shares or reacquired shares, bought on the market or otherwise, at the discretion of the Board.  The 2012 Plan provides for the issuance of incentive stock options to employees and nonqualified stock options to directors, employees and consultants of the Company.  No participant is eligible to be granted more than 200,000 common shares during any calendar year.  The option exercise price may not be less than 100% of fair market value per share on the date of grant and the options are exercisable within ten years from the date of grant of the option.  The vesting schedule of the options is at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

A summary of the option activity under the Company’s Stock Option Plans as of September 30, 2012, and changes during the period then ended, is presented below:

	Number of Options		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at January 1, 2012	3,601,000		$	1.86
Exercised	(200,000	)	$	0.99
Outstanding at March 31, 2012	3,401,000		$	1.92
Exercised	(5,000	)	$	1.29
Outstanding at June 30, 2012	3,396,000		$	1.92
Issued	456,000		$	1.19
Exercised	(60,000	)	$	1.29
Forfeited or expired	(40,000	)	$	1.29
Outstanding at September 30, 2012	3,752,000		$	1.85	2.99	$	449,040
Exercisable at September 30, 2012	3,672,000		$	1.82	3.05	$	449,040

The fair value for each option award is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the assumptions noted in the following table.  Volatility for the periods presented is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common shares over the expected life of the option.  The risk-free rate for periods within the expected term of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant.  The Company does not foresee the payment of dividends in the near term.

	Three Months EndedSeptember 30,						Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Weighted average risk-free interest rate	0.30		%	0.63		%	0.30		%	0.65		%
Weighted average volatility	72.33		%	87.16		%	72.33		%	86.67		%
Expected dividend yield	—			—			—			—
Weighted average expected life (in years)	3.0			3.6			3.0			3.6
Weighted average grant-date fair value	$	0.56		$	1.20		$	0.56		$	1.20

During the three months ended September 30, 2012, there were 60,000 stock options exercised with a weighted average exercise price of $1.29.  There were no stock options exercised during the three months ended September 30, 2011.  The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended September 30, 2012 was $2,400.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, there were 265,000 and 303,000 stock options exercised with a weighted average exercise price of $1.06 and $1.57, respectively.  The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was $212,522 and $218,293, respectively.

A summary of the status of the Company’s nonvested options as of September 30, 2012, and changes during the period then ended, is presented below:

	Number of Options		Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Nonvested at January 1, 2012	730,000		$	1.18
Vested	(650,000	)	$	1.20
Nonvested at March 31,2012	80,000		$	0.99
Granted or Vested	—		—
Nonvested at June 30, 2012	80,000		$	0.99
Granted or Vested	—		—
Nonvested at September 30, 2012	80,000		$	0.99

As of September 30, 2012, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Plans.

Total compensation cost recognized for stock-based employee compensation awards was $255,360 and $1,146,304 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  Total compensation cost recognized for stock-based employee compensation awards was $306,230 and $1,233,674 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  These costs were included in general and administrative expenses and technical services on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.  Cash received from options exercised under all share-based payment arrangements during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was $275,400 and $152,700, respectively.

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ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

Exploration Stage Enterprise

(a)Exploration Stage Enterprise

Since the Company is in the exploration stage of operation, the Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 915, Development Stage Enterprises, as it devotes substantially all of its efforts to acquiring and exploring mining interests that management believes should eventually provide sufficient net profits to sustain the Company’s existence.  Until such interests are engaged in commercial production, the Company will continue to prepare its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with this standard.

Mining properties, exploration and development costs

(b)Mining properties, exploration and development costs

All exploration expenditures are expensed as incurred.  Significant property acquisition payments for active exploration properties are capitalized, including payments to acquire mineral rights.  Once a feasibility study has been completed, approved by management, and a decision is made to put the ore body into production, expenditures to develop new mines, to define further mineralization in existing ore bodies, and to expand the capacity of operating mines, are capitalized and amortized on the units of production basis over proven and probable reserves.  The Company charges to operations the allocable portion of capitalized costs attributable to properties sold.  Capitalized costs are allocated to properties sold based on the proportion of claims sold to the claims remaining within the project area.

Fair value measurements

(c)Fair value measurements

The Company discloses the inputs used to develop the fair value measurements for the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as well as the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements in their entirety fall.  The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1:  Unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date.

Level 2:  Quoted prices in inactive markets for identical assets or liabilities, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, or other observable inputs either directly related to the asset or liability or derived principally from corroborated observable market data.

Level 3:  Unobservable inputs due to the fact that there is little or no market activity.

Stock compensation

(d)Stock compensation

The Company measures and records the costs of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award, recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for such award.  Compensation cost is recognized for awards granted and adjusted for awards modified, repurchased or cancelled.

Net loss per share

(e)Net loss per share

Basic earnings or loss per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.   Diluted earnings or loss per share is calculated on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period plus the effect of potential dilutive shares during the period.  Potential dilutive shares include outstanding stock options and warrants.  For periods in which a net loss is reported, potential dilutive shares are excluded because they are antidilutive.  Therefore, basic loss per share is the same as diluted loss per share for the periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

(f)Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued guidance regarding the presentation of comprehensive income (loss).  The new standard requires the presentation of comprehensive income (loss), the components of net income (loss) and the components of other comprehensive income (loss) either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income (loss) or in two separate but consecutive statements.  The updated guidance is effective on a retrospective basis for financial statements issued for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011.  The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance effective January 1, 2012, as reflected in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss herein.

Subsequent events

(g)Subsequent events

The Company evaluated events and transactions subsequent to the balance sheet date of September 30, 2012 for potential recognition or disclosure in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES: (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	122 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2011 item	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:
Cost			$ 11,165	$ 11,165
Unrealized Gains			12,097	2,111
Fair Market Value			23,262	13,276
Number of investments in marketable equity securities sold	1
Proceeds from the sale of investment in marketable equity securities	3,821,252
Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities	$ 2,005,904	$ 2,005,904	$ 2,005,904

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STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		122 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011 Common stock	Mar. 31, 2011 Common stock	Apr. 30, 2011 Common stock	Sep. 30, 2012 Common stock	Sep. 30, 2011 Common stock	Apr. 04, 2011 Common stock	Mar. 08, 2011 Common stock
Common Shares:
Number of shares of common stock issued in public offering						4,800,000
Number of shares issued on exercise of over-allotment option by underwriters					320,000
Total offering of shares of common stock							5,120,000
Issue price (in dollars per share)										$ 3.15	$ 3.15
Gross proceeds					$ 1,008,000	$ 15,120,000
Net proceeds	275,400	15,337,494	74,881,436		947,520	14,212,800	15,160,320
Cumulative warrants exercised (in shares)								269,620
Warrants exercised (in shares)								0	101,435
Gross proceeds on exercise of warrants								$ 0	$ 144,474
Preferred Shares:
Authorized preferred shares	10,000,000		10,000,000	10,000,000

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Net Loss	$ (2,699,455)	$ (2,765,546)	$ (6,412,809)	$ (3,086,563)
Adjustment to net unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	8,081	(29,945)	9,986	(1,885,159)
Comprehensive loss	$ (2,691,374)	$ (2,795,491)	$ (6,402,823)	$ (4,971,722)

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

NOTE 4 — FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

The following table summarizes the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2012, and the fair value calculation input hierarchy level determined to apply to each asset and liability category.  Quoted market prices were used to determine the fair value of available-for-sale securities.  See note 5 for further discussion on the fair value measurement technique used to value the warrant derivatives.  The Company has no financial assets or liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

	Balance at September 30, 2012		Balance at December 31, 2011		Input HierarchyLevel
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	$	23,262	$	13,276	Level 1
Liabilities:
Warrant derivatives	—		$	357,977	Level 3
Asset retirement obligation	$	451,281	$	435,171	Level 3

The following table presents the fair value reconciliation of Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value during the nine months ended September 30, 2012:

	Warrant Derivatives			Asset Retirement Obligation
Balance January 1, 2012	$	357,977		$	435,171
Accretion expense	—			5,286
Gain on warrant derivatives	(336,920		)	—
Balance March 31, 2012	21,057			440,457
Accretion expense	—			5,350
Gain on warrant derivatives	(21,057		)	—
Balance June 30, 2012	—			445,807
Accretion expense	—			5,474
Balance September 30, 2012	$	—		$	451,281

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STOCK OPTIONS: (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Number of Options
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in shares)	3,396,000	3,401,000	3,601,000		3,601,000
Issued (in shares)	456,000
Exercised (in shares)	(60,000)	(5,000)	(200,000)		(265,000)	(303,000)
Forfeited or expired (in shares)	(40,000)
Outstanding at the end of the period (in shares)	3,752,000	3,396,000	3,401,000		3,752,000
Exercisable at the end of the period (in shares)	3,672,000				3,672,000
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 1.92	$ 1.92	$ 1.86		$ 1.86
Issued (in dollars per share)	$ 1.19
Exercised (in dollars per share)	$ 1.29	$ 1.29	$ 0.99		$ 1.06	$ 1.57
Forfeited or expired (in dollars per share)	$ 1.29
Outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 1.85	$ 1.92	$ 1.92		$ 1.85
Exercisable at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 1.82				$ 1.82
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term
Outstanding at the end of the period					2 years 11 months 26 days
Exercisable at the end of the period					3 years 18 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at the end of the period	$ 449,040				$ 449,040
Exercisable at the end of the period	449,040				449,040
Assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options
Weighted average risk-free interest rate (as a percent)	0.30%			0.63%	0.30%	0.65%
Weighted average volatility (as a percent)	72.33%			87.16%	72.33%	86.67%
Expected life	3 years			3 years 7 months 6 days	3 years	3 years 7 months 6 days
Weighted-average grant-date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.56			$ 1.20	$ 0.56	$ 1.20
Additional disclosure for stock options
Intrinsic value of awards exercised	2,400				212,522	218,293
Number of Options
Nonvested at the beginning of the period (in shares)	80,000	80,000	730,000		730,000
Vested (in shares)			(650,000)
Nonvested at the end of the period (in shares)	80,000	80,000	80,000		80,000
Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Nonvested at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 0.99	$ 0.99	$ 1.18		$ 1.18
Granted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.56			$ 1.20	$ 0.56	$ 1.20
Vested (in dollars per share)			$ 1.20
Nonvested at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 0.99	$ 0.99	$ 0.99		$ 0.99
Disclosures for share-based compensation cost
Total compensation costs recognized for stock-based employee compensation awards	255,360			1,146,304	306,230	1,233,674
Cash received from options exercised					$ 275,400	$ 152,700
2012 Plan | Minimum
Stock options
Maximum number of shares to grant a participant in a calendar year					200,000
2012 Plan | Maximum
Stock options
Shares authorized for grant under the plans	3,000,000				3,000,000
Option exercise price as percentage of fair market value per share on the date of grant					100.00%
Term of expiration					10 years

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CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT: (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT
Number of certificates of deposit owned	2	2
Certificate of deposit value	$ 1,559,361	$ 1,559,361
Reclamation deposits	1,184,966	1,236,846
Certificates of deposit maturing in August 2013
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT
Certificate of deposit value	1,559,361
Interest rate (as a percent)	0.30%
Certificates of deposit maturing on January 3, 2013
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT
Reclamation deposits	$ 1,124,055	$ 1,175,935
Interest rate (as a percent)	0.55%