11. Income and Other Taxes	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income and Other Taxes	Mexican Tax Assessment In 2015, the Mexican tax authority (“SAT”) initiated an audit of the USAMSA’s 2013 income tax return. In October 2016, as a result of its audit, SAT assessed the Company $13.8 million pesos, which was approximately $666,400 in U.S. Dollars (“USD”) as of December 31, 2016. SAT’s assessment was based on the disallowance of specific costs that the Company deducted on the 2013 USAMSA income tax return. The Company engaged accountants and tax attorneys in Mexico to defend its position. The assessment was settled in 2018 with no assessment against the Company. In early 2019, the Company was notified that SAT re-opened its audit of USAMSA’s 2013 income tax return and, in November 2019, SAT assessed the Company $16.3 million pesos, which was approximately $821,000 USD as of March 31, 2021. Management reviewed the 2019 assessment notice from SAT and, similar to the earlier assessment, believes the findings have no merit. The Company engaged a tax attorney in Mexico to defend its position. An appeal was filed by the Company in November 2019 suspending SAT from taking immediate action regarding the assessment. The Company posted a guarantee of the amount in March 2020 as is required under the appeal process. In August 2020, the Company filed a lawsuit against SAT for resolution of the process and, in December 2020, filed closing arguments. Management expects the appeal process to continue through 2021. At March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, management assessed the possible outcomes for this tax audit and believes, based on discussions with its tax attorney in Mexico, that the most likely outcome will be that the Company will be successful in its appeal resulting in no tax due. Management determined that no amount should be accrued at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 relating to this potential tax liability. There can be no assurance that the Company’s ultimate liability, if any, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position. If an issue addressed during the SAT audit is resolved in a manner inconsistent with management expectations, the Company will adjust its current net operating loss carryforward, or accrue penalties, interest, and tax associated with the assessment. Other Taxes In 2016, USAMSA imported coal from the United States to its smelter in Mexico to process Australian concentrates associated with the Hillgrove agreement (Note 12). At that time, the Company applied for and was granted a Maquiladora (IMMEX), in accordance with a Manufacturing and Export Services Industry program offered by the Mexican government to attract and promote foreign investment in Mexico. With the IMMEX, all imported goods to Mexico that are also exported in altered form are exempt from the requirement of paying the 16% tax (IVA). The Company did not pay IVA on any of the imported coal used to process the Australian concentrates. In 2020, the Company was informed by the SAT that it owed the 16% IVA money for all the coal imported for the processing of the Australian concentrates. Additionally, there were penalties and fees that SAT added to the total amount. In late 2020, the Company filed a motion before the Taxpayer's Defense Agency (PRODECON), but the motion was denied. To avoid exorbitant penalties, the Company elected to pay the assessed amount in early 2021. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized an export tax expense of $1,120,730 and accrued a liability for this assessment. The assessment was settled with a payment of $1,120,730 during the three month period ended March 31, 2021.

11. Income and Other Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Mexican Tax Assessment

In 2015, the Mexican tax authority (“SAT”) initiated an audit of the USAMSA’s 2013 income tax return. In October 2016, as a result of its audit, SAT assessed the Company $13.8 million pesos, which was approximately $666,400 in U.S. Dollars (“USD”) as of December 31, 2016. SAT’s assessment was based on the disallowance of specific costs that the Company deducted on the 2013 USAMSA income tax return. The Company engaged accountants and tax attorneys in Mexico to defend its position. The assessment was settled in 2018 with no assessment against the Company.

In early 2019, the Company was notified that SAT re-opened its audit of USAMSA’s 2013 income tax return and, in November 2019, SAT assessed the Company $16.3 million pesos, which was approximately $821,000 USD as of March 31, 2021. Management reviewed the 2019 assessment notice from SAT and, similar to the earlier assessment, believes the findings have no merit. The Company engaged a tax attorney in Mexico to defend its position. An appeal was filed by the Company in November 2019 suspending SAT from taking immediate action regarding the assessment. The Company posted a guarantee of the amount in March 2020 as is required under the appeal process. In August 2020, the Company filed a lawsuit against SAT for resolution of the process and, in December 2020, filed closing arguments. Management expects the appeal process to continue through 2021.

At March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, management assessed the possible outcomes for this tax audit and believes, based on discussions with its tax attorney in Mexico, that the most likely outcome will be that the Company will be successful in its appeal resulting in no tax due. Management determined that no amount should be accrued at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 relating to this potential tax liability. There can be no assurance that the Company’s ultimate liability, if any, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position. If an issue addressed during the SAT audit is resolved in a manner inconsistent with management expectations, the Company will adjust its current net operating loss carryforward, or accrue penalties, interest, and tax associated with the assessment.

Other Taxes

In 2016, USAMSA imported coal from the United States to its smelter in Mexico to process Australian concentrates associated with the Hillgrove agreement (Note 12). At that time, the Company applied for and was granted a Maquiladora (IMMEX), in accordance with a Manufacturing and Export Services Industry program offered by the Mexican government to attract and promote foreign investment in Mexico. With the IMMEX, all imported goods to Mexico that are also exported in altered form are exempt from the requirement of paying the 16% tax (IVA). The Company did not pay IVA on any of the imported coal used to process the Australian concentrates. In 2020, the Company was informed by the SAT that it owed the 16% IVA money for all the coal imported for the processing of the Australian concentrates. Additionally, there were penalties and fees that SAT added to the total amount. In late 2020, the Company filed a motion before the Taxpayer's Defense Agency (PRODECON), but the motion was denied. To avoid exorbitant penalties, the Company elected to pay the assessed amount in early 2021. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized an export tax expense of $1,120,730 and accrued a liability for this assessment. The assessment was settled with a payment of $1,120,730 during the three month period ended March 31, 2021.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

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