COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 9)
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	NOTE 8 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES The Company follows U.S. GAAP guidance in determining its accruals and disclosures with respect to loss contingencies and evaluates such accruals and contingencies for each reporting period. Accordingly, estimated losses from loss contingencies are accrued by a charge to income when information available prior to issuance of the financial statements indicates that it is probable that a loss could be incurred, and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Legal expenses associated with the contingency are expensed as incurred. If a loss contingency is not probable or reasonably estimable, disclosure of the loss contingency is made in the financial statements when it is at least reasonably possible that a material loss could be incurred. From time to time, the Company is assessed fines and penalties by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”). Using appropriate regulatory channels, management may contest these proposed assessments. At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had no accrued liabilities relating to such assessments. The Company pays various royalties on the sale of zeolite products. On a combined basis, royalties generally vary around 8% to 13%. At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had accrued royalties payable of $15,884 and $435,075, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company paid a royalty obligation related to the time period from 2016 to 2022 after finalizing its estimates. On August 8, 2022, the Company executed a preliminary Purchase Option Agreement (the “Agreement”) with SB Wadley SA de CV (“Wadley”) whereby the Company leases, with an option to acquire, mining claims located in Mexico known as the Wadley Property. Under the Agreement, the Company will pay Wadley eight monthly installments of $10,000 plus VAT for the right to mine and conduct geological and resource studies as due diligence and exploration on the Wadley Property. At the end of such eight-month period, should the Company choose to exercise its option to acquire following due diligence and assessment of geological and resource studies, the Company will pay Wadley $2,230,000 and seven annual payments of $1,160,000. The due diligence period under the Agreement has been extended to October 15, 2023. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had capitalized $70,000 and $40,000, respectively, of payments to Wadley. 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 assessment was settled in 2018 with no assessment against the Company. In early 2019, the Company was notified that SAT re-opened its assessment of USAMSA’s 2013 income tax return and, in November 2019, SAT assessed the Company $16.3 million pesos, which was approximately $795,000 USD as of December 31, 2021. Management reviewed the 2019 assessment notice from SAT and, similar to the earlier assessment, believes the findings have no merit. 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. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Mexican court ruled against the Company in the above matter. The Company appealed the ruling, which is still pending. As of March 31, 2023, the updated SAT assessment was approximately $30.2 million pesos, which was approximately $1,674,000 USD for $907,000 of unpaid income taxes and $767,000 of interest and penalties. 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, 2023 or December 31, 2022 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 record changes to tax attributes, recognize penalties in general and administrative expense, interest will be recorded as interest expense and record the tax expense associated with the assessment.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 9)

NOTE 8 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company follows U.S. GAAP guidance in determining its accruals and disclosures with respect to loss contingencies and evaluates such accruals and contingencies for each reporting period. Accordingly, estimated losses from loss contingencies are accrued by a charge to income when information available prior to issuance of the financial statements indicates that it is probable that a loss could be incurred, and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Legal expenses associated with the contingency are expensed as incurred. If a loss contingency is not probable or reasonably estimable, disclosure of the loss contingency is made in the financial statements when it is at least reasonably possible that a material loss could be incurred.

From time to time, the Company is assessed fines and penalties by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”). Using appropriate regulatory channels, management may contest these proposed assessments. At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had no accrued liabilities relating to such assessments.

The Company pays various royalties on the sale of zeolite products. On a combined basis, royalties generally vary around 8% to 13%. At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had accrued royalties payable of $15,884 and $435,075, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company paid a royalty obligation related to the time period from 2016 to 2022 after finalizing its estimates.

On August 8, 2022, the Company executed a preliminary Purchase Option Agreement (the “Agreement”) with SB Wadley SA de CV (“Wadley”) whereby the Company leases, with an option to acquire, mining claims located in Mexico known as the Wadley Property. Under the Agreement, the Company will pay Wadley eight monthly installments of $10,000 plus VAT for the right to mine and conduct geological and resource studies as due diligence and exploration on the Wadley Property. At the end of such eight-month period, should the Company choose to exercise its option to acquire following due diligence and assessment of geological and resource studies, the Company will pay Wadley $2,230,000 and seven annual payments of $1,160,000. The due diligence period under the Agreement has been extended to October 15, 2023. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had capitalized $70,000 and $40,000, respectively, of payments to Wadley.

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 assessment was settled in 2018 with no assessment against the Company.

In early 2019, the Company was notified that SAT re-opened its assessment of USAMSA’s 2013 income tax return and, in November 2019, SAT assessed the Company $16.3 million pesos, which was approximately $795,000 USD as of December 31, 2021.

Management reviewed the 2019 assessment notice from SAT and, similar to the earlier assessment, believes the findings have no merit. 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. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Mexican court ruled against the Company in the above matter. The Company appealed the ruling, which is still pending.

As of March 31, 2023, the updated SAT assessment was approximately $30.2 million pesos, which was approximately $1,674,000 USD for $907,000 of unpaid income taxes and $767,000 of interest and penalties. 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, 2023 or December 31, 2022 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 record changes to tax attributes, recognize penalties in general and administrative expense, interest will be recorded as interest expense and record the tax expense associated with the assessment.