Exploration and evaluation assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Disclosure of exploration and evaluation assets [abstract]

Exploration and evaluation assets [Text Block]

7.Exploration and evaluation assets

The Company's deferred exploration costs are as follows:

	Balance, December 31,		Change in year		Balance, December 31,		Change in year		Balance, December 31,
	2017 $		2018 $		2018 $		2019 $		2019 $
Mineral property interests	179,500		-		179,500		-		179,500
Assays and testing	2,052,292		247,222		2,299,514		40,236		2,339,750
Claims renewal / staking	459,261		12,383		471,644		7,555		479,199
Drilling	12,488,967		1,854,312		14,343,279		18,478		14,361,757
Environmental studies	1,256,621		415,065		1,671,686		143,935		1,815,621
Exploration data management	917,422		37,656		955,078		10,142		965,220
First Nations	166,444		54,580		221,024		29,444		250,468
Geochemistry	111,066		-		111,066		-		111,066
Geological and engineering services	8,834,256		772,235		9,606,491		903,283		10,509,774
Geophysical services	743,515		58,128		801,643		-		801,643
Metallurgy	3,792,672		331,978		4,124,650		437,133		4,561,783
Petrographic work	43,957		-		43,957		-		43,957
Project management	106,015		-		106,015		-		106,015
Survey, mapping and camp	1,628,447		945,758		2,574,205		196,228		2,770,433
Transportation	2,604,549		273,202		2,877,751		107,190		2,984,941
Advances	-		-		-		71,645		71,645
Cost recovery	(56,480	)	-		(56,480	)	-		(56,480	)
Asset retirement obligations	-		-		-		200,000		200,000
Property impairments	(33,058,924	)	-		(33,058,924	)	-		(33,058,924	)
BC refundable mining tax credits	(2,208,394	)	(891,874	)	(3,100,268	)	(108,226	)	(3,208,494	)
Federal non-refundable mining tax credits, net of valuation allowance	(61,185	)	-		(61,185	)	-		(61,185	)
Book value at date of sale of net smelter royalty	-		(1,777,377	)	(1,777,377	)	-		(1,777,377	)
	1		2,333,268		2,333,269		2,057,043		4,390,312

The Company has a 100% interest in certain mineral claims, located along the Turnagain River in British Columbia, Canada. One claim is subject to a 4% net smelter return royalty ("NSR"). The Company has the option to purchase all or part of the NSR within four years of commercial production for a price of $1,000,000 per 1% NSR.  In July 2018, the Company sold a 2% NSR.

Sale of Royalty

On July 31, 2018, the Company closed the sale of a 2% NSR on all future metal production from the Turnagain Nickel-Cobalt Project to Cobalt 27 for consideration of US$1,000,000 in cash (received) and 1,125,000 Cobalt 27 common shares (received) at $7.40 per share for a fair value of $8,325,000.  The Company paid a finders' fee of US$600,000 to a third party.

Proceeds of sale of 2% NSR	$
Cash	1,300,200
1,125,000 common shares of Cobalt 27	8,325,000
Total proceeds of sale of 2% NSR	9,625,200
Less: book value of Turnagain Nickel-Cobalt Project at date of sale	(1,777,377	)
Less: 6% finders' fee	(780,120	)
Gain on sale of net smelter return royalty	7,067,703

In accordance with IFRS, the net proceeds on the sale of the NSR are considered as a cost recovery of exploration and evaluation assets, with any excess recorded to the statement of comprehensive income (loss).

Under the terms of the NSR Agreement, 75% of the cash proceeds are to be used by the Company to complete the work required to advance the Turnagain Project through to Pre-feasibility and for exploration at Turnagain.  Within one year of the signing (July 11, 2018) of the NSR Agreement, Cobalt 27 has the right to appoint one member to the Company's board of directors.  The Company has the right to repurchase 0.5% of the 2% NSR ("Repurchase Option") for US$20 million, which if exercised would result in a 1.5% remaining NSR.  The one-time Repurchase Option is only exercisable prior to the fifth anniversary of the NSR Agreement.  Cobalt 27 will have a right of first refusal on any future sale by Giga Metals of a royalty or product stream or similar instrument.