2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of presentation

This summary of significant accounting policies is presented to assist in understanding the Company's financial statements. The consolidated financial statements and notes are representations of the Company's management, which is responsible for their content. These accounting policies conform to United States generally accepted accounting principles ("US GAAP") and have been consistently applied in the preparation of the financial statements. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

Principles of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its more than 50% owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of estimates

The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with US GAAP, requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The Company bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances. These estimates are based on management's knowledge about current events and expectations about actions the Company may undertake in the future. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Exploration and development costs

Exploration costs are expensed as incurred. When it has been established that a mineral deposit can be commercially mined and a decision has been made to formulate a mining plan (which occurs upon completion of a positive economic analysis of the mineral deposit), the costs subsequently incurred to develop the mine prior to the start of mining operations will be capitalized. Capitalized amounts may be written down if future undiscounted cash flows, including potential sales proceeds, related to a mineral property are estimated to be less than the carrying value of the property. To date, no amounts have been capitalized in respect of development activities.

Mineral property acquisition costs

Mineral property acquisition costs are capitalized until the viability of the mineral interest is determined. Capitalized acquisition costs are expensed in the period in which it is determined that the mineral property has no future economic value.

Capitalized amounts may be written down if future cash flows, including potential sales proceeds, related to the property are estimated to be less than the carrying value of the property. Management of the Company reviews the carrying value of each mineral property interest periodically, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable, the amount is adjusted.

Stock-based compensation

The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718 Stock Compensation. Under the fair value recognition provisions of ASC 718, stock-based compensation is measured at the grant date based on the value of the awards and the value is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period (usually the vesting period). ASC 718 requires the recognition of the equity component of deferred compensation as additional paid-in-capital. ASC 718 also requires the Company to estimate forfeitures in calculating the cost related to stock-based compensation as opposed to recognizing these forfeitures and the corresponding reduction in expense as they occur.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consists of liquid investments with an original maturity of 3 months or less.

Restricted Cash

As of December 31, 2011, restricted cash is comprised of cash that has been pledged as collateral for a standby letter of credit related to drilling reclamation obligations and as collateral for a corporate purchase card program.

Property, plant and equipment, net

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method using the following lives:


Buildings and leasehold improvements		10 to 20 years
Machinery and equipment		5 to 7 years
Vehicles		5 years
Furniture and equipment		5 years

Equipment in transit and buildings under construction are not depreciated until placed into service.

Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company records the fair value of an asset retirement obligation as a liability in the period in which it incurs a legal obligation associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets that results from the acquisition, construction, development or normal use of the assets with a corresponding increase in the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. This amount is then depreciated over the estimated useful life of the asset. Over time, the liability is increased to reflect an interest element (accretion expense) considered in its initial measurement at fair value. The amount of the liability will be subject to re-measurement at each reporting period. Currently, the Company has no asset retirement obligation.

Income taxes

Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences arising from differences between the financial statement amount and tax basis of assets and liabilities existing at each balance sheet date using enacted tax rates anticipated to be in effect when the related taxes are expected to be paid or recovered. A valuation allowance is established if it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized. In determining the need for a valuation allowance, the Company considers projected realization of tax benefits based on expected levels of future taxable income, available tax planning strategies and its overall deferred tax position.

ASC 740-10-25, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Under ASC 740-10-25, a company can recognize the benefit of an income tax position only if it is more likely than not (greater than 50%) that the tax position will be sustained upon tax examination, based solely on the technical merits of the tax position. ASC 740-10-25 also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.

Foreign currency remeasurement

The Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are considered to be integrated, use the United States Dollar ("USD") as their functional currency. Current assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are remeasured into the USD at the rates of exchange prevailing on the balance sheet date. Other nonmonetary consolidated balance sheet items are remeasured into the USD at the rate prevailing on the respective transaction dates. The resulting foreign exchange gains and losses are included in exploration costs on the statement of operations. For 2011, the Company recorded a gain of approximately $0.1 million. For 2010 and 2009 the Company recorded losses of approximately $0.9 million and $125, respectively.

Loss per share

Loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributed to Geovic stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Stock options and warrants will be dilutive when the Company has income from continuing operations and when the average market price of the common shares during the period exceeds the exercise price of the options and warrants. Due to the net loss attributed to Geovic for all periods presented, the stock options and warrants have been anti-dilutive and, therefore, not included in the loss per share calculations.