Description of Business	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Description of Business
Description of Business	1. Description of Business Organization and Nature of Business Gatos Silver, Inc. (“Gatos Silver” or “the Company”) is a silver dominant production, development and exploration, company that discovered a new silver and zinc-rich mineral district in southern Chihuahua State, Mexico. The Company’s primary efforts are focused on the operation of the Los Gatos Joint Venture (“LGJV”) in Chihuahua, Mexico. On January 1, 2015, the Company entered into the LGJV to develop the Los Gatos District ("LGD”) with Dowa Metals and Mining Co., Ltd. (“Dowa”). The LGJV operating entities consist of Minera Plata Real S. de R.L. de C.V (“MPR”), Operaciones San Jose del Plata S. de R.L. de C.V. and Servicios San Jose del Plata S. de R.L. de C.V. (collectively the “LGJV Entities”). The LGJV completed an advanced definitional drilling and decline development program in 2016, a feasibility study in January 2017 and a technical update to the feasibility study in July 2020. Dowa completed its $50,000 funding requirement on April 1, 2016 thereby initially acquiring a 30% interest in the LGJV and the right to purchase future zinc‑concentrate production at market rates. In May 2019, Dowa increased its ownership interest by 18.5% to 48.5% through the conversion of the Dowa MPR Loan to equity. On March 11, 2021, the Company repurchased the 18.5% interest from Dowa. See Note 10 - Commitment, Contingencies and Guarantees for further discussion. The LGJV ownership is currently 70% Gatos Silver and 30% Dowa. Despite owning the majority interest in the LGJV, the Company does not exercise control over the LGJV due to certain provisions contained in the Unanimous Omnibus Partner Agreement that currently require unanimous partner approval of all major operating decisions. On September 1, 2019, the LGJV commenced commercial production of its two concentrate products: a lead concentrate and a zinc concentrate. The LGJV’s lead and zinc concentrates are sold to third‑party customers. On March 30, 2020, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Mexican government issued a temporary suspension of all non‑essential activities. Accordingly, the LGJV temporarily suspended non‑essential activities. The LGJV resumed mining operations in late May 2020 as permitted by the Mexican government. The Company will be performing additional definitional drilling to further define and expand mineralization of the CLG, as well as continuing definitional and exploratory drilling at the nearby Esther deposit. On December 5, 2020, the LGJV began drilling the first program, an infill and extensional drilling program at the Cerro Los Gatos deposit. The Company’s other regional Mexico exploration efforts are conducted through its wholly‑owned subsidiary, Minera Luz del Sol S. de R.L. de C.V. ("MLS"). Discontinued Operations - Sunshine Complex The Company has conducted an advanced exploration drilling program and a rehabilitation program to improve certain mining infrastructure at the Sunshine Complex. The Sunshine Complex, located in the Coeur d’Alene Mining District in Idaho, is comprised of the Sunshine Mine and the Sunshine Big Creek Refinery. The Sunshine Mine is currently on care and maintenance, with a continued but reduced program of infrastructure improvement. In conjunction with the Company's initial public offering (" IPO”), all equity interest in the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, SOP, who holds an interest in the Sunshine Complex, was distributed to its stockholders, creating Silver Opportunity Partners Corporation, which subsequently was renamed Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining Corporation, and is presented as discontinued operations in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. Pursuant to the distribution and discontinued operations presentation, certain costs, assets and liabilities are removed from the consolidated financial statements, including but not limited to, mineral properties, property, plant and equipment and asset retirement obligation. See Note 12 - Discontinued Operations for further discussion. Initial Public Offering and Reorganization On October 30, 2020, the Company completed an IPO of 21,430,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $7.00 per share, resulting in gross proceeds from the IPO of $150,010 and its shares trading on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange. On November 10, 2020, the Company issued an additional 3,214,500 shares of common stock at a price of $7.00 per share, through the exercise of the over-allotment option, with gross proceeds from the additional issuance of $22,502. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $155,750 thousand from these issuances of common stock, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses payable by us. In conjunction with the IPO, we effected a reorganization (the "Reorganization") in which (i) the Company changed its name from Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining Corporation to Gatos Silver, Inc., (ii) Silver Opportunity Partners LLC , which held the Company’s interest in the Sunshine Complex in Idaho, comprised of the Sunshine Mine and the Sunshine Big Creek Refinery, became a wholly owned subsidiary of a newly created Delaware corporation named Silver Opportunity Partners Corporation ("SOP"), (iii) all equity interest in SOP was distributed to its shareholders, and (iv) each share of the Company's common stock was split at a ratio of two-for-one (the "Reverse Split"). The Reverse Split did not have any effect on the stated par value of the Company's common stock and the rights and privileges of the holders of shares of Common Stock were unaffected. All common stock and options outstanding immediately prior to the Reverse Split were appropriately adjusted by dividing the number of shares of common stock into which the options are exercisable or convertible by two and multiplying the exercise or conversion price thereof by two.

1. Description of Business

Organization and Nature of Business

Gatos Silver, Inc. (“Gatos Silver” or “the Company”) is a silver dominant production, development and exploration, company that discovered a new silver and zinc-rich mineral district in southern Chihuahua State, Mexico.

The Company’s primary efforts are focused on the operation of the Los Gatos Joint Venture (“LGJV”) in Chihuahua, Mexico. On January 1, 2015, the Company entered into the LGJV to develop the Los Gatos District ("LGD”) with Dowa Metals and Mining Co., Ltd. (“Dowa”). The LGJV operating entities consist of Minera Plata Real S. de R.L. de C.V (“MPR”), Operaciones San Jose del Plata S. de R.L. de C.V. and Servicios San Jose del Plata S. de R.L. de C.V. (collectively the “LGJV Entities”). The LGJV completed an advanced definitional drilling and decline development program in 2016, a feasibility study in January 2017 and a technical update to the feasibility study in July 2020. Dowa completed its $50,000 funding requirement on April 1, 2016 thereby initially acquiring a 30% interest in the LGJV and the right to purchase future zinc‑concentrate production at market rates. In May 2019, Dowa increased its ownership interest by 18.5% to 48.5% through the conversion of the Dowa MPR Loan to equity. On March 11, 2021, the Company repurchased the 18.5% interest from Dowa. See Note 10 - Commitment, Contingencies and Guarantees for further discussion. The LGJV ownership is currently 70% Gatos Silver and 30% Dowa. Despite owning the majority interest in the LGJV, the Company does not exercise control over the LGJV due to certain provisions contained in the Unanimous Omnibus Partner Agreement that currently require unanimous partner approval of all major operating decisions.

On September 1, 2019, the LGJV commenced commercial production of its two concentrate products: a lead concentrate and a zinc concentrate. The LGJV’s lead and zinc concentrates are sold to third‑party customers.

On March 30, 2020, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Mexican government issued a temporary suspension of all non‑essential activities. Accordingly, the LGJV temporarily suspended non‑essential activities. The LGJV resumed mining operations in late May 2020 as permitted by the Mexican government.

The Company will be performing additional definitional drilling to further define and expand mineralization of the CLG, as well as continuing definitional and exploratory drilling at the nearby Esther deposit.

On December 5, 2020, the LGJV began drilling the first program, an infill and extensional drilling program at the Cerro Los Gatos deposit.

The Company’s other regional Mexico exploration efforts are conducted through its wholly‑owned subsidiary, Minera Luz del Sol S. de R.L. de C.V. ("MLS").

Discontinued Operations - Sunshine Complex

The Company has conducted an advanced exploration drilling program and a rehabilitation program to improve certain mining infrastructure at the Sunshine Complex. The Sunshine Complex, located in the Coeur d’Alene Mining District in Idaho, is comprised of the Sunshine Mine and the Sunshine Big Creek Refinery. The Sunshine Mine is currently on care and maintenance, with a continued but reduced program of infrastructure improvement. In conjunction with the Company's initial public offering (" IPO”), all equity interest in the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, SOP, who holds an interest in the Sunshine Complex, was distributed to its stockholders, creating Silver Opportunity Partners Corporation, which subsequently was renamed Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining Corporation, and is presented as discontinued operations in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. Pursuant to the distribution and discontinued operations presentation, certain costs, assets and liabilities are removed from the consolidated financial statements, including but not limited to, mineral properties, property, plant and equipment and asset retirement obligation. See Note 12 - Discontinued Operations for further discussion.

Initial Public Offering and Reorganization

On October 30, 2020, the Company completed an IPO of 21,430,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $7.00 per share, resulting in gross proceeds from the IPO of $150,010 and its shares trading on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange. On November 10, 2020, the Company issued an additional 3,214,500 shares of common stock at a price of $7.00 per share, through the exercise of the over-allotment option, with gross proceeds from the additional issuance of $22,502. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $155,750 thousand from these issuances of common stock, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses payable by us. In conjunction with the IPO, we effected a reorganization (the "Reorganization") in which (i) the Company changed its name from Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining Corporation to Gatos Silver, Inc., (ii) Silver Opportunity Partners LLC , which held the Company’s interest in the Sunshine Complex in Idaho, comprised of the Sunshine Mine and the Sunshine Big Creek Refinery, became a wholly owned subsidiary of a newly created Delaware corporation named Silver Opportunity Partners Corporation ("SOP"), (iii) all equity interest in SOP was distributed to its shareholders, and (iv) each share of the Company's common stock was split at a ratio of two-for-one (the "Reverse Split"). The Reverse Split did not have any effect on the stated par value of the Company's common stock and the rights and privileges of the holders of shares of Common Stock were unaffected. All common stock and options outstanding immediately prior to the Reverse Split were appropriately adjusted by dividing the number of shares of common stock into which the options are exercisable or convertible by two and multiplying the exercise or conversion price thereof by two.