Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates

The Company's Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The preparation of the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The more significant areas requiring the use of management estimates and assumptions relate to metal prices and mineral reserves that are the basis for future cash flow estimates utilized in impairment calculations and units-of production amortization calculations, environmental, reclamation and closure obligations, estimates of recoverable silver and gold in leach pad inventories, estimates of fair value for certain reporting units and asset impairments, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, and the fair value and accounting treatment of financial instruments, equity securities, asset acquisitions, the allocation of fair value to assets and liabilities assumed in connection with business combinations, and derivative instruments. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results will differ from the amounts estimated in these financial statements.

Revenue Recognition, Policy

Revenue Recognition

The Company’s gold stream agreement with a subsidiary of Franco-Nevada Corporation (“Franco-Nevada”) provided for a $22.0 million deposit paid by Franco-Nevada in exchange for the right and obligation, commencing in 2016, to purchase 50% of a portion of Palmarejo gold production at the lesser of $800 or market price per ounce. Because there is no minimum obligation associated with the deposit, it is not considered financing, and each shipment is considered to be a separate performance obligation. The streaming agreement represents a contract liability under ASC 606, which requires the Company to ratably recognize a portion of the deposit as revenue for each gold ounce delivered to Franco-Nevada. The remaining unamortized balance is included in Accrued liabilities and other and Other long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. See Note 17 -- Commitments and Contingencies for additional detail.

The following table presents a rollforward of the Franco-Nevada contract liability balance:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
In thousands		2021		2020
Opening Balance		$	9,376	$	11,061
Revenue Recognized		(346)		(556)
Closing Balance		$	9,030	$	10,505

In December 2020, the Company received a $15.0 million prepayment (the “December 2020 Prepayment” as defined in Note 17) for deliveries of gold concentrate from the Kensington mine pursuant to the Amended Sales Contract (as defined in Note 17). The Amended Sales Contract represents a contract liability under ASC 606, which requires the Company to recognize ratably a portion of the deposit as revenue for each gold ounce delivered to the customer. The remaining contract liability is included in Accrued liabilities and other on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. See Note 17 -- Commitments and Contingencies for additional detail.

The following table presents a rollforward of the Amended Sales Contract liability balance:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
In thousands		2021		2020
Opening Balance		$	15,003	$	15,010
Additions		101		132
Revenue Recognized		(8,000)		(7,124)
Closing Balance		$	7,104	$	8,018

Recent Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes - Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740)” which is intended to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. ASU 2019-12 will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020 (January 1, 2021 for the Company). Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated net income, financial position or cash flows.