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South Mountain Project
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Equity Method Investments [Abstract]  
South Mountain Project [Text Block]

3. South Mountain Project

BeMetals Option Agreement:

On December 30, 2022, the Company agreed to terminate the Option Agreement with BeMetals Corporation. The BeMetals Option Agreement ("the Option Agreement") was entered into on February 27, 2019, under the original terms of the Option Agreement, BeMetals provided the funding to SMMI for project expenses including management services.

According to the terms of the Option Agreement BMET USA and SMMI entered a management contract whereby BeMetals paid $25,000 monthly to SMMI for management services to enable BMET to perform exploration and development work with respect to the South Mountain Project. Management service income of $ 300,000 was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2022. No income was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2023.

On February 7, 2023, the Company executed a Mutual Release (the "Release") with BeMetals Corp., formally acknowledging and agreeing that BeMetals successfully fulfilled all obligations outlined in the Option Agreement. As part of the Mutual Release, the Company received a final payment of $33,530 from BeMetals Corp. This amount includes the settlement of all expenditures incurred up to the termination date of the Option Agreement.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized $27,495 from the Mutual Release accrued liability the Company had previously recorded as other income. This recognition signifies the complete fulfillment of all financial obligations and responsibilities owed to the Company by BeMetals Corp.

On April 12, 2023, the Company was served with a Complaint filed in the fourth judicial district court of the State of Idaho by legal representatives of a former mining contractor who had provided services for the South Mountain Mine project in the Fall of 2020. The case was subsequently dismissed with prejudice, and a judgment to that effect was entered on November 21, 2023. The contractor had a 42-day window from the date of judgment to appeal, which expired on January 2, 2024. No appeal was filed within this timeframe, leading to the dismissal of the claim.

SMMI Joint Venture - OGT, LLC

The Company's wholly owned subsidiary SMMI is the sole manager of the South Mountain Project in its entirety through a separate Mining Lease with Option to Purchase ("Lease Option") with the Company's majority-owned subsidiary OGT. SMMI has an option to purchase the South Mountain mineral interest for a capped $5 million less net returns royalties paid through the date of exercise. The Lease Option expires in November 2026. If SMMI exercises the option, the option payment of $5 million less advance royalties will be distributed 100% by OGT to OGT's minority member, ISGCII. Under the Lease Option, SMMI pays an advance of $5,000 net returns royalty to OGT annually on November 4 which was distributed to OGT's minority member during 2022 and accrued at December 31, 2023. See Note 11 Subsequent Events.

Under the OGT operating agreement, SMMI and ISGC II have 75% and 25% ownership, respectively, in OGT. SMMI is the sole manager and pays all expenses for exploration and development of the property. The Company has established 75% ownership and full management of the property. The Company had expensed an additional $16,250 in reclamation expense for the year ended December 31, 2022, resulting in 25% expense to OGT, LLC capital account. OGT's financial information is included 100% in the Company's consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. The Company's consolidated financial statements reflect ISGC II's 25% noncontrolling interest.

Activity of the noncontrolling interest during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

   

Years Ended

December 31,

 
    2023     2022  
Balance at beginning of year $ 169,639   $ 173,702  
Noncontrolling interest in net returns royalty   (5,000 )   (5,000 )
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest   5,000     937  
Balance at end of year $ 169,639   $ 169,639