Note 3 - Properties, Plants, Equipment and Mineral Interests, and Lease Commitments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 3: Properties, Plants, Equipment and Mineral Interests, and Lease Commitments

Properties, Plants, Equipment and Mineral Interests

Our major components of properties, plants, equipment, and mineral interests are (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2013		2012
Mining properties, including asset retirement obligations	$	312,692	$	294,573
Development costs		204,598		151,504
Plants and equipment		626,818		419,377
Land		15,799		15,788
Mineral interests		946,144		375,028
Construction in progress		200,921		176,925
		2,306,972		1,433,195
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization		515,371		436,536
Net carrying value	$	1,791,601	$	996,659

During 2013, we incurred total capital expenditures, excluding additions acquired under capital leases and adjustments to asset retirement obligations, of approximately $150.7 million, which included $54.5 million at the Lucky Friday unit, $46.1 million at the Greens Creek unit, and $41.4 million at the Casa Berardi unit since its acquisition on June 1, 2013.

On June 1, 2013, we completed the acquisition of Aurizon Mines, Ltd. ("Aurizon") for CAD$740.8 million ($714.5 million). See Note 16 for more information.

Capital Leases

We entered into lease agreements for primarily equipment at our Greens Creek and Lucky Friday units which we have determined to be capital leases.  As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we have recorded $41.2 million and $28.9 million, respectively, for the gross amount of assets acquired under the capital leases and $10.1 million and $5.3 million, respectively, in accumulated depreciation, classified as plants and equipment in Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests.  See Note 6 for information on future obligations related to our capital leases.

Operating Leases

We enter into operating leases during the normal course of business. During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, we incurred expenses of $3.1 million, $3.1 million and $3.0 million, respectively, for these leases. At December 31, 2013, future obligations under our non-cancelable operating leases were as follows (in thousands):

Year ending December 31,
2014	$	3,347
2015		1,353
2016		1,370
2017		985
2018		917
Thereafter		2,659
Total	$	10,631