UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 20-F

 

OR

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020

OR

For the transition period from _____________to _____________

OR

Commission file number: 000-55985

SILVER ELEPHANT MINING CORP.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

British Columbia, Canada

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

Suite 1610 - 409 Granville Street

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 1T2

(Address of principal executive offices)

John Lee

Suite 1610 - 409 Granville Street

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 1T2

Telephone: 604-569-3661, Facsimile: 604-569-3617 Email: info@silverelef.com

(Name, Telephone, E-Mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Copy of communications to:

James Guttman Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Brookfield Place 161 Bay Street, Suite 4310

Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2S1

Telephone: (416) 367-7376 Facsimile: (416) 367-7371

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act: None

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act.

Common Shares without par value

(Title of Class)

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report: 180,518,828 Common Shares as at December 31, 2020

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ☐

Accelerated filer ☐

Non-accelerated filer ☒Emerging growth company ☒

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

U.S. GAAP ☐ International Financial Reporting Standards as issued By the International Accounting Standards Board ☒ Other ☐

If “Other” has been checked in response to previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

Item 17 ☐ Item 18 ☐

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ☐ No ☒

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

			Page
PART I			10
ITEM 1.	IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS		10
ITEM 2	OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE		10
ITEM 3.	KEY INFORMATION		10
	A.                 Selected Financial Data		10
	B.                 Capitalization and Indebtedness		10
	C.                 Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds		10
	D.                 Risk Factors		10
ITEM 4.	INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY		22
	A.                 History and Development of the Company		22
	B.                 Business Overview		31
	C.                 Organizational Structure		33
	D.                 Property, Plants and Equipment		34
	ITEM 4A.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS		91
ITEM 5.	OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS		91
	A.                 Operating Results		91
	B.                 Liquidity and Capital Resources		93
	C.                 Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.		97
	D.                 Trend Information		97
	E.                 Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements		97
	F.                 Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations		97
	G.                 Safe Harbor		98
ITEM 6.	DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES		98
	A.                 Directors and Senior Management		98
	B.                 Compensation		102
	C.                 Board Practices		105
	D.                 Employees		105
	E.                 Share Ownership		108
ITEM 7.	MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS		109
	A.                 Major Shareholders		109
	B.                 Related Party Transactions		110
	C.                 Interests of Experts and Counsel		110
ITEM 8.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION		110
	A.                 Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information		110
	B.                 Significant Changes		111
ITEM 9.	THE OFFER AND LISTING		112
	A.                 Offer and Listing Details		112
	B.                 Plan of Distribution		112
	C.                 Markets		112
	D.                 Selling Shareholders		112
	E.                 Dilution		112
	F.                  Expenses of the Issuer		112

 

 

ITEM 10.	ADDITIONAL INFORMATION	112
	A.                 Share Capital	112
	B.                 Memorandum and Articles of Association	112
	C.                 Material Contracts	115
	D.                 Exchange Controls	115
	E.                 Taxation	115
	F.                  Scope of this Summary	116
	G.                 Dividends and Paying Agents	121
	H.                 Statement by Experts	121
	I.                 Documents on Display	121
	J.                 Subsidiary Information	122
ITEM 11.	QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK	122
ITEM 12.	DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES	122
	A. - C.	122
	D.                  American Depository Receipts	122
PART II
ITEM 13.	DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES	123
ITEM 14.	MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS	123
ITEM 15.	CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES	123
	A.                 Disclosure Controls and Procedures	123
	B.                 Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting	123
	C.                 Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm	123
	D.                 Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting	123
ITEM 16.	[RESERVED]	123
	ITEM 16A.                    AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT	124
	ITEM 16B.                    CODE OF ETHICS	124
	ITEM 16C.                    PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES	124
	ITEM 16D.                    EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES	124
	ITEM 16E.                    PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS	124
	ITEM 16F.                    CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT	124
	ITEM 16G.                    CORPORATE GOVERNANCE	124
	ITEM 16H.                    MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE	124
PART III
ITEM 17.	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	125
ITEM 18.	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	125
ITEM 19.	EXHIBITS	125

 

 

INTRODUCTORY NOTES

GENERAL INFORMATION

In this annual report on Form 20-F (the “Annual Report”), the terms “we”, “our”, “us”, the “Company” refer, unless the context requires otherwise, to Silver Elephant Mining Corp. and its subsidiaries.

References herein to "Common Shares" are references to the Common Shares without par value of the Company.

PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA

We prepare our audited consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, or “IFRS”, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or the “IASB”. The financial information and related discussion and analysis contained in this annual report on Form 20-F are presented in Canadian dollars, unless stated otherwise. The financial information analysis in this annual report on Form 20-F is based on our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, included elsewhere in this document. Percentages and some amounts in this annual report on Form 20-F have been rounded for ease of presentation. Any discrepancies between totals and the sums of the amounts listed are due to rounding.

CURRENCY

Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “dollars” or “$” are to Canadian dollars and all references to “US dollars,” “USD”, "US$" or "USD$" are to United States of America dollars.

SHARE CONSOLIDATIONS AND FORWARD SPLIT

2016 Share Consolidation

On June 7, 2016, we completed a consolidation of our issued and outstanding Common Shares on the basis of one post consolidation Common Share, option and warrant, for 100 pre- consolidation Common Shares, options and warrants, as applicable (we refer to this as the "2016 Consolidation").

Forward Split

On August 8, 2018, we completed a split of our issued and outstanding Common Shares on the basis of ten post-split Common Shares, options and warrants for 1 pre-split Common Share, option and warrant, as applicable (the "Forward Split").

2020 Share Consolidation

On March 16, 2020, the shareholders approved a consolidation of our issued and outstanding Common Shares on the basis of one (1) new Common Share for every five (5) to ten (10) issued and outstanding Common Shares (we refer to this as the "2020 Consolidation"). The 2020 Consolidation has not yet been effected.

All Common Share and "per share" information in this Annual Report have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the Forward Split and the cumulative effect of the 2016 Consolidation and Forward Split, as applicable, for all periods presented, unless otherwise indicated.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this Annual Report constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and are intended to be covered by the safe harbors provided by such regulations (collectively referred to herein as “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements in this Annual Report are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “believes”, “estimates”, “potentially” or similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results “will”, “may”, “would”, “could”, “should” occur or are “to be” achieved, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts. Information concerning management’s expectations regarding our future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities may also be deemed to be forward-looking statements, as such information constitutes predictions based on certain factors, estimates and assumptions subject to significant business, economic, competitive and other uncertainties and contingencies, and involve known and unknown risks which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be different from future results, performance, or achievements contained in our forward- looking statements.

Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the following:

 

 

 

The forward-looking statements in this Annual Report are based upon our current business and operating plans, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, including, among others:

 

 

 

This foregoing list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of our forward-looking statements. Some of the important risks and uncertainties that could affect forward- looking statements are described further under the heading “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. For the reasons set forth above and elsewhere in this Annual Report, we caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this Annual Report.

The forward-looking statements in this Annual Report speak only as to the date of this Annual Report and are based on our beliefs, opinions and expectations at the time they are made. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

CAUTIONARY NOTE TO U.S. INVESTORS CONCERNING RESERVE AND RESOURCE ESTIMATES

The terms “mineral reserve”, “proven mineral reserve” and “probable mineral reserve” are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43- 101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the “CIM”) - CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended. These definitions differ from the definitions in the United States Securities and Exchange Commission Industry Guide 7 (“SEC Industry Guide 7”) under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

Under SEC Industry Guide 7 standards, mineralization may not be classified as a “reserve” unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. Pursuant to SEC Industry Guide 7, a mineral reserve may not be designated as such unless: (i) competent professional engineers conduct a detailed engineering and economic study, and the “bankable” or “final” feasibility study demonstrates that a mineral deposit can be mined profitably at a commercial rate; (ii) a historic three-year average commodity price is used in any reserve or cash flow analysis used to designate reserves; and (iii) the company has demonstrated that the mineral property will receive its governmental permits, and the primary environmental document has been filed with the appropriate governmental authorities.

The terms “mineral resource”, “measured mineral resource”, “indicated mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource” are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and have historically not been permitted to be used in reports and annual reports filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. An “Inferred mineral resource” has a lower level of confidence than an “indicated mineral resource” and must not be converted to a mineral “reserve”. The quantity and grade of reported “Inferred Resources” in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these “Inferred Resources” as an “Indicated or Measured” Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an “Indicated or Measured” Mineral Resource category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases.

Disclosure of “contained ounces” in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, under SEC Industry Guide 7 the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) historically only permitted issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” by SEC Industry Guide 7 standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.

The term “mineralized material” as used in this Annual Report, although permissible under SEC Industry Guide 7, does not indicate “reserves” by SEC Industry Guide 7 standards. We cannot be certain that any part of the mineralized material will ever be confirmed or converted into SEC Industry Guide 7 compliant “reserves”. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of the mineralized material will ever be confirmed or converted into reserves or that mineralized material can be economically or legally extracted.

Accordingly, information contained in this Annual Report may contain descriptions of our mineral deposits that may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies pursuant to SEC Industry Guide 7.

On October 31, 2018, the SEC adopted the Modernization of Property Disclosures for Mining Registrants (the “New Rule”), introducing significant changes to the existing mining disclosure framework to better align it with international industry and regulatory practice, including NI 43-101. The New Rule became effective as of February 25, 2019 and following a transition period the Company may be required to comply with the New Rule as of its annual report for its first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021, and earlier in certain circumstances. While early voluntary compliance with the New Rule is permitted, the Company has not elected to comply with the New Rule at this time and the Company does not anticipate needing to comply with the New Rule until March 2022. Under the SEC Modernization Rules, the definitions of “Proven Mineral Reserves” and “Probable Mineral Reserves” have been amended to be substantially similar to the corresponding CIM Definition Standards and the SEC has added definitions to recognize “Measured Mineral Resources”, “Indicated Mineral Resources” and “Inferred Mineral Resources” which are also substantially similar to the corresponding CIM Definition Standards; however, there are differences in the definitions under the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definition Standards and therefore once the Company begins reporting under the SEC Modernization Rules there is no assurance that the Company’s Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates will be the same as those reported under CIM Definition Standards as contained in this Annual Report.

 

 

METRIC CONVERSION TABLE

To Convert Imperial Measurement Units	To Metric Measurement Units	Multiply by
Acres	Hectares	0.4047
Feet	Meters	0.3048
Miles	Kilometers	1.6093
Tons (short)	Tonnes	0.9072
Gallons	Liters	3.785
Ounces (troy)	Grams	31.103
Ounces (troy) per ton (short)	Grams per tonne	34.286

 

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

This Annual Report contains information of a technical or scientific nature respecting the Company’s mineral properties (the "Technical Information"). Technical Information is primarily derived from the documents referenced herein. All Technical Information which appears in this Annual Report has been reviewed and approved by Danniel Oosterman, Vice President Exploration of the Company who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by the guidelines in NI 43-101. The Company operates quality assurance and quality control of sampling and analytical procedures.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Ag	silver
Au	gold
CIM Standards, 2014	Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards for Mineral Resources and Reserves: Definitions and Guidelines, as amended in 2014
deposit	means a mineral deposit which is a mineralized mass that may be economically valuable, but whose characteristics may require more detailed information. Mineral resources are calculated from geological data collected from deposits, however, deposits do not necessarily reflect the presence of mineral resources.
Fe	iron
ft	feet
g/t	Grams per tonne
lb.	pound (2,000 lbs. to 1 ton, 2,204.6 lbs. to 1 tonne)
Indicated Coal Resource	That part of a Coal Resource for which quantity or quality, densities, shape, and physical characteristics can be estimated with a level of confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and reliable exploration and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough for geological and quality continuity to be reasonably assumed.
Indicated Mineral Resources	That part of a Mineral Resource for which tonnage, densities, shape, physical characteristics, grade and mineral content can be estimated with a reasonable level of confidence. It is based on exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. The locations are too widely or inappropriately spaced to confirm geological and/or grade continuity but are spaced closely enough for continuity to be assumed.
Inferred Coal Resource	That part of a Coal Resource for which quantity and quality can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and quality continuity. The estimate is based on limited information and sampling, gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings, and drill holes.
Inferred Mineral Resource	Inferred Mineral Resource is the part of a mineral resource for which tonnage, grade and mineral content can be estimated with a low level of confidence. It is inferred from geological evidence and assumed but not verified geological or grade continuity.
m	meters

 

 

Measured Mineral Resource	That part of a Mineral Resource for which tonnage, densities, shape, physical characteristics, grade and mineral content can be estimated with a high level of confidence. It is based on detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. The locations are spaced closely enough to confirm geological and grade continuity.
mineral resource	means a concentration or occurrence of natural, solid, inorganic, or fossilized organic material in or on the Earth’s crust in such form and quantity and of such a grade or quality that it has reasonable prospects for economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade, geological characteristics, and continuity of a mineral resource are known, estimated, or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge. Mineral resources are sub-divided, in order of increasing geological confidence, into Inferred, Indicated, and Measured categories. Note that the confidence level in Inferred Mineral Resources is insufficient to allow the application of technical and economic parameters or to enable an evaluation of economic viability worthy of public disclosure. Regardless of category, a mineral resource is estimated through application of the guidelines of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards for Mineral Resources and Reserves: Definitions and Guidelines, as amended in 2014. A “historic” mineral resource estimate refers to a mineral resource estimate of the quantity, grade, or metal or mineral content of a deposit that the Company has not verified as current, and which was prepared before the Company acquired or entered into an agreement to acquire, an interest in the property that contains the deposit.
NI 43-101	Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
oz.	troy ounce (12 oz. to 1 pound)
Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA)	A preliminary assessment study which includes an economic analysis of the potential viability of a material resource prior to the completion of a prefeasibility study. Based on the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) study types a PEA (also known as a conceptual or scoping study used to support a NI 43-101 Technical Report is within +/-35% degree of accuracy.
Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS)	A comprehensive study of the viability of a project that has advanced to a stage where the mining method and pit configuration has been established and an effective method of coal processing has been determined, and includes a financial analysis based on reasonable assumptions of technical, engineering, legal, operating, economic, social, and environmental factors, and the evaluation of other relevant factors which are sufficient for a Qualified Person (QP), acting reasonably, to determine if all or part of a Resource can be classified as a Reserve (CIM Standards, 2014). Based on the SME study types a PFS used to support a NI 43-101 Technical Report is within +/-25% degree of accuracy.
Qualified Person Or QP	An individual who is an engineer or geoscientist with at least five years of experience in mineral exploration, mine development or operation, or mineral project assessment, or any combination of these; has experience relevant to the subject matter of the mineral project and the technical report; and is a member or licensee in good standing of a professional association recognized under Nl 43-101 (CIM Standards, 2014).
Ti	Titanium
V	Vanadium

 

 

PART I

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

The following selected financial and other data summarize our historical financial information. We derived the selected balance sheet information as of December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, and the selected statement of operations information for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, from our audited financial statements as of those dates. The consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, which differ in certain respects from the principles we would have followed had our consolidated financial statements been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”).

The information in the following tables should be read in conjunction with the information appearing under the heading “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and our audited annual financial statements under the heading “Item 18. Financial Statements”.

Statement of Operations	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Revenue$	$—	$—	—	—	—
Net income (loss)	(4,626,887)	17,513,854	(18,184,468)	(18,592,981)	(2,007,305)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(4,626,887)	17,513,854	(18,196,628)	(18,580,821)	(2,007,305)
Basic net (loss) income per share	(0.03)	0.17	(0.23)	(0.33)	(0.05)
Diluted net (loss) income per share	(0.03)	0.17	(0.23)	(0.33)	(0.05)

 

Balance Sheet Data	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Total Asset	$39,833,010	$27,448,088	$9,264,205	18,368,843	27,828,109
Share Capital	$197,612,182	$181,129,012	$173,819,546	165,862,805	156,529,025
Number of Common Shares (as adjusted to reflect changes in capital)	180,518,828	121,299,508	95,316,127	74,721,790	48,076,530
Total liabilities	$2,474,953	$2,740,000	$10,023,943	9,681,322	11,032,616
Total shareholders’ equity	$37,358,057	$24,708,088	$(759,738)	8,687,521	16,795,493

 

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

This section describes some of the risks and uncertainties faced by us. An investment in the Company involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below and the risks described elsewhere in this Annual Report when making an investment decision related to the Company. We believe the risk factors summarized below are most relevant to our business. These are factors that, individually or in the aggregate, could cause our actual results to differ significantly from anticipated or historical results. The occurrence of any of the risks could harm our business and cause you to lose all or part of your investment. However, you should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. The risks and uncertainties described and discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report are not the only risks and uncertainties that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations would suffer. The risks discussed below also include forward-looking statements, and our actual results may differ substantially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. See the discussion under the heading “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” at the beginning of this Annual Report for more detail.

Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

We have a history of net losses and do not anticipate having positive cash flow in the foreseeable future.

We have not received any material revenue or net profit to date. Exploration and development of mineral properties requires large amounts of capital and usually results in accounting losses for many years before profitability is achieved, if ever. We have incurred losses and negative operating cash flow during our most recently completed financial year and for the current financial year to date. We believe that commercial mining activity is warranted on our Gibellini Project (as defined herein) and Pulacayo Project (as defined herein). Even if we undertake future development activity on any of our properties, there is no certainty that we will produce revenue, operate profitably or provide a return on investment in the future. The exploration of our properties depends on our ability to obtain additional required financing. There is no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining the required financing, which could cause us to postpone our exploration plans or result in the loss or substantial dilution of our interest in our properties.

We will need a significant amount of capital to carry out our proposed business plan. Unless we are able to raise sufficient funds, we may be forced to discontinue our operations.

We are in the exploration stage and will likely operate at a loss until our business becomes established. We will require additional financing in order to fund future operations. Our ability to secure any required financing in order to commence and sustain our operations will depend in part upon prevailing capital market conditions as well as our business success. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in our efforts to secure any additional financing on terms satisfactory to our management. If additional financing is raised by issuing Common Shares, control may change, and shareholders may suffer additional dilution. If adequate funds are not available or they are unavailable on acceptable terms, we may be required to scale back our business plan or cease operating.

Our mineral exploration efforts are highly speculative in nature and may be unsuccessful.

The exploration for and development of minerals involve significant risks, which even a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge may not eliminate. Few properties which are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. There can be no guarantee that the estimates of quantities and qualities of minerals disclosed will be economically recoverable. With all mining operations there is uncertainty and, therefore, risk associated with operating parameters and costs resulting from the scaling up of extraction methods tested in pilot conditions. Mineral exploration is speculative in nature and there can be no assurance that any minerals discovered will result in an increase in our resource base.

Our operations are subject to all of the hazards and risks normally encountered in the exploration, development and production of minerals. These include unusual and unexpected geological formations, rock falls, seismic activity, flooding and other conditions involved in the extraction of material, any of which could result in damage to, or destruction of, mines and other producing facilities, damage to life or property, environmental damage and possible legal liability. Although precautions to minimize risk will be taken, operations are subject to hazards that may result in environmental pollution and consequent liability that could have a material adverse impact on our business, operations and financial performance.

Substantial expenditures are required to establish ore reserves through drilling, to develop metallurgical processes to extract the metal from the ore and, in the case of new properties, to develop the mining and processing facilities and infrastructure at any site chosen for mining. Although substantial benefits may be derived from the discovery of a major mineralized deposit, no assurance can be given that minerals will be discovered in sufficient quantities to justify commercial operations or that funds required for development can be obtained on a timely basis. The economics of developing vanadium, silver, coal and other mineral properties is affected by many factors including the cost of operations, variations in the grade of ore mined, fluctuations in metal markets, costs of processing equipment and such other factors such as government regulations, including regulations relating to royalties, allowable production, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection. The remoteness and restrictions on access of properties in which we have an interest will have an adverse effect on profitability as a result of higher infrastructure costs. There are also physical risks to the exploration personnel working in the terrain in which our properties are located, often in poor climate conditions.

Our long-term commercial success depends on our ability to find, acquire, develop and commercially produce vanadium, silver, coal and other minerals. No assurance can be given that we will be able to locate satisfactory properties for acquisition or participation. Moreover, if such acquisitions or participations are identified, we may determine that current markets, terms of acquisition and participation or pricing conditions make such acquisitions or participations uneconomic.

We have no history of profitably commercially producing vanadium, silver, coal or other metals from our mineral exploration properties and there can be no assurance that we will successfully establish mining operations or profitably produce vanadium, silver, coal or other base or precious metals.

None of our properties are currently under development. The future development of any property found to be economically feasible will require the construction and operation of mines, processing plants and related infrastructure. As a result, we are subject to all of the risks associated with establishing new mining operations and business enterprises, including:

 

 

 

The costs, timing and complexities of mine construction and development are increased by the remote location of our mining properties. It is common in new mining operations to experience unexpected problems and delays during development, construction and mine start-up. In addition, delays in the commencement of mineral production often occur. Accordingly, there are no assurances that our activities will successfully establish mining operations, result in profitable operations or that vanadium, silver, coal or other metals will be produced at any of our properties.

All of the properties in which we hold an interest are considered to be in the exploration stage only and do not contain a known body of commercial minerals. The figures for our resources are estimates based on interpretation and assumptions and may yield less mineral production under actual operating conditions than is currently estimated.

All of the properties in which we hold an interest are considered to be in the exploration stage only and do not contain a known body of commercial minerals. The figures for our resources are estimates based on interpretation and assumptions and may yield less mineral production under actual operating conditions than is currently estimated. Unless otherwise indicated, mineralization figures presented in this Annual Report and in our other filings with securities regulatory authorities, news releases and other public statements that may be made from time to time are based upon estimates made by our personnel and independent geologists. These estimates may be imprecise because they are based upon geological and engineering interpretation and statistical inferences drawn from drilling and sample analysis, stated operating conditions, and mineral processing tests, which may prove to be unreliable. There can be no assurance that:

 

Because we have not commenced production at any of our properties, other than Ulaan Ovoo, and have not defined or delineated any proven or probable reserves on any of our properties, the mineralization estimates for our properties may require adjustments including possible downward revisions based upon further exploration or development work, actual production experience, or current costs and sales prices. In addition, the quality of coal or grade of ore ultimately mined, if any, may differ from that indicated by drilling and beneficiation testing results. There can be no assurance that the type and amount of minerals recovered in laboratory analyses and small-scale beneficiation tests will be duplicated in large-scale tests under on-site conditions or in production scale.

The resource estimates contained in this Annual Report have been estimated based on assumed future prices, cut-off grades and operating costs that may prove to be inaccurate. Extended declines in market prices for vanadium, silver, coal or other metals may render portions of our mineralization uneconomic and result in reduced reported mineralization. Any material reductions in estimates of mineralization, or of our ability to extract this mineralization, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

Actual capital costs, operating costs, production and economic returns may differ significantly from those we have anticipated and there are no assurances that any future development activities will result in profitable mining operations.

Actual capital costs, operating costs, production and economic returns may differ significantly from those we have anticipated, and we cannot assure you that any future development activities will result in profitable mining operations. The capital costs required to take our projects into production may be significantly higher than anticipated. None of our mineral properties has a sufficient operating history upon which we can base estimates of future operating costs. Any potential decisions about the possible development of these and other mineral properties would ultimately be based upon feasibility studies which may or may not be undertaken. Feasibility studies derive estimates of cash operating costs based upon, among other things:

 

Cash operating costs, production and economic returns, and other estimates contained in studies or estimates prepared by or for us may differ significantly from those anticipated by our current studies and estimates, and there can be no assurance that our actual operating costs will not be higher than currently anticipated.

 

COVID-19 - The outbreak of contagious diseases, including the spread of the coronavirus, could impact our business operations, results of operations and/or financial condition.

An emerging risk is a risk not well understood at the current time and for which the impacts on strategy and financial results are difficult to assess or are in the process of being assessed. Since December 31, 2019, the outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, specifically identified as “COVID-19”, has resulted in governments worldwide enacting emergency measures to combat the spread of the virus. These measures, which include the implementation of travel bans, self-imposed quarantine periods and social distancing, have caused material disruption to businesses globally, resulting in an economic slowdown. Global equity markets have experienced significant volatility and weakness. Governments and central banks have reacted with significant monetary and fiscal interventions designed to stabilize economic conditions. The duration and impact of the COVID-19 outbreak is unknown at this time, as is the efficacy of the government and central bank interventions. It is not possible to reliably estimate the length and severity of these developments and the impact on the financial results and condition of the Company and its operating subsidiaries in future periods.

Our business operations could be significantly adversely affected by the effects of a widespread global outbreak of contagious disease, including the recent outbreak of respiratory illness caused by COVID-19. We cannot accurately predict the impact COVID-19 will have on third parties, including our employees or contractors, ability to fulfil their obligations to the Company, including due to uncertainties relating to the ultimate geographic spread of the virus, its severity, the duration of the outbreak, and the restrictions imposed by governments of affected countries to combat COVID-19. In addition, a significant outbreak of contagious diseases in the human population could result in a widespread health crisis that could adversely affect the economies and financial markets of many countries (including those countries in which our properties are located and other countries we rely on to conduct our business operations), resulting in an economic downturn that could negatively impact our operating results and financial condition. There can be no assurance that any policies or procedures that have been or that may be put in place by the Company will mitigate the risks associated with, or that they will not cause us to experience, less favourable health, safety and economic outcomes, including the ability to obtain financing for business operations as needed or on terms acceptable to the Company.

We are subject to substantial government regulation in the United States and Canada. Changes to regulation or more stringent implementation could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Mining and exploration activities at our properties in North America are subject to various laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, such as the U.S. federal Clean Water Act and the Nevada Water Pollution Control Law. Although we intend to comply with all existing environmental and mining laws and regulations, no assurance can be given that we will be in compliance with all applicable regulations or that new rules and regulations will not be enacted, including by the new Biden administration in the United States, or that existing rules and regulations will not be applied in a manner that could limit or curtail development of our properties.

All claims held by us in the United States are unpatented lode mining claims and all claims held by us in Ontario are patented claims. Our Manitoba claims are Crown Land mineral claims and mineral leases administered by the Manitoba Provincial government. At present, there is no royalty payable to the United States on production from unpatented mining claims, but exploration and development on these claims is subject to regulation and requires permits from the U.S. Department of Interior and various state agencies. There is a tax imposed on profits from the extraction of mineral substances raised and sold by operators of Ontario mines. There have been legislative attempts to impose a royalty on production from unpatented mining claims in the United States in recent years. Amendments to current laws and regulations governing exploration, development and mining or more stringent implementation thereof could have a material adverse effect on our business and cause increases in exploration expenses or capital expenditures or require delays or abandonment in the development of our properties.

Our operations are also subject to laws and regulations governing the protection of endangered and other specified species. In May 2015, the U.S. Department of the Interior released a plan to protect the greater sage grouse, a species whose natural habitat is found across much of the western United States, including Nevada. The U.S. Department of the Interior’s plan is intended to guide conservation efforts on approximately 70 million acres of national public lands. No assurances can be made that restrictions relating to conservation will not have an adverse impact on our operations in impacted areas.

We are also required to expend significant resources to comply with numerous corporate governance and disclosure regulations and requirements adopted by Canadian federal and provincial governments, as well as the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”). These additional compliance costs and related diversion of the attention of management and key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Reform of the General Mining Law could adversely impact our results of operations.

All of our unpatented mining claims are on U.S. federal lands. Legislation has been introduced regularly in the U.S. Congress over the last decade to change the General Mining Law of 1872, as amended (the “General Mining Law”), under which we hold these unpatented mining claims. It is possible that the General Mining Law may be amended or replaced by less favorable legislation in the future. Previously proposed legislation contained a production royalty obligation, new environmental standards and conditions, additional reclamation requirements and extensive new procedural steps which would likely result in delays in permitting. The ultimate content of future proposed legislation, if enacted, is uncertain. If a royalty on unpatented mining claims were imposed, the profitability of our U.S. operations could be materially adversely affected.

 

 

Any such reform of the General Mining Law could increase the costs of our U.S. mining activities or could materially impair our ability to develop or continue our U.S. operations, and as a result, could have an adverse effect on us and our results of operations.

We are required to obtain government approvals and permits in order to conduct operations.

Government approvals and permits are currently required in connection with all of our operations, and further approvals and permits may be required in the future. We must obtain and maintain a variety of licenses and permits, which include or cover, without limitation, air quality, water quality, water rights, dam safety, fire safety, emergency preparedness, hazardous materials, mercury control, waste rock management, solid waste disposal, storm water runoff, water pollution control, water treatment, rights of way and tailings operations. Such licenses and permits are subject to change in regulations and in various operating circumstances. The duration and success of our efforts to obtain permits are contingent upon many variables outside of our control. Obtaining governmental approvals and permits may increase costs and cause delays depending on the nature of the activity to be permitted and the applicable requirements implemented by the permitting authority.

There can be no assurance that all necessary approvals and permits will be obtained or timely obtained. In addition, there can be no assurance that, if obtained, the costs of the approvals and permits will not exceed our estimates or that we will be able to maintain such approvals and permits. To the extent such approvals or permits are required and not obtained or maintained, our operations may be curtailed, or we may be prohibited from proceeding with planned exploration, development or operation of our mineral properties.

Certain of our current exploration properties are located in Bolivia and Mongolia, and their operations may be exposed to various levels of political, economic, and other risks and uncertainties.

Certain of our current exploration properties are located in Bolivia and Mongolia. In these countries, their operations may be exposed to various levels of political, economic, and other risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, political and bureaucratic corruption and uncertainty, terrorism, hostage taking, military repression, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, high rates of inflation, labor unrest, civil unrest, expropriation and nationalization, renegotiation or nullification of existing concessions, licenses, permits and contracts, illegal mining, changes in taxation policies, restrictions on foreign exchange and repatriation, changing political conditions, currency controls, and governmental regulations that favor or require the awarding of contracts to local contractors or require foreign contractors to employ citizens of, or purchase supplies from, a particular jurisdiction.

Future political and economic conditions may result in a government adopting different policies with respect to foreign development and ownership of mineral resources. Any changes in policy may result in changes in laws affecting ownership of assets, foreign investment, taxation, rates of exchange, resource sales, environmental protection, labour relations or practices, price controls, repatriation of income, and return of capital which may affect both our ability to undertake exploration and development activities in respect of future properties in the manner currently contemplated, as well as our ability to continue to explore, develop, and operate those properties to which we have rights relating to exploration, development, and operations.

Changes in regulations or shifts in political attitudes in Bolivia and Mongolia, as well as in neighboring countries, are beyond our control and may adversely affect our business and financial condition.

Any changes in regulations or shifts in political attitudes in Bolivia and Mongolia are beyond our control and may adversely affect our business, financial condition and prospects.

The Bolivian government adopted a new constitution (which we refer to as the “NCPE”) in early 2009 which increased state control over key economic sectors, including mining. The NCPE provides that all minerals, among all natural resources, belong to the Bolivian people who are represented by the government. Such entity is the only one capable of managing all minerals throughout the production chain. Consequently, only the Bolivian central government possesses the authority to grant mining rights. Bolivian President Evo Morales signed a new law, the Law of Mining Rights, increasing the State’s expropriation powers over the mining sector. It was specifically drafted to target mines deemed by the state as unproductive, inactive or idle. The Bolivian government has assigned responsibility for determining whether a concession is idle to the Vice Ministry of Regulation, Auditing and Mining Policy. Mining areas occupied by cooperatives or local groups will not be regarded as idle. There have been recent actions by the government of Bolivia to ease concerns of foreign exploration and mining investors. As reported in the Mining Journal, at a UK-Bolivia trade and investment forum in London in June of 2016, Félix César Navarro, Minister of Mining and Metallurgy (“Minister Navarro”), talked of new safeguards for foreign investors looking to put cash into the country, stating, that new contracts governing exploration, mining and processing were currently going through Bolivia’s congress that would give foreign investors the legal security they need to invest in the country (report by Mining Journal June 10, 2016). Certain Company officials also met with Minister Navarro in March, October and November of 2016. During the meeting in March at the 2016 PDAC convention, Minister Navarro expressed his full support for the start-up and development of the Pulacayo mine. During the October meeting, Minister Navarro stated that the aim of the recent mining regulation is to support the investors and ensure the inclusion of cooperative labor in their projects. At the November meeting, Minister Navarro stated that both public and private mining sectors will try to attract foreign investment disclosing and sharing their experience with investors from several parts of the world. We consider our investment in the Pulacayo Project to be safe. However, we cannot provide any assurance that our operations at the Pulacayo Project will not be affected by changes in the political environment of Bolivia or the political attitudes of the Bolivian government. Further, there can be no assurance that neighboring countries’ political and economic policies in relation to Bolivia will also not have adverse economic effects on our business, including our ability to transport and sell our product and access construction labor, supplies and materials.

 

The Mongolian legal system shares several of the qualitative characteristics typically found in a developing country and many of its laws, particularly with respect to matters of environment and taxation, are still evolving. A transaction or business structure that would likely be regarded under a more established legal system as appropriate and relatively straightforward might be regarded in Mongolia as outside the scope of existing Mongolian law, regulation, or legal precedent. As the legal framework in Mongolia is in many instances based on recent political reforms or newly enacted legislation which may not be consistent with long-standing conventions and customs, certain business arrangements or structures and certain tax planning mechanisms may carry significant risks. In particular, when business objectives and practicalities dictate the use of arrangements and structures that, while not necessarily contrary to settled Mongolian law, are sufficiently novel within a Mongolian legal context, it is possible that such arrangements may be invalidated.

The legal system in Mongolia has inherent uncertainties that could limit the legal protections available to us. These uncertainties include, without limitation: (i) inconsistencies between laws; (ii) limited judicial and administrative guidance on interpreting Mongolian legislation; (iii) substantial gaps in the regulatory structure due to delay or absence of implementing regulations; (iv) the lack of established interpretations of new principles of Mongolian legislation, particularly those relating to business, corporate and securities laws; (v) a lack of judicial independence from political, social and commercial forces; and (vi) bankruptcy procedures that are not well developed and are subject to abuse. The Mongolian judicial system has relative little experience in enforcing the laws and regulations that currently exist, leading to a degree of uncertainty as to the outcome of any litigation, it may be difficult to obtain swift and equitable enforcement, or to obtain enforcement of a judgment by a court of another jurisdiction.

In addition, while legislation has been enacted to protect private property against expropriation and nationalization, due to the lack of experience in enforcing these provisions and political factors, these protections may not be enforced in the event of an attempted expropriation or nationalization. Whether legitimate or not, expropriation or nationalization of any of our assets, or portions thereof, potentially without adequate or any compensation, could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations. Further, there can be no assurance that neighboring countries’ political and economic policies in relation to Mongolia will not have adverse economic effects on our business, including our ability to transport and sell our product and access construction labor, supplies and materials.

In Bolivia, recent and anticipated changes to mining laws and policies and mining taxes and expected changes in governmental regulation or governmental actions may adversely affect us.

In Bolivia, recent and anticipated changes to mining laws and policies and mining taxes and expected changes in governmental regulation or governmental actions may adversely affect us. On May 28, 2014, Law 535 of Mining and Metallurgy (which we refer to as the “May Mining Law”) was adopted and placed into effect. Pursuant to the May Mining Law, we must develop our mining activities to comply with the economic and social function, which means observing the sustainability of the mining activities, work creation, respecting the rights of our mining workers, and ensuring the payment of mining patents and the continuity of existing activities.

The Framework Law on Mother Earth and Integral Development for Living Well (together with the May Mining Law, the “New Mining Laws”), in effect since October 15, 2012, prioritizes the importance of nature to the Bolivian people and could have significant consequences to the country’s mining industry. This law established 11 new rights for “mother earth” including, the right to life and to exist; the right to continue vital cycle and processes free from human alteration; the right to pure water and clean air; the right to balance; the right not to be polluted; and the right to not have cellular structure modified or genetically altered. At present, it is unclear how the New Mining Laws will affect exploration companies with projects in the area or how the law will be enforced.

In the past, the Government of Bolivia has nationalized the assets of certain companies in various industries. Nationalization or other expropriation of our assets, without adequate compensation, could have a material adverse effect on our business and/or result in the total loss of our investment in Bolivia.

Our mineral rights may be terminated or not renewed by governmental authorities and we may be negatively impacted by changes to mining laws and regulations.

Our activities are subject to government approvals, various laws governing prospecting, development, land resumptions, production taxes, labor standards and occupational health, mine safety, toxic substances and other matters, including issues affecting local native populations. Although we believe that our activities are currently carried out in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations, no assurance can be given that new rules and regulations will not be enacted or that existing rules and regulations will not be applied in a manner which could limit or curtail production or development. Amendments to current laws and regulations governing operations, including by the new Biden administration in the United States and proposed changes to tax laws in Nevada, and activities of exploration and mining, or more stringent implementation thereof, could have a material adverse impact on our business, operations and financial performance. Further, the mining licenses and permits issued in respect of our projects may be subject to conditions which, if not satisfied, may lead to the revocation of such licenses. In the event of revocation, the value of our investments in such projects may decline.

In the United States, the tenures are in the form of claims where exploration and development rights are retained so long as annual maintenance fees are paid and certain forms filed. The maintenance fees may be substantial with a large number of claims and the fees are adjusted periodically. Diligent periodic assessment of the resource and development value of claims by the claimant is required.

 

Title to our mineral properties may be disputed by third parties.

Title to mineral properties, as well as the location of boundaries on the grounds may be disputed. Moreover, additional amounts may be required to be paid to surface right owners in connection with any mining development. At all of such properties where there are current or planned exploration activities, we believe that we have either contractual, statutory, or common law rights to make such use of the surface as is reasonably necessary in connection with those activities. Although we believe we have taken reasonable measures to ensure proper title to our properties, there is no guarantee that title to our properties will not be challenged or impaired. Successful challenges to the title of our properties could impair the development of operations on those properties.

Environmental regulations worldwide have become increasingly stringent over the last decade which will require us to dedicate more time and money to compliance and remediation activities.

All phases of the mining business present environmental risks and hazards and are subject to environmental regulation pursuant to a variety of international conventions, and federal, state and municipal laws and regulations. Environmental legislation provides for, among other things, restrictions and prohibitions on spills and releases or emissions of various substances produced in association with mining operations. The legislation also requires that wells and facility sites be operated, maintained, abandoned and reclaimed to the satisfaction of applicable regulatory authorities. Compliance with such legislation can require significant expenditures and a breach may result in the imposition of fines and penalties, some of which may be material. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner expected to result in stricter standards and enforcement, larger fines and liability and potentially increased capital expenditures and operating costs. Environmental assessments of proposed projects carry a heightened degree of responsibility for companies and their directors, officers and employees. The cost of compliance with changes in governmental regulations has a potential to reduce the profitability of operations.

Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and permitting requirements may result in enforcement actions under, including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities causing operations to cease or be curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures, installation of additional equipment, or remedial actions. Entities engaged in mining operations may be required to compensate those suffering loss or damage by reason of the mining activities and may have civil or criminal fines or penalties imposed for violations of applicable laws or regulations and, in particular, environmental laws.

Amendments to current laws, regulations and permits governing operations and activities of mining companies, or more stringent implementation thereof, could have a material adverse impact on our business and cause increases in capital expenditures, production costs or reduction in levels of production at producing properties, or require abandonment or delays in the development of new mining properties.

Certain of our properties are located on land that is or may become subject to traditional territory, title claims and/or claims of cultural significance by certain Native American tribes or Aboriginal communities and stakeholders, and such claims and the attendant obligations of the provincial and federal governments to those tribal or Aboriginal communities and stakeholders may affect our current and future operations.

Native American and Aboriginal interests and rights as well as related consultation issues may impact our ability to pursue exploration and development at our U.S. and Canadian properties. There is no assurance that claims or other assertion of rights by tribal or Aboriginal communities and stakeholders or consultation issues will not arise on or with respect to our properties or activities. These could result in significant costs and delays or materially restrict our activities. Opposition by Native American tribes or Aboriginal communities and stakeholders to our presence, operations or development on land subject to their traditional territory or title claims or in areas of cultural significance could negatively impact us in terms of public perception, costly legal proceedings, potential blockades or other interference by third parties in our operations, or court-ordered relief impacting our operations. In addition, we may be required to, or may voluntarily, enter into certain agreements with such Native American tribes or Aboriginal communities and stakeholders in order to facilitate development of our properties, which could reduce the expected earnings or income from any future production.

Litigation and Regulatory Proceedings

The Company may be subject to civil claims (including class action claims) based on allegations of negligence, breach of statutory duty, public nuisance or private nuisance or otherwise in connection with the Company’s operations, or investigations relating thereto. While the Company is presently unable to quantify any potential liability under any of the above heads of damage, such liability may be material and may materially adversely affect the Company’s ability to continue operations. In addition, the Company may be subject to actions or related investigations by governmental or regulatory authorities in connection with its business activities, including, but not limited to, current and historic activities at the Company’s properties. Such actions may include prosecution for breach of relevant legislation or failure to comply with the terms of the Company’s licenses and permits and may result in liability for pollution, other fines or penalties, revocations of consents, permits, approvals or licenses or similar actions, which could be material and may impact the results of the Company’s operations. The Company’s current insurance coverage may not be adequate to cover any or all the potential losses, liabilities and damages that could result from the civil and/or regulatory actions referred to above.

 

 

The mining industry in general is intensely competitive. Furthermore, there is no assurance that, even if commercial quantities are discovered, a ready market will exist for sale of the same mineral ore.

The mining industry in general is intensely competitive and there is no assurance that, even if commercial quantities of ore are discovered, a ready market will exist for the sale of same. Marketability of natural resources which we may discover will be affected by numerous factors beyond our control, such as market fluctuations, the proximity and capacity of natural resource markets and processing equipment, government regulations including regulations relating to prices, royalties, land tenure, land use, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection. The exact effect of such factors cannot be predicted but they may result in us not receiving an adequate return on our investment.

The mining business is subject to inherent risks, some of which are not insurable.

Our business is subject to a number of risks and hazards, including adverse environmental conditions, industrial accidents, labor disputes, unusual or unexpected geological conditions, ground or slope failures, cave-ins, changes in the regulatory environment and natural phenomena such as inclement weather conditions, floods and earthquakes. Such occurrences could result in damage to mineral properties or production facilities, personal injury or death, environmental damage to our properties or the properties of others, delays in development or mining, monetary losses and possible legal liability.

Although we maintain insurance to protect against certain risks in amounts that we consider reasonable, our insurance will not cover all the potential risks associated with our operations. We may also be unable to maintain insurance to cover these risks at economically feasible premiums. Insurance coverage may not continue to be available or may not be adequate to cover any resulting liability. Moreover, insurance against risks such as environmental pollution or other hazards as a result of exploration and production is not generally available to us or to other companies in the mining industry on acceptable terms. We may also become subject to liability for pollution or other hazards which may not be insured against or which we may elect not to insure against because of premium costs or other reasons. Losses from these events may cause us to incur significant costs that could have a material adverse effect upon our financial performance, results of operations and business outlook.

We depend on a number of key personnel, including our directors and executive officers, the loss of any one of whom could have an adverse effect on our operations.

We depend on a number of key personnel, including our directors and executive officers, the loss of any one of whom could have an adverse effect on our operations. We have employment and consulting contracts with several key personnel, and we do not have key man life insurance.

Our ability to manage growth effectively will require us to continue to implement and improve management systems and to recruit and train new employees. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in attracting and retaining skilled and experienced personnel.

Our business is highly dependent on the international market prices of the metals we plan to produce, which are both cyclical and volatile.

Our revenues, if any, are expected to be in large part derived from the mining and sale of vanadium, silver, nickel, coal and other minerals. The prices of those commodities have fluctuated widely, particularly in recent years, and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control including international economic and political trends, expectations of inflation, currency exchange fluctuations, interest rates, global or regional consumption patterns, speculative activities and increased production due to new mine developments and improved mining and production methods.

The price of vanadium, silver and coal may have a significant influence on the market price of our securities and the value of our mineral properties. Mineral prices fluctuate widely and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control. The level of interest rates, the rate of inflation, the world supply of mineral commodities and the stability of exchange rates can all cause significant fluctuations in prices. Such external economic factors are in turn influenced by changes in international investment patterns, monetary systems and political developments. The price of mineral commodities has fluctuated widely in recent years, and future price declines could cause commercial production to be impracticable, thereby having a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and result of operations.

We may be subject to misconduct by third-party contractors.

We will be heavily reliant upon our contractors during the development of large scale projects. Companies are often measured and evaluated by the behavior and performance of their representatives, including in large part their contractors. We work hard to build in controls and mechanisms to choose and retain employees and contractors with similar values to our own; however, these controls may not always be effective. Sound judgment, safe work practices, and ethical behavior is expected from our contractors both on and off-site. Any work disruptions, labor disputes, regulatory breach or irresponsible behavior of our contractors could reflect on us poorly and could lead to loss of social license, delays in production and schedule, unsafe work practices and accidents and reputational harm.

 

Our business requires substantial capital expenditures and is subject to financing risks.

We estimate that our current financial resources are insufficient to undertake presently planned exploration and development programs. Further exploration and development of our mineral properties may require additional capital. One source of future funds presently available to us is through the sale of equity capital. There is no assurance that this source will continue to be available as required or at all. If it is available, future equity financings may result in substantial dilution to shareholders. Another alternative for the financing of further exploration and/or development would be the offering of an interest in our mineral properties to be earned by another party or parties carrying out further exploration or development thereof. There can be no assurance that we will be able to conclude any such agreements on favorable terms or at all.

Any failure to obtain the required financing on acceptable terms could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity and may require us to cancel or postpone planned capital investments.

Foreign Operations, Including Emerging and Developing Market Risk

Changes in mining, investment or other applicable policies or shifts in political attitude in Bolivia may adversely affect the Company’s operations or profitability and may affect the Company’s ability to fund its ongoing expenditures. Regardless of the economic viability of the Company’s properties, such political changes, which are beyond the Company’s control, could have a substantive impact and prevent or restrict (or adversely impact the financial results of) mining of some or all of any deposits on the Pulacayo Project.

Bolivia is a mining-friendly jurisdiction with a long history of mining and an experienced labour force. The majority of the Company’s operating costs in relation to Pulacayo Project are denominated in Bolivian boliviano. The Company has not hedged its exposure to any exchange rate fluctuations applicable to its business, and is therefore exposed to currency fluctuation risks. The Company’s operations are also subject to Bolivian regulations pertaining to environmental protection, the use and development of mineral properties and the acquisition or use of rural properties by foreign investors or Bolivian companies under foreign control and various other Bolivian regulatory frameworks, as described below.

The market for securities issued by companies with significant operations in Bolivia is influenced by economic and market conditions in Bolivia and, to varying degrees, market conditions in Canada, the United States and developing countries, especially other Latin American countries. Although economic conditions vary by country, the reaction of investors to developments in one country may cause fluctuations in the capital markets in other countries. Developments or adverse economic conditions in other countries, including developing countries, have at times significantly affected the availability of credit in the Bolivian economy and resulted in considerable outflows of funds and reduced foreign investment in Bolivia, as well as limited access to international capital markets, all of which may materially adversely affect The Company’s ability to borrow at acceptable interest rates or to raise equity capital when it needs to do so. In addition, a significant decline in the economic growth or demand for imports of any of Bolivia’s major trading partners could have a material adverse impact on Bolivia’s exports and balance of trade and adversely affect Bolivia’s economic growth.

In addition, because international investors’ reactions to the events occurring in one emerging market country sometimes produce a “contagion” effect, in which an entire region or class of investment is disfavored by international investors, Bolivia could be adversely affected by negative economic or financial developments in other countries.

The Company’s financial condition and results of any future operations may also be materially adversely affected by any of the following factors, as well as by the Bolivian government’s actions in response to them:

 

Uncertainty over whether the Bolivian federal government will implement changes in policy or regulation affecting these or other factors in the future may contribute to economic uncertainty in Bolivia and to heightened volatility in the market value of securities issued by Bolivian companies or companies with Bolivian assets. These and other future developments in the Bolivian economy and governmental policies may adversely affect the Company.

 

 

Political and Economic Risks in Bolivia

The Pulacayo Project and certain other projects of the Company are located in Bolivia. Regardless of recent progress in restructuring its political institutions and revitalizing its economy, Bolivia’s history since the mid-1960s has been one of political and economic instability under a variety of governments. Since 2006, the government has intervened in the national economy and social structure, including periodically imposing various controls, the effects of which have been to restrict the ability of both domestic and foreign companies to freely operate. Although the Company believes that the current conditions in Bolivia are relatively stable and conducive to conducting business, the Company’s current and future mineral exploration and mining activities in Bolivia are exposed to various levels of political, economic, and other risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, hostage taking, military repression, extreme fluctuations in currency exchange rates, high rates of inflation, political and labour unrest, civil unrest, expropriation and nationalization, renegotiation or nullification of existing concessions, licences, permits and contracts, illegal mining, changes in taxation policies, restrictions on foreign exchange and repatriation, changing political conditions, currency controls, and governmental regulations that favour or require the awarding of contracts to local contractors or require foreign contractors to employ citizens or purchase supplies from a particular jurisdiction.

There has been a significant level of social unrest in Bolivia in recent years resulting from a number of factors, including a high rate of unemployment. Protestors have previously targeted foreign firms in the mining sector, and as a result there is no assurance that future social unrest will not have an adverse impact on the Company’s operations. The Company’s exploration and development activities may be affected by changes in government, political instability, and the nature of various government regulations relating to the mining industry. Bolivia’s fiscal regime has historically been favourable to the mining industry, but there is a risk that this could change. In addition, labour in Bolivia is customarily unionized and there are risks that labour unrest or wage agreements may impact operations. The Company cannot predict the government’s positions on foreign investment, mining concessions, land tenure, environmental regulation, or taxation. A change in government positions on these issues could adversely affect the Company’s business and/or its holdings, assets, and operations in Bolivia. Any changes in regulations or shifts in political conditions are beyond the control of the Company. The Company’s operations in Bolivia entail significant governmental, economic, social, medical, and other risk factors common to all developing countries. The status of Bolivia as a developing country may also make it more difficult for the Company to obtain any required financing because of the investment risks associated with it. The level of social unrest in Bolivia has increased significantly following the failed general elections held on October 20, 2019.

The Company’s operations in Bolivia may be adversely affected by economic uncertainty characteristic of developing countries. Operations may be affected in varying degrees by government regulations with respect to restrictions on production, price controls, export controls, currency remittance, income taxes, expropriation of property, foreign investment, maintenance of claims, environmental legislation, land use, land claims of local people, water use, and safety factors. Any such changes could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations.

Currency fluctuation may affect our operations and financial stability.

We transact business in a number of currencies including Canadian, U.S., Bolivian and Mongolian currencies. Fluctuations in exchange rates may have a significant effect on our cash flows. Future changes in exchange rates could materially affect our results in either a positive or negative direction. We do not currently engage in foreign currency hedging activities.

We are subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery and anti-money laundering laws and regulations in Canada and the United States, among other countries. Any violations of any such laws or regulations could have a material adverse impact on our reputation and results of operations and financial condition.

We are subject to anti-corruption legislation including the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (Canada) and other similar acts (which we refer to collectively as “Anti- Corruption Legislation”), which prohibit us or any of our officers, directors, employees or agents or any of our stockholders acting on our behalf from paying, offering to pay or authorizing the payment of anything of value to any foreign government official, government staff member, political party or political candidate in an attempt to obtain or retain business or to otherwise influence a person working in an office capacity. Anti-Corruption Legislation also requires public companies to make and keep books and records that accurately and fairly reflect their transactions and to devise and maintain an adequate system of internal accounting controls. Our international activities create the risk of unauthorized payments or offers of payments by our employees, consultants or agents, even though they may not always be subject to our control. We have policies and procedures in place that strictly prohibit these practices by our employees and agents. However, our existing safeguards and any future improvements may prove to be less than effective, and our employees, consultants and agents may engage in conduct for which we may be held responsible. Any failure by us to adopt appropriate compliance procedures and to ensure that our employees and agents comply with Anti- Corruption Legislation and other applicable laws and regulations in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial penalties or restrictions on our ability to conduct our business, which may have a material adverse impact on us or our share price.

 

Our results and financial condition are affected by global and local market conditions that we do not control and cannot predict.

Access to financing has been negatively impacted by many factors as a result of the global financial crisis. This may impact our ability to obtain debt or equity financing in the future on terms favorable to us and our ability to attain strategic partnerships or enter into joint venture arrangements which may further negatively impact the timeline for commencement of commercial production. Additionally, global economic conditions may cause decreases in asset values that are deemed to be other than temporary, which may result in impairment losses. If such volatility and market turmoil continue, our business and financial condition could be adversely impacted.

Our insurance will not cover all the potential risks associated with a mining company’s operations.

Our insurance will not cover all the potential risks associated with a mining company’s operations. We may also be unable to maintain insurance to cover these risks at economically feasible premiums. Insurance coverage may not continue to be available or may not be adequate to cover any resulting liability. Moreover, insurance against risks such as environmental pollution or other hazards as a result of exploration and production is not generally available to us or to other companies in the mining industry on acceptable terms. We may also become subject to liability for pollution or other hazards which may not be insured against or which we may elect not to insure against because of premium costs or other reasons. Losses from these events may cause the Company to incur significant costs that could have a material adverse effect upon its financial condition and results of operations.

We have never paid any dividends and we are unlikely to do so in the foreseeable future.

To date, we have never paid any dividends on our outstanding Common Shares and we are unlikely to do so in the foreseeable future. Any decision to pay dividends on our Common Shares will be made by our Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee on the basis of our earnings, financial requirements and other conditions.

We engage in extensive related party transactions, which may result in conflicts of interest involving our management.

We have engaged in the past, and continue to engage, in extensive related party transactions involving certain of our management. See the discussion under the heading “Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions” for further detail. Such related party transactions could cause us to become materially dependent on the related parties in the ongoing conduct of our business, and related parties may be motivated by personal interests to pursue courses of action that are not necessarily in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders. Related party transactions often present conflicts of interest could result in disadvantages to the Company, and may impair investor confidence, all of which could materially and adversely affect us.

We rely on information technology systems and networks in our operations which are provided and maintained by third-party contractors.

We rely on information technology (“IT”) systems and networks in our operations which are provided and maintained by third-party contractors. The availability, capacity, reliability and security of these IT systems could be subject to network disruptions caused by a variety of malicious sources, including computer viruses, security breaches, cyber-attacks and theft, as well as network and/or hardware disruptions resulting from unexpected failures such as human error, software or hardware defects, natural disasters, fire, flood or power loss. Our operations also depend on the timely maintenance, upgrade and replacement of networks, equipment, IT systems and software, as well as pre-emptive expenses to mitigate the risks of failures.

The ability of the IT function to support our business in the event of any such failure and the ability to recover key systems from unexpected interruptions cannot be fully tested. There is a risk that if such an event were to occur, our response may not be adequate to immediately address all of the potential repercussions of the incident. In the event of a disaster affecting our head office, key systems may be unavailable for a number of days, leading to inability to perform some business processes in a timely manner. The failure of our IT systems or a component thereof could, depending on the nature, materially impact our financial condition, results of operations, reputation and share price.

Unauthorized access to our IT systems as a result of cyber-attacks could lead to exposure, corruption or loss of confidential information, and disruption to our communications, operations, business activities or our competitive position. Further, disruption of critical IT services, or breaches of information security, could expose us to financial losses and regulatory or legal action. Our risk and exposure to these matters cannot be fully mitigated because of, among other things, the evolving nature of these threats. As a result, cyber- security and the continued development and enhancement of controls, processes and practices designed to protect systems, computers, software, data and networks from attack, damage or unauthorized access remain a priority.

We apply technical and process controls in line with industry-accepted standards to protect information, assets and systems. Although these measures are robust, they cannot possibly prevent all types of cyber-threat. There is no assurance that we will not suffer losses associated with cyber-security breaches in the future, and we may be required to expend significant additional resources to investigate, mitigate and remediate any potential vulnerabilities. As cyber-threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend additional resources to continue to modify or enhance protective measures or to investigate and remediate any security vulnerabilities.

 

As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to file less information with the SEC than a company that is not a foreign private issuer or that files as a domestic issuer.

As a “foreign private issuer,” we are exempt from certain rules under the Exchange Act that impose disclosure requirements as well as procedural requirements for proxy solicitations under Section 14 of the Exchange Act. In addition, our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and “short-swing” profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Moreover, we are not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as a company that files as a domestic issuer whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act, nor are we generally required to comply with the SEC’s Regulation FD, which restricts the selective disclosure of material non-public information. For as long as we are a foreign private issuer we intend to file our annual financial statements on Form 20-F and furnish our quarterly financial statements on Form 6-K to the SEC for so long as we are subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(g) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. However, the information we file or furnish will not be the same as the information that is required in annual and quarterly reports on Form 10-K or Form 10-Q for U.S. domestic issuers. Accordingly, there may be less information publicly available concerning us than there is for a company that files as a domestic issuer.

We may lose our foreign private issuer status, which would then require us to comply with the Exchange Act’s domestic reporting regime and cause us to incur additional legal, accounting and other expenses.

We are required to determine our status as a foreign private issuer on an annual basis at the end of our second fiscal quarter. We will lose our current status as a foreign private issuer if (1) a majority of our Common Shares are directly or indirectly held of record by residents of the United States; and (2) either (a) a majority of our executive officers or directors are U.S. citizens or residents, or (b) more than 50 percent of our assets are located in the United States, or (c) our business is administered principally in the United States. If we lose this status, we would be required to comply with the Exchange Act reporting and other requirements applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, which are more detailed and extensive than the requirements for foreign private issuers. We may also be required to make changes in our corporate governance practices in accordance with various SEC rules. Further, we would be required to comply with United States generally accepted accounting principles, as opposed to IFRS, in the preparation and issuance of our financial statements for historical and current periods. The regulatory and compliance costs to us under U.S. securities laws if we are required to comply with the reporting requirements applicable to a U.S. domestic issuer may be higher than the cost we would incur as a foreign private issuer. As a result, we expect that a loss of foreign private issuer status would increase our legal and financial compliance costs.

As a Canadian incorporated and domiciled company, our financial statements are prepared using IFRS accounting principles which are different than the accounting principles under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

Our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS. IFRS is an internationally recognized body of accounting principles that are used by many companies outside of the United States to prepare their financial statements. IFRS accounting principles are different from those of U.S. GAAP. Investors who are not familiar with IFRS may misunderstand certain information presented in our financial statements. Accordingly, we suggest that readers of our financial statements familiarize themselves with the provisions of IFRS accounting principles in order to better understand the differences between these two sets of principles.

Because we are a Canadian company and the majority of our directors and officers are resident in Canada or countries other than the United States, it may be difficult for investors in the United States to enforce civil liabilities against us based solely upon the federal securities laws of the United States.

We are governed by the corporate legislation of British Columbia, where we amalgamated, and our principal place of business is in Canada. Our auditors and a majority of our directors and officers are residents of Canada or countries other than the United States. All or a substantial portion of our assets and those of such persons are located outside the United States. Consequently, it may be difficult for U.S. investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or our directors, officers and auditors who are not residents of the United States or to realize in the United States upon judgments of U.S. courts predicated upon civil liabilities under the Securities Act (as defined below). Investors should not assume that Canadian or other foreign courts: (1) would enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws or the securities or “blue sky” laws of any state within the United States or (2) would enforce, in original actions, liabilities against us or such persons predicated upon the U.S. federal securities laws or any such state securities or blue-sky laws.

We are an emerging growth company and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies may make our securities less attractive to investors and, as a result, adversely affect the price of our securities and result in a less active trading market for our securities.

We are an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. For example, we have elected to rely on an exemption from the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act relating to internal control over financial reporting, and we will not provide such an attestation from our auditors.

We may avail ourselves of these disclosure exemptions until we are no longer an emerging growth company. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because of our reliance on some or all of these exemptions. If investors find our securities less attractive, it may adversely impact the price of our securities and there may be a less active trading market for our securities.

 

We will cease to be an emerging growth company upon the earliest of:

 

The Company’s Passive Foreign Investment Company status has possible adverse tax consequences for U.S. investors.

Because the Company is an exploration stage company and its only material revenues consist of passive investment income on its cash investments, U.S. holders of Common Shares should be aware that the Company believes it was classified as a passive foreign investment company ("PFIC") during the tax year ended December 31, 2020, and based on current business plans and financial expectations, the Company anticipates that it should be a PFIC for the current tax year and may be a PFIC in future tax years. If the Company is a PFIC for any year during a U.S. shareholder’s holding period of the Common Shares, then such U.S. shareholder generally will be required to treat any gain realized upon a disposition of Common Shares, or any "excess distribution" received on its Common Shares, as ordinary income, and to pay an interest charge on a portion of such gain or distribution, unless the shareholder makes a timely and effective "qualified electing fund" election ("QEF Election") or a "mark-to-market" election with respect to the Common Shares.

A U.S. shareholder who makes a QEF Election generally must report on a current basis its share of the Company’s net capital gain and ordinary earnings for any year in which the Company is a PFIC, whether or not the Company distributes any amounts to its shareholders. However, U.S. shareholders should be aware that there can be no assurance that the Company will satisfy the record keeping requirements that apply to a qualified electing fund, or that the Company will supply U.S. shareholders with information that such U.S. shareholders require to report under the QEF Election rules, in the event that the Company is a PFIC and a U.S. shareholder wishes to make a QEF Election. Thus, U.S. shareholders may not be able to make a QEF Election with respect to their Common Shares. A U.S. shareholder who makes a mark-to-market election generally must include as ordinary income each year the excess of the fair market value of the Common Shares over the taxpayer’s adjusted tax basis therein. This paragraph is qualified in its entirety by the discussion below under the heading "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations." Each U.S. shareholder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the PFIC rules and the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of Common Shares.

The Company is an exploration stage company with projects in the United States, Canada, Bolivia and Mongolia. The Company, in its current form, is primarily the product of an April 16, 2010 business combination between Red Hill Energy Inc. and Prophecy Resource Corp. We are currently governed under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) ("BCBCA"). Our head and registered offices are located at Suite 1610 – 409 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 1T2, Telephone: 604-569-3661.

Red Hill Energy Inc. was incorporated on November 6, 1978 under the Corporations Act (British Columbia) under the name "Banbury Gold Mines Ltd." Banbury changed its name to "Enerwaste Minerals Corp." on July 3, 1992 and to "Universal Gun-Loc Industries Ltd." on December 17, 1993. On April 24, 2002, Universal Gun-Loc changed its name to "UGL Enterprises Ltd." and then to "Red Hill Energy Inc." on May 29, 2006.

On April 16, 2010, Red Hill Energy Inc. changed its name to "Prophecy Resource Corp." in conjunction with the merger of Red Hill Energy Inc. and Prophecy Resource Corp.

On June 13, 2011, the Prophecy Resource Corp. changed its name to "Prophecy Coal Corp." in connection with its amalgamation with Northern Platinum Ltd. and Prophecy Holdings Inc. and an asset spin-off to capitalize the Company’s then-controlled affiliate, Wellgreen Platinum Ltd.

On January 2, 2015, we completed, by way of a share purchase agreement, the acquisition of 100% of Apogee Silver Ltd.’s ("Apogee") interest in and to ASC Holdings Limited and ASC Bolivia LDC (which together, indirectly held through ASC Bolivia LDC Sucursal Bolivia, Apogee’s joint venture interest in the Pulacayo Project and Apogee Minerals Bolivia S.A. by paying to Apogee $250,000 in cash and issuing to Apogee 60 million Common Shares.

On January 5, 2015, Prophecy Coal Corp. changed its name to "Prophecy Development Corp." in connection with an acquisition of assets located in Bolivia and to better reflect its various interests in its mining and energy projects at the time in the United States, Canada, Bolivia and Mongolia.

 

On March 12, 2015, we entered into a credit facility (which, as amended, we refer to as the "Credit Facility") with Linx Partners Ltd. (which we refer to as "Linx"), a private company wholly-owned and controlled by John Lee, our Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman, and a member of our board of directors (which we refer to as the "Board"), in order to meet interim working capital requirements to fund our business operations and financial commitments. The Credit Facility was amended on May 5, 2015 and February 24, 2016. The Credit Facility was revolving and had a maximum principal amount available for advance of $2.5 million. The Credit Facility had a two-year term with an option to extend for any number of subsequent one-year terms subject to approval by the TSX and had a simple interest rate of 18% per annum. We closed out and terminated the Credit Facility on November 28, 2017.

On May 5, 2015, the Company, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Hill, entered into a purchase agreement with Khishig Arvin Industrial LLC, an arm’s-length party in Mongolia, to sell substantially all of our mining and transportation equipment at our Ulaan Ovoo Property for total proceeds of approximately $2.34 million. The sale, together with the sale of additional equipment to other arm’s-length parties, was completed in June 2015 and we received approximately $2.9 million in cash. In consideration for our receiving consent to the sales of the equipment from Linx, which held a general security interest over all of our property (including property indirectly held through our subsidiaries such as Red Hill), we issued the equivalent of 1,200,000 common share purchase warrants of the Company to Mr. Lee, the beneficial owner of Linx, exercisable at the equivalent of $0.50 per share for a period of five years expiring on May 22, 2020.

On September 1, 2015, we announced a non-brokered private placement involving the issuance of up to the equivalent of 4,000,000 units at a price of the equivalent of $0.50 per unit. Each unit consisted of one Common Share and one common share purchase warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire an additional Common Share at a price of the equivalent of $0.70 per share for a period of five years from the date of issuance. On September 30, 2015, we closed on a first cash tranche of the aforementioned private placement for gross cash proceeds of $556,000 through the issuance of the equivalent of 1,112,000 units. The remainder of this private placement was cancelled on November 4, 2015.

On November 12, 2015, we announced a non-brokered private placement involving the issuance of up to the equivalent of 2,500,000 units at a price of the equivalent of $0.40 per unit. Each unit consisted of one Common Share and one common share purchase warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire an additional Common Share at a price of the equivalent of $0.70 per share for a period of five years from the date of issuance. On November 13, 2015 we closed on a first tranche of the aforementioned private placement for gross cash proceeds of $250,000 through the issuance of the equivalent of 625,000 units. On December 18, 2015, we announced the closure of the aforementioned private placement with no further subscriptions.

On January 25, 2016, we completed a non-brokered private placement involving the issuance of the equivalent of 800,000 units at a price of the equivalent of $0.25 per unit, with each unit consisting of one Common Share and one common share purchase warrant at a price of the equivalent of $0.40 per share for a period of five years from the date of issuance.

On January 29, 2016, we voluntarily delisted our Common Shares from the OTCQX.

On March 30, 2016, we entered into a debt settlement agreement with Linx and Mr. Lee, the beneficial owner of Linx, pursuant to which, we agreed to issue the equivalent of 7,500,000 units to Mr. Lee, in satisfaction of $1,500,000 of indebtedness owed by us to Linx under the Credit Facility. Each unit consists of one Common Share and one common share purchase warrant at a price of the equivalent of $0.40 per share for a period of five years from the date of issuance. We issued the aforementioned equivalent of 7,500,000 units on June 6, 2016.

On June 7, 2016, we completed the 2016 Consolidation.

On August 29, 2016, we completed a non-brokered private placement involving the issuance of the equivalent of 2,027,350 units at a price of the equivalent of $0.38 per unit for gross proceeds of $770,393. Each unit consisted of one Common Share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant, with each full purchase warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price equivalent of $0.44 per share for a period of five years from the date of issuance.

On September 22, 2016, we sold our 60% interest in the Okeover, copper-molybdenum project located in British Columbia, Canada to Lorraine Copper Corp. (which we refer to as "Lorraine"). Under the terms of the agreement, Lorraine issued 2,200,000 Common Shares of Lorraine (valued at $0.08 per share) to us and assumed our $19,079 payment obligation to Eastfield Resources Ltd. under such parties’ existing joint venture agreement. We are additionally entitled to receive 30% of any payments or proceeds resulting from third party agreements related to the project entered into within five years of the date of the sale, up to a maximum amount of $1,000,000.

On January 13, 2017, we closed a non-brokered private placement involving the issuance of the equivalent of 499,990 units at a price of the equivalent of $0.30 per unit, with each unit consisting of one Common Share and one warrant to purchase one Common Share at a price of the equivalent of $0.40 per Common Share for a period of five years from the date of issuance.

On January 13, 2017, we entered into another debt settlement agreement with Linx and Mr. Lee, the beneficial owner of Linx, to settle most of the outstanding balance we owed to Linx under the Credit Facility. We agreed to issue the equivalent of 3,000,000 Common Shares of the Company to Mr. Lee, in satisfaction of $900,000 of indebtedness owed by us to Linx under the Credit Facility. Linx agreed to accrue and postpone the repayment of any principal, interest and fees due under the Credit Facility until the earlier of October 1, 2017, or such time as the Company is in a reasonable financial position to repay all or a portion of the amounts owing.

 

On February 10, 2017, we acquired the remaining 20% title interest held by Randsburg International Gold Corp. in the patented claims that comprise the Titan Project, and issued the equivalent of 200,000 Common Shares of the Company in consideration therefor.

On April 12, 2017, we closed a non-brokered private placement involving the issuance of the equivalent of 1,032,500 units at a price of the equivalent of $0.40 per unit, with each unit consisting of one Common Share and one warrant to purchase one Common Share at a price of the equivalent of $0.50 per Common Share for a period of five years from the date of issuance.

On June 22, 2017, we acquired through lease, the Gibellini Project, by paying USD$35,000 in cash to Janelle Dietrich, (whom we refer to as the “Gibellini Lessor”) with the intent to carry-out mining operations there. Under the mineral lease agreement, we agreed to lease the Gibellini mining claims by paying to the Gibellini Lessor, annual advance royalty payments which will be tied, based on an agreed formula (not to exceed USD$120,000 per year), to the average vanadium pentoxide price of the preceding year. Upon commencement of production, we intend to maintain our acquisition through lease of the Gibellini mining claims by paying to the Gibellini Lessor, a 2.5% net smelter return (which we refer to as “NSR”) until a total of USD$3 million is paid. Thereafter, the NSR will be reduced to 2% over the remaining life of the mine. All advance royalty payments made, will be deducted as credits against future production royalty payments. The lease is for a term of 10 years, which can be extended for an additional 10 years at our option. On April 23, 2018, we amended the mineral lease agreement to provide us with an option at any time during the term of the mineral lease agreement, to require the Gibellini Lessor to transfer her title over all of the leased Gibellini mining claims (excluding four claims which will be retained by the Gibellini Lessor and which contain minimal resources) to us in exchange for USD$1,000,000, to be paid as an advance royalty payment (we refer to this as the “Transfer Payment”). We received a credit of USD$99,027 towards the Transfer Payment upon signing of the amendment, with the remaining USD$900,973 portion of the Transfer Payment due and payable by us to the Gibellini Lessor upon completion of the transfer of the aforementioned claims from the Gibellini Lessor to us. The advance royalty obligation and production royalty will not be affected, reduced or relieved by the transfer of title.

On July 10, 2017, we acquired through lease, the Louie Hill group of claims in Nevada, USA, by paying USD$10,000 in cash to Richard A. McKay, Nancy M. Minoletti and Pamela S. Scutt (whom we refer to collectively as the “Louie Hill Lessors”) with the intent to carry out mining operations there. Under the mineral lease agreement, we will lease the Louie Hill group of claims by paying, to the Louie Hill Lessors, annual advance royalty payments which will be tied, based on an agreed formula (not to exceed USD$28,000 per year), to the average vanadium pentoxide price for the preceding year. Upon commencement of production, we intend to maintain our acquisition through lease of the Louie Hill group of claims by paying to the Louie Hill Lessors, a 2.5% NSR of which, 1.5% of the NSR may be purchased by us at any time for USD$1 million, leaving the total NSR to be reduced to 1% over the remaining life of the mine. All advance royalty payments made, will be deducted as credits against future production royalty payments. The lease is for a term of 10 years, which can be extended for an additional 10 years at our option.

On September 20 and October 16, 2017, we closed on the first and second tranches, respectively, of a non-brokered private placement, pursuant to which we issued a total of the equivalents of 7,845,460 units and 11,397,110 special warrants each, at a price of the equivalent of $0.35 per unit or special warrant. Each unit consisted of one Common Share and one-half of one share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price equivalent of $0.40 and is exercisable for a period of three years from the date of issuance. Each Special Warrant was to be exercisable for one unit at no additional cost to the holder provided TSX and shareholder approval for the issuance was obtained within a specified time. On December 18, 2017, all the special warrants were converted into units.

On December 5, 2017, we announced we had significantly expanded the land position at our Gibellini Project by staking 198 new claims immediately adjacent to the Gibellini Project covering 4091 acres sufficient to enable future vanadium mining, processing and extraction.

THREE YEAR HISTORY

Year Ended December 31, 2018

On February 15, 2018, we acquired an additional 105 unpatented lode mining claims located adjacent to our existing Gibellini Project, through the acquisition of 1104002 B.C. Ltd. and its Nevada subsidiary, by paying a total of $335,661 in cash, settling $14,338 in debt and issuing the equivalent of 500,000 common share purchase warrants to arm’s-length, private parties.

On February 27, 2018, we re-listed our Common Shares on the OTCQX, which began trading again under the symbol "PRPCF".

On April 23, 2018, we announced an amendment to the Gibellini mineral lease agreement dated June 22, 2017, whereby we were granted the option to cause the Gibellini Lessor to transfer title to substantially all of the applicable Gibellini mining claims to us in exchange for US$1,000,000, to be paid as an advance royalty payment.

On August 14, 2018, we closed the Company’s non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1,137,197 through the issuance of 4,061,417 units of the Company. Each unit is comprised of one Common Share and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at an exercise price of $0.40 for a period of three years from the closing of the first tranche of the placement.

On August 8, 2018, we completed the Forward Split.

On August 20, 2018, the Company secured water supply for the Gibellini Project’s construction and operation. The Company signed a 10-year water lease agreement (the "Gibellini Agreement") with the owner of a private ranch, located approximately 14.5 km from the Gibellini Project. The Gibellini Agreement can be extended for any number of additional 7-year terms, not to exceed (with the primary term) a total of 99 years. Per the terms of the Gibellini Agreement, the lessor has granted to the Company the rights to 805 acre-feet (approximately 262.4 million gallons) of water per year for the Gibellini Project, at a minimum flow rate of 500 gallons per minute from its year-round springs surface water stream.

On October 2, 2018, the Company signed a Memorandum of Agreement for voluntary cost recovery with the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (the "BLM"), Battle Mountain District office to expedite Gibellini Project permitting efforts. The Company and the BLM agreed in principal to a fixed cost structure that will have the Company reimburse the BLM for the cost of all anticipated work for the BLM to complete its review of the Company’s submission of mine plan of operations and any updates to existing baseline studies.

On November 22, 2018, we closed a bought deal financing previously announced on November 1, 2018, which raised gross proceeds of $5,520,000. The Company entered into an agreement for BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. to buy, on a bought deal basis, 12,000,000 Common Shares, at a price of $0.46 per share. The Common Shares were offered by way of a short form prospectus in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, except Québec. The Company incurred $560,576 in Common Share issuance costs.

On December 18, 2018, the Company announced that it selected M3 Engineering & Technology Corporation to provide engineering, procurement, construction and management services for its Gibellini Project in response to its Request for Proposal issued on August 15, 2018.

Year Ended December 31, 2019

On February 14, 2019, the Company announced that it had retained Amec Foster Wheeler E&C Services Inc. (Wood) to undertake updating of the mineral resource and mining section for the Company’s upcoming feasibility study to be completed to the standards of NI 43-101 of its Gibellini Project.

On March 18, 2019, the Company announced that the Ulaan Ovoo Property had started up. The Company also reported that it had executed a lease agreement with an arms-length private Mongolian company (the "Mongolian Lessee") whereby the Mongolian Lessee performs mining operations at the Company’s Ulaan Ovoo Property and will pay the Company $2 for every tonne of coal shipped from the Ulaan Ovoo site premises. The Mongolian Lessee is responsible for all capital and operating expenses, government taxes and royalties related to Ulaan Ovoo operation.

On March 26, 2019, the Company announced its vanadium assay results from its fall 2018 exploration reconnaissance program on the Gibellini Project. There were 155 assays taken from three prospective exploration areas which all were within 5 km to the existing Gibellini Project vanadium NI 43-101 compliant resource pit.

On May 1, 2019, the Company announced that it had received guidance regarding expected permitting timelines following the Company meeting with regulators in late April 2019. The Company estimated Q1 2020 as the target date for publication of the Notice of Intent ("NOI") to prepare an Environment Impact Statement ("EIS") in the Federal Register. Upon publication of the NOI the review process is mandated to be completed within a 12-month period under the US Department of the Interior’s Secretarial Order No. 3355. Based on this guidance, an EIS Record of Decision ("ROD") was expected no later than Q1 2021. Upon receipt of a positive ROD and issuance of Nevada State permits, the Company plans to start mine construction in 2021 and begin vanadium production by Q4 2022.

On May 27, 2019, the Company announced that its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") had been scheduled for September 12, 2019. Due to some recent changes in the Company’s Management, the AGM was delayed from being held within six months of its year end. TSX approval had been obtained to delay the Company’s AGM to September 12, 2019.

On June 19, 2019, the Company announced the appointment of a third party National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA") contractor and SWCA Environmental Consultants ("SWCA") to work under the direction of the BLM per the provisions of a Memorandum of Understanding between SWCA, BLM and the Company, to prepare the EIS for the and assist the BLM in the maintenance of the administrative record. The EIS was prepared pursuant to Secretarial Order 3355 in the Federal Register to BLM.

On July 8, 2019, the Company announced that it had submitted its updated Plan of Operations (the "POO") through the Company’s U.S. subsidiary for the Gibellini Project to the BLM and the Reclamation Permit Application to the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Mining Regulation and Reclamation (the "BMRR"). The POO was submitted on schedule and prepared under budget. The POO submission is the last major step before the publication of the NOI which will initiate the EIS process under the Secretary of Interior Order No. 3355 (Streamlining National Environmental Policy Reviews and Implementation of Executive Order 13807; see Company’s news release dated March 28, 2018 filed on SEDAR). The streamlined EIS process from NOI to the ROD is one year.

The Company further announced that a positive resolution was issued from the Mongolia city tax tribunal regarding the Company’s VAT dispute with the Mongolia tax office. The resolution, which is binding and final, affirmed the Company’s outstanding VAT credit of 1.169 billion MNT (USD$439,470 based on rate of 2,660 MNT to 1 USD$) which resulted from past mining equipment purchases. The VAT credit can be used to offset the Company’s taxes and royalty payments; or be refunded in cash by Mongolia’s Ministry of Finance within 12 to 24 months processing time. In addition, the Company also reported that it had successfully converted its Chandgana Khavtgai coal exploration license to a mining license in central Mongolia.

On July 19, 2019, the Company announced its objectives for the second half of 2019 for its Gibellini Project. The Company submitted the key Nevada state permit applications required for project construction by the end of the third quarter of 2019. It is anticipated that all approvals will be received by the third quarter of 2021.

 

On July 29, 2019, the Company the Company granted an aggregate of 1,685,000 incentive stock options to its directors, officer and employees of the Company. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.20 per share for a term of five years expiring on November 1, 2024 and vest at 12.5% per quarter for the first two years following the date of grant.

On August 19, 2019, the Company announced the formation of two wholly owned Canadian BC subsidiaries: Silver Elephant Mining Corp. (which subsequently changed its name to "Illumina Silver Mining Corp.") and Asia Mining Inc. in order to facilitate potential future spinoffs of the Company’s wholly owned Bolivian silver operation and Mongolian coal operation.

On August 26, 2019, the Company announced that it was undertaking a non-brokered private placement involving the issuance of 13 million Common Shares at a price of $0.20 per share to raise aggregate gross proceeds of $2,600,000 (the "August 2019 Placement"). The Company’s management and directors subscribed to 2 million Common Shares in the August 2019 Placement. These Common Shares were subject, under applicable Canadian securities laws, to a minimum hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issue.

On September 6, 2019, the Company closed the August 2019 Placement. The Placement raised gross cash proceeds of $2,600,000 through the issuance of 13,000,000 Common Shares at a price of $0.20 per share. The Company paid $10,000 in cash and issued 525,000 Common Shares as finder’s fees. Proceeds of the August 2019 Placement were used to develop the Company’s mineral projects and for general working capital purposes.

On September 24, 2019, the Company announced the successful completion of its internal reorganization. The Company further announced, subject to approval by the TSX, that it would issue 175,000 Common Shares, with a four-month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws, to Mr. Bryan Slusarchuk in exchange for consulting services to the Company.

On September 30, 2019, the Company announced a 5,000-meter diamond drilling at its Pulacayo Project had started with first set of assay results expected in early November, 2019.

On October 3, 2019, the Pulacayo Mining Production Contract ("Pulacayo MPC") was executed between the Company and the Corporación Minera de Bolivia ("COMIBOL"), a branch of the Bolivian Ministry of Mining and Metallurgy. Notification of the final government resolution approving the Pulacayo MPC was received on September 27, 2019. The Pulacayo MPC granted the Company the 100% exclusive right to develop and mine at the Pulacayo and Paca concessions for up to 30 years, which is comparable to a mining license in Canada or the United States. The Company’s Bolivian subsidiaries had spent $25 million on Pulacayo and Paca as of October 3, 2019 with over 80,000 meters of drilling, with a completed historic independent feasibility study, and an approved detailed environment impact assessment.

On October 7, 2019, the Company announced that it was undertaking a non-brokered private placement involving the issuance of 10 million Common Shares at a price of $0.40 per share (the "October 2019 Placement") to raise aggregate gross proceeds of $4,000,000.

On October 9, 2019, the Company issued 104,951 Common Shares at a value of $43,060 to its directors to settle outstanding director fees.

On October 21, 2019, the Company announced that it had closed the October 2019 Placement. The October 2019 Placement raised gross cash proceeds of $3,900,000 for Company through the issuance of 9,750,000 Common Shares at a price of $0.40 per share. Mr. Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation that is beneficially owned by him, acquired 5,000,000 Common Shares under the October 2019 Placement for a total consideration of $2,000,000. Following the completion of the private placement, Mr. Sprott’s holdings represented 9% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the time of the October 2019 Placement. Mr. Sprott beneficially owned 5,900,000 Common Shares in the Company prior to this investment. The Company’s management and directors purchased 0.4 million Common Shares for proceeds of $160,000. The Company issued 654,500 Common Shares as finder’s fees to Mackie Research Capital Corp. All Common Shares issued in the October 2019 Placement were subject to a four month and one day hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws. Proceeds were used for the Company’s mineral project exploration and for general working capital purposes.

On October 28, 2019, the Company announced the diamond drilling results from the Company’s 100% controlled Paca silver project in the Potosi department of Bolivia.

On November 1, 2019, the Company granted an aggregate of 1,680,000 incentive stock options to its directors, officer and employees of the Company. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.44 per share for a term of five years expiring on November 1, 2024 and vest at 12.5% per quarter for the first two years following the date of grant.

On November 7, 2019, the Company announced that it had submitted, through its wholly owned US subsidiary Nevada Vanadium, LLC ("Nevada Vanadium"), the applications and Engineering Design Reports for the primary mining permits that govern project construction, operations and closure for its Gibellini Project located in Eureka County, Nevada, U.S., to BLM and the Gibellini Project EIS contractor, SWCA. The permit applications were submitted on October 31, 2019 for the Water Pollution Control Permit and the Class II Air Quality Permit. These Nevada state permits have been developed to provide construction level engineering that supports the mine plan previously submitted to the BLM in the POO. Comments received from both the BLM and SWCA were used as guidance in the engineering design to ensure the State and Federal Permits are aligned and reflect the most current guidance provided by the Company, NDEP and BLM.

 

On December 4, 2019, the Company announced that it had received on November 18, 2019, the 18-page Resolution No. 195/2018 issued by the Supreme Court of Bolivia (the "2019 Resolution"), signed by all of its nine judges. It declared that the contentious tax claim of US$6,556,787 (US$816,769.54 income tax on alleged 2003 profits and US$5,740,017.81 in interests and penalties) brought by Bolivia’s General Revenue Authority against the Company’s Bolivian subsidiary was not proven. The 2019 Resolution is final and binding. Hence neither the Company nor the Company’s Bolivian subsidiaries owe any outstanding back taxes to the Bolivian General Revenue Authority.

On December 18, 2019, the Company announced that the phase two drilling had commenced at the Pulacayo Project. It is a 5,000-meter program that will consist mainly of wide step-out drilling up to 1.5km west of the current 43-101 Pulacayo resource. That current Pulacayo resource covers 1.4 km in strike and represents only a small portion of the Tajo vein system (the "TVS") which is over 3 km in strike and open to least 1,000 meters at depth, according to historical records of underground mining.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company experienced various changes in Directors, Officers and Management of the Company as follows:

 

Year Ended December 31, 2020

On January 8, 2020, the Company announced the following:

 

On January 21, 2020, the Company provided its first step-out diamond drilling results from its 100%-controlled Pulacayo Project.

 

On March 6, 2020, the Company provided its 2,598-meter, 16-hole Pulacayo step out drill program from its 100%-controlled Pulacayo Project.

On March 9, 2020, the Company commenced its district exploration program at its Pulacayo Project.

On March 16, 2020, the Company held the special meeting of the shareholders where it received shareholder approval of the Name Change and the 2020 Consolidation and ratification of the 1,275,000 stock options granted under the Share-Based Compensation Plan.

 

 

On March 16, 2020, the Company amended its articles of incorporation and changed its name to "Silver Elephant Mining Corp."

On March 19, 2020, the Company changed its symbol on the TSX from PCY to "ELEF".

On March 23, 2020, the Company changed its symbol on the OTCQX from PRPCF to "SILEF".

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus COVID-19 a global pandemic. This contagious disease outbreak, which has continued to spread, and any related adverse public health developments, has adversely affected workforces, economies, and financial markets globally, potentially leading to an economic downturn. It is not possible for the Company to predict the duration or magnitude of the adverse results of the outbreak and its effects on the Company’s business or results of operations at this time.

The Company has implemented preventative measures across its offices and operations in order to safeguard the health of its employees, while continuing to operate safely and responsibly maintain employment and economic activity. All of the Company’s corporate offices have been closed and remote work implemented for all employees able to do so. Other measures being put into place at the Company’s operations include:

 

On April 15, 2020, the Company announced a non-brokered private placement (the "April 2020 Placement") involving the issuance of up to 14 million units (each a "Unit") at a price of $0.13 per Unit. Each Unit consisted of one Common Share and one common share purchase warrant, each entitling the holder to acquire an additional Common Share at a price of $0.16 per share for a period of three years from the date of issuance.

On May 1, 2020, the Company closed the first tranche of the April 2020 Placement. The first tranche raised gross proceeds of $1,330,940 through the issuance of 10,238,000 Units.

On May 4, 2020, the Company granted an aggregate of 3,000,000 incentive stock options to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company. These options are exercisable at a price of $0.22 per share for a term of five years expiring on May 4, 2025, and vest at 12.5% per quarter for the first two years following the date of grant.

On May 20, 2020, the Company closed the second and final tranche of the April 2020 Placement for $1,976,000 through the issuance of 15,200,000 Units. The Company paid $3,250 in cash and issued 156,900 Units as finder’s fee.

On July 7, 2020, the Company reported that all proposed resolutions put forth to the shareholders were approved at the Company’s Annual General and Special Meeting held on July 7, 2020. The Company had previously received conditional approval from the TSX to amend the exercise price of an aggregate of 24,318,927 previously issued common share purchase warrants with an exercise price from between $0.40 to $0.70 (the "Original Warrants") of the Company to an exercise price of $0.26 per share (the "Amendment") pending shareholder approval of the Amendment. Pursuant to the passing of the ordinary resolution approving the Amendment, the Original Warrants were cancelled and replaced with amended common share purchase warrants with an exercise price of $0.26 per share (the "Amended Warrants"), with the Amendment becoming effective as of July 17, 2020. All other terms of the Amended Warrants were unchanged from the Original Warrants.

On July 13, 2020, the Company announced that it had entered into a binding sales and purchase agreement (the "Triunfo SPA") with a private party to acquire the El Triunfo Gold-Silver-Lead-Zinc Project in La Paz District, Bolivia (the "Triunfo Project"). Subject to the provisions of the Triunfo SPA, the vendor agreed to sell, assign, and transfer to the Company, and the Company agreed to purchase from the vendor, the mining rights of the Triunfo Project upon the Company paying the vendor the sum of US$1,100,000, consisting of US$100,000 paid on execution of the Triunfo SPA, and US$1,000,000 to be paid on or before June 15, 2025.

On July 16, 2020, the Company announced that the NOI to prepare an the EIS for the Gibellini Project was published on July 14, 2020, in the Federal Register. The NOI formally commenced the 12-month timeline to complete the NEPA review and the EIS preparation by the BLM.

On July 20, 2020, the Company announced it had engaged Mercator Geological Services Limited ("Mercator") to prepare an updated NI 43-101 compliant technical report for the Pulacayo Project. The Company further announced the departure of Michael Doolin, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer. John Lee was subsequently appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

On August 3, 2020, the Company announced the appointment of David H. Smith as an Independent Director and the resignation of Ronald Clayton from the Company’s board of directors.

 

On August 11, 2020, the Company announced diamond infill drilling results from the Pulacayo Project which demonstrated broad continuity of mineralization and grade starting from near-surface, consistent with historic Hochschild mining records, which indicated high grade mineralization with increasing depth to more than 1,000 meters from surface.

On August 18, 2020, the Company granted an aggregate of 720,000 incentive stock options to a director, employee and consultant of the Company. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.50 per share for a term of five years expiring on August 17, 2025, and vest at 12.5% per quarter for the first two years following the date of grant.

On August 24, 2020, the Company announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Nevada Vanadium, entered into a binding definitive Asset Purchase Agreement (the "Bisoni APA") with CellCube Energy Storage Systems Inc. ("CellCube") to acquire the Bisoni vanadium project (the "Bisoni Project") situated immediately southwest of the Gibellini Project.

On August 19, 2020, the Company announced that it had received its first chip sampling results on the Triunfo Project. A total of 103 chip samples were collected from outcrops at surface and from underground adits and tunnels accessing the main east-west mineralized trend. The width of the samples varies from 1.0 to 5.3m, exhibiting an average width of 2.5m. 37 Triunfo samples assayed up to 8.3 g/t AuEg. These results confirmed the Triunfo Project exhibits near-surface Au-Ag-Pb-Zn mineralization.

On September 8, 2020, the Company announced that it had entered into a binding sales and purchase agreement (the "Sunawayo SPA") with a private party to acquire the Sunawayo silver-lead mining project (the "Sunawayo Project") located immediately adjacent to the Malku Khota silver project in Bolivia. Subject to the provisions of the Sunawayo SPA, the vendor of the Sunawayo Project agreed to irrevocably transfer the mining rights of the Sunawayo Project to the Company for consideration of US$6,500,000, which payment consists of US$300,000 paid on execution of the Sunawayo SPA, with the remaining US$6,200,000 to be paid in cash over a one-year period in twelve equal monthly installments, starting March 1, 2021.

On September 18, 2020, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Nevada Vanadium completed the acquisition of the Bisoni Project pursuant to the Bisoni APA. The Bisoni Project is comprised of 201 lode mining claims, along a 13.8 kilometer strike that covers an area of 16.5 square kilometers (1,656 hectares), easily accessed by a graded gravel road extending south from US Highway 50, and is about 25 miles south of the town of Eureka, Nevada. As consideration for the acquisition of the Bisoni Project under the Bisoni APA, the Company issued 4 million Common Shares (the "Bisoni APA Shares") and paid $200,000 cash to CellCube. The Bisoni APA Shares were subject to a Canadian statutory four month hold period that expired on January 19, 2021. Additionally, subject to TSX approval, if, on or before December 31, 2023, the price of European vanadium pentoxide on the Metal Bulletin (or an equivalent publication) exceeds US$12 a pound for 30 consecutive days, the Company will issue to CellCube additional Common Shares with a value of $500,000, calculated based upon the 5 day volume weighted average price of the Common Shares immediately following the satisfaction of the vanadium pentoxide pricing condition.

On September 28, 2020, the Company announced that all of the initial forty-eight chip and grab samples collected from surface outcrops and adits at the Sunawayo Project returned anomalous Ag-Pb assayed values. Ten of the assayed samples contain either over 100g/t silver or 10% lead or both. The results exceeded the Company’s expectations and are an early indication of the potential for mineral discoveries at the Sunawayo Project. The Company is mobilizing to start geological and structural mapping to ascertain the primary controls and trends for mineralization at the Sunawayo Project. This work will lay the foundation for defining drill targets by year’s end.

On October 13, 2020, the Company announced the results of an NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate for the Pulacayo Project prepared by Mercator. This mineral resource estimate has an effective date of October 13, 2020, and includes an indicated mineral resource of 106.7 million oz of silver, 1,384.7 million pounds of zinc, and 693.9 million pounds of lead, and an inferred mineral resource of 13.1 million oz of silver, 122.8 million pounds of zinc and 61.9 million pounds of lead.

On October 21, 2020, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement with Mackie Research Capital Corporation, as lead underwriter and sole bookrunner (the "Lead Underwriter"), on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters, including Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Sprott Capital Partners LP (collectively with the Lead Underwriter, the "Underwriters"), pursuant to which the Underwriters agreed to purchase, on a bought‐deal basis, 15,000,000 Common Shares at a price of $0.40 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $6,000,000 (the "2020 Prospectus Offering"). The Company also granted the Underwriters an option (the "Over-Allotment Option") to increase the size of the 2020 Prospectus Offering by up to 15%, at any time up to 30 days following the closing of the Offering. The Common Shares were offered by way of a short form prospectus filed in each province of Canada, other than Québec pursuant to National Instrument 44-101 – Short Form Prospectus Distributions.

On October 21, 2020, the Company announced that it had entered into an amended agreement with the Lead Underwriter to increase the size of the 2020 Prospectus Offering to 20,000,000 Common Shares at a price of $0.40 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $8,000,000. All other terms of the 2020 Prospectus Offering remained unchanged.

On November 17, 2020, the Company filed an NI 43-101 compliant technical report titled "Mineral Resource Estimate Technical Report for the Pulacayo Project, Potosí Department, Antonnio Quijarro Province, Bolivia", prepared by Matthew Harrington, P. Geo, Michael Cullen, P. Geo, and Osvaldo Arcé, P. Geo, of Mercator, with an amended report date of November 12, 2020, and an effective date of October 13, 2020 (the "Pulacayo Technical Report"), with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The Pulacayo Technical Report is available under the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. On November 17, 2020, the Company also filed its final short form prospectus with the securities commissions in each of the provinces of Canada, other than Québec, in connection with the 2020 Prospectus Offering and on November 24, 2020, the Company announced the closing of the 2020 Prospectus Offering, pursuant to which the Company issued 23,000,000 Common Shares at a price of $0.40 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $9,200,000, including the full exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.

 

On November 25, 2020, the Company announced that it had received the complete assay results from the Company’s first diamond drill program at the Triunfo Project. Borehole TR007 intercepted 48.9 meters of mineralization grading 0.42 g/t gold, 35.5 g/t silver, 1.17% zinc, and 0.83% lead (1.45 g/t AuEq) within 98.9 meters of mineralization grading 1.04 g/t AgEq starting 13.0 meters downhole.

On November 30, 2020, the Company announced that it had received the complete assay results from the Company’s diamond drill program at the Paca silver-lead-zinc deposit ("Paca") in Bolivia. Reported widths are intercepted core lengths and not true widths, as relationships with intercepted structures and contacts vary. Based on core-angle measurements, true widths range from 77% to 86% of the reported core length. PND 114, 115, 118 drilled tested oblique structures parallel to the main east-west trend and discovered new mineralized zones. PND 114 intersected 16.5 meters of mineralization grading 55g/t silver equivalent that is to the north of the Paca north zone. PND 115 intercepted 66 meters of mineralization grading 75g/t silver equivalent between Paca main zone and Paca north zone, which are 250 meters apart. PND 118 was drilled at the eastern edge of the Paca main zone and intersected 112 meters of mineralization grading 50 g/t silver equivalent.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company experienced the following changes in Directors, Officers and Management:

 

Subsequent Events to December 31, 2020

 

On January 21, 2021, the Company announced that a 2,300 meter drilling program had commenced at its Sunawayo Project. Since that time the Company has collected over 900 samples along an 8 km strike length. Over 86% of those samples returned silver assay results grading from 1 g/t to 458 g/t. A total of 15 drillholes have been planned over a span of 3km to test potential mineralized structures at the Caballo Uma and Pujiuni targets at the Sunawayo Project. The Company completed the drill first hole while continuing its mapping and sampling program at the Sunawayo Project, which spans 17km totaling an area of 59.5 km2.

On January 21, 2021, the Company announced that it had completed a 940 meter diamond drilling program at the Pero target within the Pulacayo Project.

On January 22, 2021, the Company announced that it had entered into a binding definitive Asset Purchase Agreement (the "Minago APA") with Victory Nickel Inc. ("Victory Nickel") to acquire the Minago Nickel Project located in the Thompson nickel belt ("TNB") in Manitoba, Canada (the "Minago Project"). The summary of the proposed transaction is as follows:

 

The US$6,675,000 Property Payment was made at closing in the form of a credit in the favour of Victory Nickel of US$6,675,000 against an aggregate of approximately US$12,056,307 owed by Victory Nickel pursuant to a Secured Debt Facility ("SDF"). The current SDF creditor and the Company entered into arm-length definitive Debt Purchase and Assignment Agreement ("DPAA"), whereby the SDF creditor sold and assigned the SDF to the Company for US$6,675,000. Under the Minago APA, the Company agreed to further credit the remaining balance under the SDF to Victory Nickel’s benefit, upon the completion of an independent economic study proving positive net present value being prepared in respect of the Minago Project in the future after closing. The Company also granted Victory Nickel a right of first refusal until December 31, 2023 to exploit the sandstone (non-nickel bearing sulphides) resources for frac sand extraction at the Minago Project. The Consideration Shares will be issued in three tranches as follows: US$2,000,000 worth of Consideration Shares at Closing; a further US$2,000,000 worth of Consideration Shares on or before August 31, 2021, and a further US$1,000,000 worth of Consideration Shares on or before December 31, 2021. Closing was subject to customary closing conditions, including the final approval of the TSX and the Canada Stock Exchange ("CSE").

On January 27, 2021, the Company announced the initial drill results from the Pero discovery within the Pulacayo Project.

On January 28, 2021, the Company announced that it had been named to the 2021 OTCQX® Best 50, a ranking of top performing companies traded on the OTCQX Best Market in 2020.

On February 1, 2021, the Company announced a non-brokered private placement (the "February 2021 Placement") involving the issuance of up to 10 million Common Shares at a price of $0.375 per share to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to $3,750,000.

 

On February 5, 2021, the Company announced that it had closed the 2021 February Placement. The 2021 February Placement raised gross cash proceeds of $3,750,000 through the issuance of 10,000,001 Common Shares at a price of $0.375 per share. The Company paid $73,875 in cash as finder’s fees. The Common Shares are subject to a four month and one day hold period. Proceeds of the 2021 February Placement are expected to be used for exploration, working capital and general corporate purposes which may include project evaluations and acquisitions.

On February 10, 2021, the Company announced that further to its press release dated January 22, 2021, it had completed the acquisition of the Minago Project. Under the terms of the Minago APA the Company acquired the Minago Project for aggregate consideration of US$11,675,000, which consisted of a Property Payment of US$6,675,000 pursuant to the SDF and US$5,000,000 worth of the Consideration Shares to be issued to Victory Nickel over a 1-year period. An initial tranche of 5,363,630 Consideration Shares were issued on February 9, 2021, a further US$2,000,000 worth of Consideration Shares will be issued on or before August 31, 2021, and a further US$1,000,000 worth of Consideration Shares on or before December 31, 2021, at such time as may be determined at the sole option of the Company. All Consideration Shares are subject to 4-month plus 1-day statutory hold period. The Property Payment was a credit in favour of Victory Nickel against an aggregate of approximately US$12,056,307 owed by Victory Nickel pursuant to the SDF.

Immediately prior to acquiring the Minago Project, the Company acquired the SDF for US$6,675,000 in cash and 3 million common share purchase warrants of the Company, each exercisable until February 8, 2023 at an exercise price of $0.4764 from an arms-length party pursuant to the DPAA. The SDF has been restructured to bear zero percent interest and to expire on February 8, 2026, which will automatically be extended in 5-year increments. The Company will credit the remaining balance under the SDF to Victory Nickel’s benefit, upon completion of an independent economic study proving positive net present value in respect of the Minago Project during the term of the SDF. The Company also agreed to reimburse up to $200,000 of financial advisory services rendered by Red Cloud Securities Inc. as disclosed in a news release dated October 30, 2020 issued by Victory Nickel.

The Company further subscribed to 40,000,000 VN Shares at a price of $0.025 per VN Share, for cash consideration of $1,000,000, which resulted in the Company owning approximately 29% of Victory Nickel post-investment on a non-diluted basis. Each VN Share is subject to 4-month plus 1-day statutory hold period. Additionally, the Company agreed to issue to Victory Nickel $2,000,000 of the Common Shares, upon the price of nickel exceeding US$10 per pound for 30 consecutive business days, at any time before December 31, 2023. The Company also granted Victory Nickel the right of first refusal exercisable until December 31, 2023 with respect to the exploration of the sandstone (non-nickel bearing sulphides) resources for frac sand extraction at the Minago Project.

On January 27, 2021, the Company announced that the first ever drill hole at the Sunawayo Project has intercepted 137 meters of mineralization grading 36 g/t silver, starting from 0 meters-depth.

The Company has not made any capital divestitures during the past three fiscal years.

Currently, we do not have operating revenues, and we do not anticipate generating operating revenues during the fiscal year 2021. Our primary source of funds since inception has been through the issuance of equity securities. At December 31, 2020, the Company had cash flow of $7.6 million (2019 - $3 million; 2018 - $5.3 million) representing an increase of $4.6 million from $3 million held at December 31, 2019. The Company’s working capital at December 31, 2020 was a surplus of $6 million (2019 - $0.95 million; 2018 - $3.8 million). We will continue to seek capital through the issuance of equity, strategic alliances or joint ventures, and debt, of which the Company currently has none.

The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at: http://www.sec.gov.

The Company is a mineral exploration stage company. The Company’s principal projects are the Pulacayo Project located in Bolivia and the Gibellini vanadium project, which is comprised of the Gibellini and Louie Hill vanadium deposits and associated claims located in the State of Nevada, USA (the "Gibellini Project").

The Pulacayo Project comprises seven mining areas covering an area of approximately 3,560 hectares of contiguous areas centered on the historical Pulacayo mine and town site. The Pulacayo Project is located 18 km east of the town of Uyuni in the Department of Potosí, in southwestern Bolivia. It is located 460 km south-southeast of the national capital of La Paz and 150 km southwest of the City of Potosí, which is the administrative capital of the department. The Pulacayo Project is fully permitted with secured social licenses for mining.

The Pulacayo Project mining rights are recognized by two legally independent contractual arrangements, one covering all, except Apuradita from the Pulacayo MPC between the Company and COMIBOL, a Bolivian state mining company, and the original holder of the rights, executed on October 3, 2019. The Pulacayo MPC grants the Company the 100% exclusive right to develop and mine at the Pulacayo and Paca concessions for up to 30 years against certain royalty payments. It is comparable to a mining license in Canada or the United States. In connection with Apuradita, its rights are covered by a second contractual arrangement, with the Bolivian Jurisdictional Mining Authority, acting for the State, which is in process of formalization, as a mean of recognition of the acquired rights to what was originally the mining concession. Until such time as the contract is formalized, all mining rights, as recognized in the Bolivian Mining Law 535, can be exercised by the holder of the ex-concession.

 

The Company also currently holds, through leasehold assignments, a 100% interest in the claims comprising the Gibellini Project, which the Company aims to make the first operating primary vanadium mine in North America, as well as a 100% interest in the Titan vanadium-titanium-iron property located in Ontario, Canada; a 100% interest in the Ulaan Ovoo coal property located in Selenge province, Mongolia; and a 100% interest in each of the Chandgana Tal coal property and the Khavtgai Uul coal property located in Khentii province, Mongolia. The Company also holds the land use right and construction license for the Chandgana 600MW Coal-Fired Mine Mouth Power Plant project located in Khentii province, Mongolia.

Principal Products, Markets and Marketing

At the moment, we are not in production and we do not produce any products or minerals. Based on the projects that we are developing, our possible future products may include, but will not be limited to, raw thermal coal, zinc-silver concentrate, lead-silver concentrate, nickel concentrate and vanadium pentoxide product.

We are working to bring the Gibellini Project into production as soon as possible in order to address the supply-demand gap for vanadium projected to 2023. The projected demand is largely driven by environmental-related actions by the Chinese government which is intensified by increasing demand for vanadium redox flow storage batteries. The supply-demand gap will affect all uses of vanadium including steel manufacture, high tech applications and large capacity vanadium redox flow batteries.

Our marketing efforts have mostly been in assessing the reasons and sources of demand, but we have also conducted concept-level negotiations for supplying vanadium from the Gibellini Project to traders and battery manufacturers. As the Gibellini Project develops and more reliable information concerning timing, volume and quality become available, we will increase our marketing efforts. We will be primarily competing with other mining projects that produce raw thermal coal, zinc-silver concentrate, lead-silver concentrate and vanadium pentoxide. Our possible principle markets for vanadium pentoxide product may be Europe and/or China. Below are the 3-year historical industry pricing charts, USD$ per lb., for the vanadium pentoxide flake, minimum 98% vanadium pentoxide content, delivered in China and Europe.

International mineral commodity pricing is generally established in US dollars and the competitive positioning between producers can be significantly affected by fluctuations in exchange rates. The competitiveness of mineral producers is significantly determined by the grade or quality of the deposit, production costs and transportation costs relative to other producers. Such costs are largely influenced by the location and nature of mineral deposits, mining and processing costs, transportation and port costs, currency exchange rates, operating and management skills, and differing taxation systems between countries.

Seasonality

The mining business is subject to mineral commodities price cycles. If the global economy stalls and commodity prices decline, as a consequence, a continuing period of lower prices could significantly affect the economic potential of our properties and result in us determining to cease work on or drop our interest in, some or all of our properties.

Sources and Availability of Raw Materials

All of the raw materials we require to carry on our business are available through normal supply or business contracting channels.

 

Economic Dependence

Our business is not substantially dependent on any one contract such as a property option agreement or a contract to sell the major part of our output.

Government Regulations

Our exploration and future development activities are subject to various national, state, provincial and local laws and regulations in the Unites States, Bolivia, Canada and Mongolia, which govern prospecting, development, mining, production, exports, taxes, labor standards, occupational health, waste disposal, protection of the environment, mine safety, hazardous substances and other matters.

Mining and exploration activities at our properties in North America are subject to various laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, such as the General Mining Law, U.S. federal Clean Water Act and the Nevada Water Pollution Control Law, both of which we discuss under the heading “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report. Although, we intend to comply with all existing environmental and mining laws and regulations, no assurance can be given that we will be in compliance with all applicable regulations or that new rules and regulations will not be enacted or that existing rules and regulations will not be applied in a manner that could limit or curtail development of our properties. Amendments to current laws and regulations governing exploration and development or more stringent implementation thereof could have a material adverse effect on our business and cause increases in exploration expenses or require delays or abandonment in the development of mining properties. In addition, we are required to expend significant resources to comply with numerous corporate governance and disclosure regulations and requirements adopted by U.S. federal and Canadian federal and provincial governments. These additional compliance costs and related diversion of the attention of management and key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Except as described in this Annual Report, we believe that we are in compliance in all material respects with applicable mining, health, safety and environmental statutes and regulations.

For a more detailed discussion of the various government laws and regulations in the United States applicable to our operations and the potential negative effects of such laws and regulations, see the section “Item 3.D. Risk Factors.”

The chart below illustrates the inter-corporate relationships among us and our subsidiaries, the percentage of voting securities of such subsidiaries owned by us, and each subsidiary’s jurisdiction of incorporation as of the date of this Annual Report.

 

We hold mining and energy properties and projects through the Company and the following subsidiaries:

Subsidiary	Mining Properties and Projects
Nevada Vanadium LLC	Holds the Gibellini Project, which is comprised of Gibellini and Louie Hill deposits by 209 Nevada Vanadium claims and 40 "Deitrich" claims under the Deitrich Lease Agreement as amended on April 19, 2018 as well as the historic Bisoni deposit (201 lode claims). Nevada Vanadium owns 450 Gibellini claims and 100% interest of the Bisoni deposit claims in Nevada, USA.
VC Exploration (US) Inc.	Holds a 100% interest in 105 unpatented lode mining claims that comprise a portion of the Gibellini Project in Nevada, USA.
Silver Elephant Mining Corp.	Holds a 100% interest in the Titan vanadium-titanium-iron property located in the Province of Ontario, Canada.
Silver Elephant Mining Corp.	Holds a 100% interest in 94 mineral claims and 2 mining leases covering 197 square kilometers located in the Province of Manitoba, Canada.
Red Hill Mongolia LLC	Holds a 100% interest in the Ulaan Ovoo Property located in Selenge Province, Mongolia.
Chandgana Coal LLC	Holds a 100% interest in the Chandgana Tal coal property and Khavtgai Uul Property located in Khentii province, Mongolia. We refer to the Chandgana Tal coal property and the Khavtgai Uul Property collectively as the "Chandgana Project."
Prophecy Power Generation LLC	Holds the land use right and construction license for the Chandgana Project planned in Khentii province, Mongolia.
ASC Bolivia LDC Sucursal Bolivia	Holds a 100% exclusive right to develop and mine at the Pulacayo and Paca concessions for up to 30 years against certain royalty payments. Rights include "Temeridad" and "Real De Monte" concessions at Paca and are administered by COMIBOL and thus are part of the Pulacayo MPC.
Illumina Silver Mining Corp.	Holds the Triunfo SPA to acquire the El Triunfo Gold-Silver-Lead-Zinc Project in La Paz District, Bolivia. Subject to the provisions of the Triunfo SPA, the vendor irrevocably agreed to sell, assign, and transfer to the Company, and the Company agreed to purchase from the vendor, the mining rights of the Triunfo Project upon the Company paying the vendor the sum of USD$1,100,000, consisting of USD$100,000 on Triunfo SPA signing (paid), and USD$1,000,000 on or before June 15, 2025.
Illumina Silver Mining Corp.	Holds the Sunawayo SPA to acquire the Sunawayo Project. The Sunawayo Project is patented land which the Company has acquired through the Sunawayo SPA, whereas the adjacent Malku Khota silver project in Bolivia is unpatented land administered by COMIBOL. In January 2020, the Company applied for a mining production contract with COMIBOL that would give it the rights to mine and explore Malku Khota. The application was received by COMIBOL and is under review.

 

General

Currently, we consider only the Gibellini Project and the Pulacayo to be material. We do not currently consider the interests the Company holds in its other projects to be material.

Portions of the following excerpts are based on the assumptions, qualifications and procedures set forth in the respective technical reports which, while not fully described herein, have been filed on SEDAR (available at www.sedar.ca) and EDGAR (www.sec.gov).

Please refer to the discussion under the heading “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” at the beginning of this Annual Report for important information concerning certain mining terms and descriptions of our mineral deposits used or contained in this section.

 

 

PULACAYO PROJECT, BOLIVIA

The scientific and technical information in this section of this Annual Report that specifically relates to the current Pulacayo Project mineral resource estimates for the Pulacayo and Paca deposits has been extracted or summarized from the Pulacayo Technical Report. The Pulacayo Technical Report was prepared by Matthew Harrington, P.Geo., of Mercator Geological Services Limited, Michael Cullen, P.Geo. of Mercator Geological Services Limited and Osvaldo Arce, Ph.D., P. Geo., Independent Consultant. Additional information presented below that pertains to the Pulacayo Project but does not specifically appear in the Pulacayo Technical Report has been provided by the Company. The Pulacayo Technical Report has been filed under the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.SEDAR.com.

The discussion below includes the Pulacayo and Paca silver-lead-zinc deposits and related concessions located in Bolivia (the "Pulacayo Project").

The Pulacayo Project comprises seven mining areas covering an area of approximately 3,560 hectares of contiguous areas centered on the historical Pulacayo mine and town site. The Pulacayo Project is located 18 km east of the town of Uyuni in the Department of Potosí, in southwestern Bolivia. It is located 460 km south-southeast of the national capital of La Paz and 150 km southwest of the City of Potosí, which is the administrative capital of the department. The Pulacayo Project is fully permitted with secured social licenses for mining.

On January 2, 2015, pursuant to the terms of the acquisition agreement entered into between the Company and Apogee Silver Ltd. the Company acquired the Pulacayo Project through the acquisition of the issued and outstanding shares of ASC Holdings Limited and ASC Bolivia LDC, which together, hold the issued and outstanding shares of ASC Bolivia LDC Sucursal Bolivia. ASC Bolivia LDC Sucursal Bolivia controls the mining rights to the concessions through a separate joint venture agreement with the Pulacayo Ltda. Mining Cooperative (the "Pulacayo Mining Cooperative") who hold the mining rights through a lease agreement with state owned Mining Corporation of Bolivia, COMIBOL.

The Pulacayo Project mining rights are recognized by two legally independent contractual arrangements, one covering all, except Apuradita from the Pulacayo MPC between the Company and COMIBOL, a Bolivian state mining company, and the original holder of the rights, executed on October 3, 2019. The Pulacayo MPC grants the Company the 100% exclusive right to develop and mine at the Pulacayo and Paca concessions for up to 30 years against certain royalty payments. It is comparable to a mining license in Canada or the United States. In connection with Apuradita, its rights are covered by a second contractual arrangement, with the Bolivian Jurisdictional Mining Authority, acting for the State, which is in process of formalization, as a mean of recognition of the acquired rights to what was originally the mining concession. Until such time as the contract is formalized, all mining rights, as recognized in the Bolivian Mining Law 535, can be exercised by the holder of the ex-concession.

Project Location

Bolivia is a landlocked country located in central South America and includes diverse geographic and climatic conditions that range from snow-capped peaks and high-altitude plateaus to vast, low-lying grasslands and rainforests. The country is normally accessible by international air travel from Miami (American Airlines), Mexico City, Brazil, Chile (LAN), Argentina and Peru (Taca Airlines). In addition, local Bolivian airlines fly regular internal flights between major cities, with several flights a week to a newly paved runway at Uyuni city, located 18 km south of the Pulacayo Project. While these routes and access methods are normally available, at the time of report preparation airline travel to and from Bolivia, as well as internally within the country, plus land travel within the country, had been materially reduced due to the effects of the internationally extensive Novel Coronavirus (Covid19) pandemic. It is not clear how long this will continue.

The principal highways are generally paved, and heavy trucks and buses dominate road traffic outside of the major cities. For the most part, road freight service functions adequately even to small remote villages. The Pulacayo Project is accessed from La Paz by means of a paved road, which runs to the area of Huari, passing through Oruro. It can also be accessed by the road between Oruro and Potosí and from Potosí to Uyuni by a good quality paved road. Paving of the road from Potosí to Uyuni began in 2007 and has now been completed to Potosi. Secondary roads can be best described as "tracks" and winding, single lane roads are often precariously carved out of steep slopes.

There is also a reasonably well-developed rail system with connections south to Argentina, east to Brazil and west to Chile and the port of Antofagasta. Rail service from Uyuni connects with Oruro, Atocha, Tupiza, and Villazon (on the border with Argentina). Uyuni is also connected by railway to Chile through Estación Abaroa. Disused rail lines exist between Uyuni-Potosí and Oruro-La Paz. The figure below presents major highway and rail routes of Bolivia relative to the Pulacayo Project’s location.

 

Accessibility, Climate, Local Resources, Infrastructure and Physiography

Accessibility

Bolivia is a landlocked country located in central South America and includes diverse geographic and climatic conditions that range from snow-capped peaks and high-altitude plateaus to vast, low-lying grasslands and rainforests. The country is normally accessible by international air travel from Miami (American Airlines), Mexico City, Brazil, Chile (LAN), Argentina and Peru (Taca Airlines). In addition, local Bolivian airlines fly regular internal flights between major cities, with several flights a week to a newly paved runway at Uyuni city, located 18 km south of the Pulacayo property. While these routes and access methods are normally available, at the time of report preparation airline travel to and from Bolivia, as well as internally within the country, plus land travel within the country, had been materially reduced due to the affects of the internationally extensive Novel Coronavirus (Covid19) pandemic. It is not clear how long this will continue.

The principal highways are generally paved, and heavy trucks and buses dominate road traffic outside of the major cities. For the most part, road freight service functions adequately even to small remote villages. The Pulacayo project is accessed from La Paz by means of a paved road, which runs to the area of Huari, passing through Oruro. It can also be accessed by the road between Oruro and Potosí and from Potosí to Uyuni by a good quality paved road. Paving of the road from Potosí to Uyuni began in 2007 and has now been completed to Potosi. Secondary roads can be best described as “tracks” and winding, single lane roads are often precariously carved out of steep slopes.

There is also a reasonably well-developed rail system with connections south to Argentina, east to Brazil and west to Chile and the port of Antofagasta. Rail service from Uyuni connects with Oruro, Atocha, Tupiza, and Villazon (on the border with Argentina). Uyuni is also connected by railway to Chile through Estación Abaroa. Disused rail lines exist between Uyuni-Potosí and Oruro-La Paz. The figure below presents major highway and rail routes of Bolivia relative to the Pulacayo project’s location.

 

Major Routes and Physiographic Regions in Bolivia

Climate and Physiography

Two Andean mountain chains run through western Bolivia, with many peaks rising to elevations greater than 6,000 m above sea level. The western Cordillera Occidental Real forms Bolivia’s western boundary with Peru and Chile, extending southeast from Lake Titicaca and then south across central Bolivia to join with the Cordillera Central along the country’s southern border with Argentina. Between these two mountain chains is the Altiplano, a high flat plain system at elevations between 3,500 m and 4,000 m above sea level. East of the Cordillera Central a lower altitude region of rolling hills and fertile basins having a tropical climate occurs between elevations of 300 m and 400 m above sea level. To the north, the Andes adjoin tropical lowlands of Brazil’s Amazon Basin.

Climate within Bolivia is altitude related. The rainy period lasts from November to March and corresponds with the southern hemisphere’s summer season. Of the major cities, only Potosí receives regular snowfalls, with these typically occurring between February and April at the end of the rainy season. La Paz and Oruro occasionally receive light snow. On the Altiplano and in higher altitude areas, sub-zero temperatures are frequent at night throughout the year. Snow-capped peaks are present year-round at elevations greater than approximately 5,200 m.

The Pulacayo Project area is located immediately southwest of the Cosuño Caldera and local topographic relief is gentle to moderate, with elevations ranging between 4,000 m and 4,500 m above sea level. The Paca and Pulacayo volcanic domes are volcanic structures that exist as prominent topographic highs in this area. The area has a semi-arid climate, with annual rainfall of approximately 100 mm and a mean summer temperature of 12° C between October and March. During winter, minimum temperatures reach the -20 to -25° C range and summer maximums in the 18 to 20° C range occur in June and July. Yearly mean temperature is 5.5° C. Vegetation is sparse to non-existent and consists of only local low bushes.

Local resources and Infrastructure

Bolivia has a long history as a significant primary producer of silver and tin, with associated secondary production of gold, copper, antimony, bismuth, tungsten, sulphur and iron. The country also contains sizeable reserves of natural gas that have not been fully developed to date due to export issues and limited access to required infrastructure.

The country has an abundance of hydroelectric power and transmission lines which parallel the road system provide service to most major settlements. Remote villages generally have diesel generators which run infrequently during evening hours. Transmission lines from the hydroelectric plants of Landara, Punutuma, and Yura that were reconditioned by a joint venture between COMIBOL and the Valle Hermoso Electrical Company pass within a few kilometers of Pulacayo.

 

Telephone service and internet access are available in most areas and cellular telephone service is widespread. However, coverage is not complete and international connectivity is not ensured. Local communication services in the area are good and consist of an ENTEL-based long-distance telephone service, a GSM signal for cell phones and two antennae for reception and transmission of signals from national television stations. Apogee installed a satellite receiver to provide internet access for its operation and this service is shared with the Pulacayo Mining Cooperative. An adequate supply of potable water for the town is supplied by pipeline from a dam and reservoir (Yana Pollera) facility located 28 km from Pulacayo in the Cerro Cosuño.

Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation (San Bartolome), Pan American Silver Ltd. (San Vicente), Glencore International plc (Sinchi Wayra) and Sumitomo Corporation (San Cristóbal) are significant international companies with producing mines in this region in recent years. Basic exploration services are available in Bolivia and include several small diamond core drilling contractors, the ALS Group, which operates an analytical services sample preparation facility in Oruro, the SGS Group, which has analytical services and preparation facilities in La Paz, and several locally owned assay facilities. The Bolivian National School of Engineering operates a technical college in Oruro (Universidad Técnica de Oruro) that includes a mineral processing department and laboratory facilities that provide commercial services to the mining industry. In general, an adequate supply of junior to intermediate level geologists, metallurgists, mining engineers and chemists is currently considered to be present in the country.

Since down-sizing of site operations at Pulacayo by Apogee in 2013-2014, the population of the community has dropped to approximately 300 to 400 permanent residents, many of whom are associated with the Pulacayo Mining Cooperative. The village has a state-run school and medical services are provided by the state’s Caja Nacional de Seguros (National Insurance Fund). A hospital and clinic function independently. Numerous dwellings and mining related buildings in Pulacayo are owned by COMIBOL and some of these have been donated to the Pulacayo Mining Cooperative. Under terms of the Shared Risk Contract, COMIBOL makes some mining infrastructure available for use by the Company.

Property

controlled 100% of the Pulacayo Project through an agreement with Golden Minerals Company ("GMC"), the successor of Apex Silver Company before its acquisition by us. GMC’s former Bolivian subsidiary, ASC Bolivia LDC Sucursal Bolivia ("ASC"), holds the mining rights to the concessions through a joint venture with the Pulacayo Mining Cooperative, which in turn has a lease agreement with COMIBOL, the state mining corporation of Bolivia. On January 21, 2011, Apogee entered into a definitive agreement with GMC to acquire all of the issued share capital of ASC, which holds a 100% interest in the Pulacayo Project. Pursuant to the applicable agreement, Apogee acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of the subsidiary from GMC in consideration for Common Shares of Apogee upon closing of the transaction, and an additional block of Common Shares and a cash fee eighteen (18) months following closing of the transaction. In January 2015, Prophecy Coal Corp. (predecessor to the Company) completed purchase of Apogee Minerals Bolivia S.A., ASC Holdings Limited and ASC Bolivia LDC (which hold ASC, the holder of Apogee’s mining joint venture interest in the Pulacayo Project) (collectively, the "Apogee Subsidiaries") and thus Apogee’s interest in the mining joint venture. The term of the joint venture agreement is 23 years starting July 30th, 2002. ASC Bolivia LDC is committed to pay to COMIBOL USD$1,000 during the exploration period. During the mining period ASC Bolivia LDC will pay to COMIBOL the equivalent of 2.5% of the Net Smelter Return (NSR) and 1.5% of the NSR to the Pulacayo Mining Cooperative. On September 1, 2016 the Bolivian government issued Supreme Decree N° 2891 which was confirmed by Law N° 845 dated October 24, 2016. Both regulations revert to the domain of the State, areas over which joint venture agreements, lease or sub-lease agreements have been executed between mining cooperatives and private local or foreign companies, in order to convert such agreements into mining production contracts between the private parties party to such agreements and the government. This affects our Pulacayo Joint Venture Agreement. We submitted the required application on December 22, 2016. In October 2nd 2019 a new Mining Production Contract (replacing the Joint Venture Agreement) was executed between Apogee Minerals Bolivia S.A. (a subsidiary of the Company) and the state owned Bolivian Mining Corporation (COMIBOL). The term is 15 years and subject to renewal for another 15 years (total 30 years). COMIBOL is entitled to receive 7% of the Gross Sales Value. No monthly fee payable to COMIBOL has been agreed.

The current holdings that comprise the Pulacayo Project cover 3,560 ha of surface area and are listed in the table below. All titles, associated agreement and permits are in good standing.

 

Pulacayo Project Exploration Holdings

*STA	Titleholder	Size (ha)	Patents Payment	Registration Number	Location
Pulacayo	COMIBOL	1,031	Payment is not required*	512-01015	Pulacayo
Porvenir	COMIBOL	1,199	Payment is not required*	512-01165	Pulacayo
Huanchaca	COMIBOL	470	Payment is not required*	512-03903	Pulacayo
Galería General	COMIBOL	76	Payment is not required*	512-01160	Pulacayo
Subtotal		2,776
Temeridad	COMIBOL	10	Payment is not required*	512-00992	Paca
Real del Monte	COMIBOL	24	Payment is not required*	512-00994	Paca
Apuradita	ASC Bolivia LDC	750	2017	512-03652	Paca
Subtotal		784
Grand Total		3,560
* Special Transitory Authorization – formerly mining concession

 

History of Production

The Pulacayo area has a very long history of exploration and mining, with this dominated by the Pulacayo deposit itself, where most work has been concentrated on mineralized systems that comprise the TVS and related systems. In contrast, the history of Paca deposit exploration forms a relatively small part of the long-term exploration and mining history of the area. Exploration and related studies carried out since 2001 by Apogee and related firms form the bulk of modern era work completed in the Pulacayo Project area and include over 91,900 m of core drilling, completion of a feasibility study in 2012 and several mineral resource estimates prepared in accordance with NI 43-101.

Mining of silver deposits at the Pulacayo Project area began in the Spanish Colonial Period (c.1545) but early production details do not exist. The first work formally recorded on the property was carried out in 1833 when Mariano Ramírez rediscovered the Pulacayo deposit. In 1857 Aniceto Arce founded the Huanchaca Mining Company of Bolivia and subsequently pursued development and production at Pulacayo. Revenue from the mine funded the first railway line in Bolivia, which in 1888 connected Pulacayo to the port of Antofagasta, Chile. In 1891, reported annual silver production reached 5.7 million ounces and mining operations at Pulacayo at that time were the second largest in Bolivia. Pulacayo production was predominantly from the Veta TVS which had been defined along a strike length of 2.5 km and to a depth of more than 1000 m. In 1923, mining operation ceased due to flooding of the main working levels.

 

In 1927, Mauricio Hochschild bought the property and re-started mine development. The Veta Cuatro vein was the focus of this work and was intersected at a mine elevation of approximately -266 m. It was proven to continue down-dip to the -776 m elevation where it showed a strike length of 750 m. Several short adits were also established during the Hochschild period at Paca to test a mineralized volcanic conglomeratic unit that outcrops in the deposit area. Work by Hochschild in the district continued until 1952 when the Bolivian government nationalized the mines and administration of the Pulacayo deposit and management was assumed by COMIBOL. Operations continued under COMIBOL until closure in 1959 due to exhaustion of reserves and rising costs. The total production from the Pulacayo mine is estimated by the National Geological and Mineral Service of Bolivia to be 678 million ounces of silver, 200,000 tons of zinc and 200,000 tons of lead (National Geological and Mineral Service of Bolivia Bulletin No. 30, 2002, after Mignon 1989).

In 1956, COMIBOL established the Esmeralda adit that was driven south into the Paca deposit to assess breccia hosted high grade mineralization localized along the andesite-host sequence contact. A total of approximately 250 m of drifting and cross cutting was carried out within the main mineralized zone, distributed between the main adit level and short sub-levels above and below the main level. Workings were established for exploration purposes only and commercial production was not undertaken by COMIBOL.

In 1962, the Pulacayo Mining Cooperative was founded and this local group leased access to the Pulacayo mine from COMIBOL. The Pulacayo Mining Cooperative has carried out small scale mining in the district since that time and continues to do so at present. Efforts are directed toward exploitation of narrow, very high-grade silver mineralization in upper levels of the old mining workings, typically above the San Leon tunnel level.

Modern exploration of the Pulacayo and Paca areas began to a limited degree in the 1980’s when various mining and exploration companies targeted epithermal silver and gold mineralization within the volcanic-intrusive system present in the area. In 2001, ASC initiated an exploration program in the district, signed agreements with the Pulacayo Mining Cooperative and COMIBOL and completed programs of regional and detailed geological mapping, topographic surveying and sampling of historical workings. In part, these work programs included the Paca deposit, where 3,130 m of core drilling and 896 m of reverse circulation (RC) drilling were completed, and a mineral resource estimate was prepared. ASC also completed core drilling campaigns at Pulacayo.

In 2005 Apogee signed a joint venture agreement with ASC and subsequently commenced exploration in the region in early 2006. Extensive exploration, economic evaluation, metallurgical studies, mine and mill permitting environmental studies and underground test mining programs were subsequently carried out by Apogee between 2006 and 2015 when the Pulacayo Project was purchased by the Company’s precursor, Prophecy Development Corp. (Prophecy). Work was carried out on both the Pulacayo and Paca deposits during this period, with emphasis placed on Pulacayo. Combined results of the ASC and Apogee diamond drilling programs carried out between 2002 and 2012 contributed to the several mineral resource estimates prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards in place at the time, and also supported a 2013 Feasibility Study focused on underground mining. Since 2001, ASC and Apogee completed 88,596 m of drilling from surface and underground on the Pulacayo Project, with Apogee programs accounting for 79,129 m of this total.

GEOLOGICAL SETTING

Geology

The Pulacayo Project that includes both the Pulacayo and Paca deposits is located on the western flank of a regional anticline that affects sedimentary and igneous rocks of Silurian, Tertiary and Quaternary ages on the western side of the Cordillera Oriental, near the Cordillera-Altiplano boundary. The Uyuni-Khenayani Fault is a reverse fault that crosses the project area and is believed to have controlled localization of volcanic center complexes at Cuzco, Cosuño, Pulacayo and San Cristóbal and related mineralized areas at Pulacayo, Cosuño, El Asiento, Carguaycollu and San Cristóbal. This fault brings Tertiary sediments in contact with Paleozoic formations at surface and is located about 4 km west of Pulacayo. The Pulacayo Project mineralized zones at Pulacayo, Pacamayo and Paca all occur on the west flank of a north-south striking anticline and local topographic highs define Lower Miocene dacitic-andesitic domes and stocks associated with caldera resurgence that intrude the folded section. A younger Miocene-Pliocene phase of volcanism is also superimposed on the anticlinal trend and is marked by pyroclastic deposits and flows of andesitic and rhyolitic composition. Ignimbrites associated with the Cosuño Caldera are the youngest volcanic deposits in the area. A dacitic to andesitic dome complex at the Pulacayo Property intruded the folded sedimentary section and forms the main topographic highs that occur on the property.

Exploration

The Company has completed various geological mapping and surface sampling programs over several areas of mineralization on the Pulacayo Project during the 2015 through 2017 period. Recent exploration activities completed by the Company include a geological mapping and chip sample program completed in February 2020 for the Paca area and a San Leon Tunnel geological mapping and chip sample program completed in February-March of 2020. The Company also carried out a 3,277.4 m core drilling program in late 2019 and early 2020. A 545 meter drilling program at the Paca deposit was completed in October, 2020. A 940 meter drilling program was commenced at the eastern side of the Pulacayo deposit in an area known as “Pero” in December 2020, and completed in January 2021.

 

Drilling

Apogee commissioned a topographic survey of the Pulacayo and Paca areas in 2006 to provide a topographic base map for use in establishing road access, geological mapping and surface sampling, and locating drill collars and geophysical lines. A surface mapping and sampling program was done during 2005 and initially utilized the ASC preliminary geological maps. The company completed detailed surface mapping that covered all the exploration licenses. The sampling consisted mostly of rock chip samples taken from outcrops and accessible underground mine workings for a total of 549 samples. During 2006 Apogee also commissioned a detailed, three-dimensional digital model of the historic underground mine workings. The model was subsequently modified by Apogee to conform to the current datum and adjusted to align with the +1% incline grade of the San Leon tunnel. An induced polarization (IP) geophysical survey was carried out by Apogee between November and December 2007. A total of 29 line km of IP surveying was completed on the Pulacayo Project including seven lines at Pulacayo oriented north-south perpendicular to the east-west strike of the TVS and five similarly oriented survey lines at Paca.

Following the acquisition of the Pulacayo Project, Apogee initiated a diamond core exploration drill program that consisted of 19 holes. During 2007-2008 Apogee focused on the Paca deposit and completed 68 drill holes in two programs with 14 completed during November 2007 and 54 holes completed during 2008. Subsequent drilling occurred during June 2009, between November 2010 and December 2011, and between August 2011 and June 2012. Overall core recovery reported by Apogee exceeds 90% in most cases though proximity to old mine workings reduces the recovery potential due to associated bedrock instability. Particular attention was paid to the planning and documentation of drill holes. Planning is based on the logging and interpretation of geological cross sections generated by Apogee staff geologists. Drill hole coordinates are established from digital maps and surface drill hole collars are located on the ground by field geologists using a hand-held GPS receiver. The completed drill hole is later surveyed by company surveyors. Drill hole azimuth and inclination are established using a compass and clinometer. Collar coordinates for underground drilling are established by company surveyors and hole azimuth and inclination are set by transit. Downhole deviation is determined for both surface and underground holes at approximately 50 m intervals using down hole survey tools.

Work during 2015 included mapping, sampling, assays and metallurgical tests under Phase 2 of the exploration plan, planning for Phase 2 (geophysics, drilling and assays), and preparation and submittal of the permit application for Phase 2. The exploration centered on assessing the historical tailings piles and potential mineralized areas suggested by historical exploration. On February 2, 2015, the Company announced the assay results received January 22, 2015 from ALS Minerals Ltda., for samples obtained during the reconnaissance sampling program of tailings piles materials. The tailings piles are the remaining materials from processing ore, extracted from the Pulacayo mining district between approximately 1850 and 1950. The ore was processed by a mill on site which has since been dismantled.

A total of 12 tailings piles were identified at the start of the mapping and sampling program and a total of 299 samples from the 12 tailings piles were obtained. Samples were obtained at random locations on the top surface of those piles from small holes excavated with an excavator and systematically at 2 meter spacings in the walls (slopes) of the piles from hand dug or excavated trenches, all at depths of 1.2 to 1.5 meters. The samples were then preserved, stored, secured, and transported following industry standard methods. The assay program was performed by ALS Minerals Ltda. of Lima, Perú and included standard Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) samples to enforce the validity of the results. The results indicate silver grades up to 1200 g/t, gold grades up to 7 g/t and indium grades up to 154.5 g/t. On September 10, 2015, the Company reported results from preliminary metallurgical test work conducted on samples collected from various tailing piles at the Pulacayo Project showing up to 64.39% silver recovery.

Surface mapping and sampling was completed during June to August 2015 on four potential mineralized areas (El Abra, Pero, Paca, and Pacamayo). The sampling included close spaced grab and chip samples obtained systematically where the trend of the mineralization is apparent or in historic mine adits and random spot sampling where the trend is not apparent. The samples were obtained through the aid of trenching to allow sampling of fresher material, where possible. The samples were then preserved, stored, secured, and transported following industry standard methods. The assay program was performed by ALS Minerals Ltda. and included standard QA/QC samples to enforce the validity of the results. On August 27, 2015 and September 9, 2015, the Company announced assay results of the first and second group of samples from the potential mineralized areas at the district exploration program. On September 18, 2015, the Company announced the assay results of the three Pacamayo samples where the silver grade was reported as more than 1,500 g/t. These samples have undergone reanalysis using the fire assay and gravimetric finish method which has a greater upper detection limit.

An exploration permit application was submitted during early 2015. The exploration permit would allow geophysical work to complete Phase 1 then after review of the Phase 1 information and previous exploration information and planning, completion of Phase 2.

Planning and budgeting for exploration to prove the planned stopes in the internally developed mining plans was completed. This exploration plan included in-mine drilling and mining new drivages to explore new areas, mapping of existing exposures and new drivages, sampling of existing exposures, new drivages, and drill core for laboratory analysis and metallurgical testing.

 

Summary of Modern Era Drilling

The Company initiated a 7-hole surface diamond drill program at the Paca deposit in September of 2019 and completed the program in October of 2019. Seven holes were completed for a total of 860 m. The Company also initiated surface drilling at the Pulacayo deposit in December of 2019 and concluded in February of 2020. A total of 3,277.4 meters of drilling was completed in 18 drillholes. Results of the 2019-2020 were included in the current mineral resource estimation program and contribute to 91,873 m of drilling combined for both deposits, the balance of which was completed by ASC and Apogee during the 2002 to 2012 period.

Mineralization

Mineralization comprising the current Pulacayo deposit mineral resource estimate is defined by the extent of modern-era diamond core drilling along the TVS in the vicinity of historic underground workings. The workings extend over a strike length of approximately 2.7 km and to a vertical depth from surface of about 1 km. Modern drilling coverage is present for approximately 1.5 km of the known deposit strike length and extends to a vertical depth of approximately 550 m below surface.

The extent of mineralization comprising the current Paca deposit mineral resource estimate is defined by the extent of modern era diamond core drilling along a strike length of approximately 750 m and north-south extent of approximately 700 m. Limited underground exploratory workings accessible from the Esmeralda adit are present along approximately 100 m of the deposit’s strike length in its central area.

Mineralization of economic interest at the Pulacayo deposit occurs within the Tertiary age Pulacayo volcanic dome complex that consists of older sedimentary rocks of the Silurian Quenhua Formation plus intruding andesitic volcanic rocks of the Rotchild and Megacristal units. Mineralization hosted by volcanic rocks can occur over tens of meters in thickness and typically consists of discrete veins plus stockworks of narrow veins and veinlets that occur within argillic alteration host rock envelopes. At deeper levels, high grade veins that are typically less than a few meters in width are hosted by sedimentary lithologies. Veins are commonly banded in texture and can contain semi-massive to massive sulphides. Primary minerals of economic importance at Pulacayo are tetrahedrite, galena and sphalerite, with additional silver sulfosalts and native silver also contributing to deposit silver grades. Mineralization is controlled by an east-west oriented normal fault system that links two northeast trending, steeply dipping, regional strike slip faults.

Mineralization of economic interest at the Paca deposit occurs in association with the same Tertiary age volcanic dome complex that produced the Pulacayo deposit and takes the form of thin veinlets, fracture fillings and disseminations hosted by altered volcaniclastic sedimentary lithologies and altered intermediate to felsic igneous lithologies. These occur in direct association with mineralized igneous or hydrothermal breccia zones. The intensity of argillic alteration is greatest in areas of highest concentrations of metallic mineral phases such as sphalerite, galena, argentite and tetrahedrite. Stratabound disseminated mineralization and breccia hosted mineralization predominate within the deposit, but discrete mineralized veins are also present locally. The deposit occurs at the contact between an andesitic intrusive complex and volcaniclastic sedimentary host lithologies. Bedded and cross-cutting breccia deposits that are important hosts to higher-grade mineralization commonly show close spatial association with the contact zone of the andesitic intrusion.

Deposit Type

The Pulacayo and Paca deposits are interpreted to be low to transitional sulphidation epithermal deposits that contain both precious and base metal mineralization.

Sampling

The core is initially examined by core technicians and all measurements are confirmed. Core is aligned and repositioned in the core box where possible and individual depth marks are recorded at 1 m intervals on the core box walls. Core technicians photograph all core, measure core recovery between core depth blocks, complete magnetic susceptibility readings and specific gravity measurements, and record the information on hard copy data record sheets. This information is initially entered into Excel digital spreadsheets and then incorporated into the project digital database. Drill site geologists then complete a written quick log of rock types along with a graphical strip log that illustrates the rock types. They subsequently complete a detailed written description of rock types, alteration styles and intensities, structural features, and mineralization features. The drill hole logs are drawn on paper cross sections when logging is completed and lithologies are graphically correlated from drill hole to drill hole. Mineralized intervals are marked for sampling by the logging geologist using colored grease pencils and the depths of the intervals and associated sample numbers are recorded on a hardcopy sample record sheet. All paper copy information for each hole, including quick logs, detailed logs, graphical logs, sample record sheets and assay certificates are secured together in a drill hole file folder to provide a complete archival record for each drill hole. Subsequent to logging and processing, down hole litho-coded intervals, sample intervals and drill hole collar and survey information are entered into digital spreadsheets and then incorporated into the project digital database. The sample intervals marked by the logging geologist are cut in half by the core technicians using a diamond saw. Friable core is cut in half with a knife. Each half core sample is assigned a unique sample tag and number and placed in a correspondingly numbered 6 mil plastic sample bag. A duplicate tag showing the same number is secured to the core box at the indicated sample interval. All sample intervals and corresponding numbers are recorded on a hardcopy sample data sheet and are subsequently entered into a digital spreadsheet for later incorporation in the project database. The secured 6 mil plastic sample bags are grouped in batches of 6 to 10 samples and secured in a larger plastic mesh bag in preparation for shipment to the laboratory.

 

Drill site procedures pertinent to the ASC drilling were confirmed by Apogee staff familiar with the ASC program to be generally similar to those employed by Apogee with respect to core logging and sampling. All ASC drill core samples were processed at the Oruro, Bolivia laboratory of ALS Chemex (formerly Bondar-Clegg), with those from the first phase of drilling being analyzed at ALS Chemex facilities in Vancouver, BC, Canada. In both instances, standard core preparation methods were used prior to elemental analysis.

Security of Samples

Apogee staff was responsible for transport of core boxes by pick-up truck from drill sites to the company’s locked and secure core storage and logging facility located in the town of Pulacayo. The secured 6 mil plastic sample bags are grouped in batches of 6 to 10 samples and secured in a larger plastic mesh bag in preparation for shipment to the ALS Chemex preparation laboratory located in Oruro, Bolivia. All bagged samples remained in a locked storage facility until shipment to the laboratory. Samples are transported from the core storage area to the ALS Chemex facility by either Apogee personnel or a reputable commercial carrier. Sample shipment forms are used to list all samples in each shipment and laboratory personnel crosscheck samples received against this list and report any irregularities by fax or email to Apogee. Apogee has not encountered any substantial issues with respect to sample processing, delivery or security for the Pulacayo drilling programs. The transport and security of samples pertinent to the ASC drilling were confirmed by Apogee staff familiar with the ASC program to be generally similar to those employed by Apogee. The security of Paca exploration samples followed the same procedures.

Sample Preparation, Analysis and Quality Assurance/Quality Control

All drill core samples from the ASC 2002 and 2003 drilling programs were processed at the Oruro, Bolivia laboratory of ALS Chemex, with those from the first phase of drilling being analyzed at ALS Chemex facilities in Vancouver, BC, Canada. In both instances, standard core preparation methods were used prior to elemental analysis. During the 2006 to 2012 Apogee drilling programs Apogee staff carried out immersion method specific gravity determinations but did not carry out any form of direct sample preparation or analytical work on project samples. Analytical work was completed by ALS Minerals Ltda. at its analytical facility in Lima, Peru after completion of sample preparation procedures at the ALS facility located in Oruro, Bolivia. ALS was at the time and remains an internationally accredited laboratory with National Association of Testing Authorities certification and also complies with standards of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2000 and ISO 17025:1999. The laboratory utilizes industry standard analytical methodology and utilizes rigorous internal QA/QC procedures for self-testing. Samples from the ASC drilling programs carried out in 2002 and 2003 were also prepared and analyzed by ALS. However, after preparation at the facility in Oruro, Bolivia under the same protocols as for Apogee, analytical work was carried out at the company’s laboratory in Vancouver, BC, Canada. This facility was fully accredited at the time and analytical protocols were the same as those described above for Apogee.

Apogee developed an internal QA/QC program that includes blind insertion of reference standards, blanks and duplicates in each analytical shipment that was used for the 2006 to 2012 drilling programs. A blank is inserted at the beginning of each sample batch, standards are inserted at random intervals throughout each batch of 50 samples and duplicates are analyzed at the end of each batch. All data gathered for QA/QC purposes is captured, sorted and retained in the QA/QC database. The QA/QC samples include commercial reference standards, an in-house standard, and commercial prepared blank materials. Coarse field blanks were also prepared by Apogee. Analysis of duplicate samples of quarter core is accommodated through their blind inclusion in the sample stream and analysis of duplicate prepared pulp splits are also requested for each batch. Apogee’s protocol also includes a check sampling program based on analysis of sample splits at a second accredited laboratory. Bulk density measurements (specific gravity) were systematically collected by Apogee staff using standard water immersion methods and unsealed core samples. Characteristics of lithology and alteration were also recorded as part of the density program and all information was assembled in digital spreadsheets.

QA/QC procedures pertinent to the ASC 2002-2003 drilling programs were not documented. However, the first drilling program carried out by Apogee in 2006 was intended to confirm earlier ASC analytical data. Full QA/QC protocols instituted by Apogee were applied to this program and results of the Apogee re-drill program correlate well with those of ASC suggesting that acceptable standards were being met by ASC. Though preparation, analysis, and QA/QC procedures were not documented for the early ASC drilling on Paca, the results of the 2006 re-drill program and check sampling by Mercator during 2015 were comparable and suggests acceptable procedures were followed for the Paca deposit samples. Sampling from later drilling at Paca followed Apogee’s QA/QC procedures described above. Bulk density measurements were also obtained.

The authors of the Pulacayo Technical Report visited the Pulacayo Project site on three occasions to support preparation of previous mineral resource estimates and one other visit was conducted in September of 2020 in support of the current mineral resource estimates and associated technical reporting. Results of data verification activities carried out by the authors of the Pulacayo Technical Report and site visits show that Pulacayo Project datasets are of industry standard quality and suitable to support mineral resource estimation programs.

 

Data Verification

Core sample records, lithologic logs, laboratory reports and associated drill hole information for all drill programs completed by Apogee and ASC were digitally compiled by Apogee staff. Information pertaining to the exploration history in the property area was also compiled by Apogee and was reviewed to assess consistency and validity of Apogee results. The digital drill hole records compiled by Apogee were checked in detail against the parameters (collar data, down hole survey values, hole depths, lithocodes) of the original hard copy source documents to assess consistency and accuracy. This was followed by review and validation of approximately 10% of the compiled core sample dataset against original source documents. Review of logging and sample records showed consistently good agreement between original records and digital database values. The drilling and sampling database records were further assessed through digital error identification methods available through the Gemcom-Surpac Version 6.2.1® software for such errors as sample record duplications, end of hole errors, survey and collar file inconsistencies and some potential lithocode file errors. The digital review and import of the manually checked datasets through Surpac provided a validated Microsoft Access® database that is considered to be acceptable for resource estimation.

Apogee hosted two site visits by experts for review of procedures and verification of conditions and work programs. The first during August 2011 included review of drilling program components, core check sampling, verification of drill hole locations, and discussion with Apogee staff and consultants. The experts determined that, to the extent reviewed during the visit, evidence of work programs carried out to date on the property is consistent with descriptions reported by the company and that procedures employed by Apogee staff are consistent with current industry standards and of good quality. The second site visit occurred during April 2012 and included additional review of on-going drilling and resource estimation program work pertaining to oxide zone mineralization. The experts determined their drill hole coordinates compared well with Apogee’s coordinates and reasonable correlation exists between the original sample analyses and the check sample analyses.

The data verification performed for the Paca deposit was similar to that for the Pulacayo deposit described previously. Micon International Limited of Toronto, Canada, considered the field standard used by Apogee in its QA/QC program to be unacceptable and suggested use of a commercial standard or an in-house standard supported by industry best practices.

The authors of the Pulacayo Technical Report visited the Pulacayo Project site on three occasions to support preparation of previous mineral resource estimates and one other visit was conducted in September of 2020 in support of the current mineral resource estimates and associated technical reporting. Results of data verification activities carried out by the authors of the Pulacayo Technical Report and site visits show that Pulacayo Project datasets are of industry standard quality and suitable to support mineral resource estimation programs.

Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing

To date, four metallurgical test programs were completed by outside experts. These programs include: Resource Development Inc., Denver, USA in 2003, UTO (Universidad Técnica de Oruro), Oruro, La Paz, Bolivia in 2009, ED&ED Ingeniería y Servicios S.A.C. (which we refer to as “ED&ED”), Lima, Peru in 2011, and UTO and Maelgwyn Mineral Services Laboratory in South Africa during 2012. A fifth program was managed by Apogee where bulk samples from trial mining were sent to local concentrators.

During 2003, Resource Development Inc. tested 120 kg of core sample from two drill holes. Preliminary metallurgical test work was performed to evaluate the silver and sulfide base metals recovery potential including in-place densities, feed characterization, mineralogy, leaching, gravity concentration, and bench-scale open circuit and locked cycle tests (LCT’s). Silver minerals were found not to be amenable to leaching by NaCN or gravity concentration. Grinding test data determined the time required to achieve a P80 of 150 # (104 lm) was 20 minutes. Bench scale open circuit flotation tests (OCT’s) were performed using the flotation reagent suite developed for the San Cristobal Project. The overall silver recovery in the lead rougher concentrates was 97.1%. The lead cleaner concentrate recovered 2.8% of the weight, 84.6% of lead, 3.1% of zinc and 46.9% of silver. The lead concentrate assayed 60.8% Pb, 4.22% Zn and 8,440 g/t Ag. The zinc cleaner concentrate recovered 7.8% of weight, 1.3% of lead, 84.7% of zinc and 38.8% Ag. The concentrate assayed 0.324% Pb, 41.2% Zn and 2,463 g/t Ag. Large scale two cycle locked cycle flotation tests were performed using the process flowsheet similar to that developed for San Cristobal deposit. The lead concentrate assaying 62.2% Pb, 4.46% Zn and 10,891 g/t Ag, recovered 3.1% weight, 88.8% of lead, 3.9% of zinc and 63.4% of silver. The zinc concentrate assayed 61.5% Zn, 0.9% Pb and 3,303 g/t Ag, recovered 5% weight, 87.6% of zinc, 2.1% of lead and 31.3% of silver. The tailings were very difficult to settle due to high proportions of clay in the ore, which will impact the process flow sheet and overall plant design. The lead and zinc third cleaner concentrates were analyzed for impurities and found that penalties may be incurred on the concentrates for several impurities.

 

UTO conducted a metallurgical test program during 2009 on three samples comprising comminution (only Bond Ball Work Index), OCT’s, LCT’s, OCT tailings (non-float) size by size analyses, and OCT tailings (non-float) sedimentation tests. Clay mineralogy studies were not carried out to determine the presence of clays that may produce very fine slimes though during the test work, slimes were produced affecting the flotation performance, settling of tailings, and flotation pulp rheology. The samples were drill cores composited to represent a higher grade, a medium grade, and a lower grade. Comminution was evaluated using the Bond Ball Mill Work Index test and categorized the samples as medium to hard. Abrasion index, crushing work index, and rod work index tests were not performed. Specific gravity tests were performed. Flotation test work focused on lead and silver recovery using both batch open circuit and closed circuit flotation tests. Locked cycle tests of the high-grade sample indicated that conventional selective lead-silver and zinc-silver flotation techniques recovered 56% of the silver in the lead concentrate and 27% of the silver in the zinc concentrate with lead recovery of 79% and zinc recovery of 81%. Silver grades were 6,620 g/t in the lead concentrate and 2,010 g/t in the zinc concentrate. LCT test results of the medium grade sample indicated that it is possible to recover almost 34% of the silver in the lead concentrate and 50% of the silver in the zinc concentrate, with lead and zinc grades at 51% and 58%, lead and zinc recoveries at 74% and 83%, and silver grades at 6,220 g/t and 2,990 g/t. LCT test results of the low-grade sample indicated that it is possible to recover almost 30% of the silver in the lead concentrate and 21% of the silver in the zinc concentrate, with lead and zinc grades at 51% and 58%, lead and zinc recoveries at 74% and 83%, and silver grades at 6,220 g/t and 2,990 g/t, respectively. The results seem to be reasonable and in accordance with expectations from the mineralogy of the ore. These results constitute the design basis for the flow sheet. Full OCT’s of sulphide minerals flotation were conducted initially on each sample as a proof of concept of the overall circuit and to establish a workable set of flotation conditions and reagents. These tests demonstrated that sulphide flotation to saleable lead and zinc concentrates at acceptable (for batch tests) recoveries was possible.

During 2011, the laboratory facility of ED&ED, performed a series of flotation tests and contracted mineralogical analyses on a high grade and low-grade sample. The initial ED&ED flotation test work was not successful then after pre-conditioning the samples with activated carbon and subsequent differential flotation, was moderately successful. The minerals present included sphalerite, galena, pyrite and quartzite gangue with galena-sphalerite assemblages (intertwined specimens) present to some extent. Twelve (12) OCT’s were conducted on each of the samples to confirm the previous flotation results by UTO and to evaluate the effect of flotation response at finer grind sizes as seen in the flowcharts. The flotation tests carried out on the high-grade samples indicated that it is possible to obtain commercial lead and zinc concentrates with grades of lead and zinc of 42.1% and 43%, respectively. The concentration of silver in the lead and zinc concentrates were reported as 7,010 g/t and 198.2 g/t, respectively. The straightforward conventional selective lead-silver and zinc-silver flotation techniques after carbon pre-treatment are able to recover 85.7% of silver in the lead concentrate (with a mass pull of 3.1%) and 2.93% of silver in the zinc concentrate (with a mass pull of 3.75%). The lead and zinc recoveries are estimated as 80% and 77.8%, respectively. The flotation tests, carried out on the low-grade samples indicated that it is possible to obtain commercial lead and zinc concentrates with grades of lead and zinc of 41% and 43.1%, respectively. The concentration of silver in the lead and zinc concentrates were reported as 6,734 g/t and 207 g/t, respectively. The straightforward conventional selective lead-silver and zinc-silver flotation techniques after carbon pre-treatment are able to recover 74% of silver in the lead concentrate (with a mass pull of 1.95%) and 3.27% of silver in the zinc concentrate (with a mass pull of 2.8%). The lead and zinc recoveries are estimated as 77.6% and 71.9%, respectively. In overall, better flotation (open circuit tests) performances are obtained at a grind size of P80 of 74 lm. Locked cycle tests at this grind size will be necessary to confirm these results. A set of paste thickening tests were run on dry samples of the flotation test (tailings) to investigate the performance of the FLSmidth Deep Cone Paste thickening technology. Screening flocculent tests were carried out. Anionic flocculent (Floenger PHP 50 Plus) was selected to improve sedimentation performance based on settling rates and observed visual supernatant clarity. Experience has shown that it is difficult to scale paste flow characteristics from small-scale tests to full-scale pipeline conditions, pilot-scale pumping tests are usually necessary. The lab flotation concentrates (open circuit tests) were assayed to determine the deleterious elements in the concentrate and for use in the NSR calculations and included mineralogical analyses. The results showed that the lead concentrate assayed 47.2% Pb and 6,273 g/t Ag with 1.3% Cu, 1.45% As and 1.23% Sb. The zinc concentrate assayed 53.8% Zn with negligible copper, arsenic or antimony. The lead, silver and zinc concentrate grades are in agreement with the LCT carried out before. Concentrations of deleterious elements appear below typical smelter penalty thresholds, with arsenic appearing as the principal penalty element.

During 2012, UTO conducted further metallurgical test work including a single collective flotation test, a series of open circuit differential flotation tests (with a de-sliming step), a single locked cycle flotation test (with de-sliming step), and PORCO flow sheet testing. This test work was designed to explore the flotation response of the ore to conventional differential flotation and to establish the operating conditions, reagent scheme, and consumptions. The sample was prepared and provided by Apogee (ASL) and consisted of a bulk composite sample from drill cores with grain sizes up to 76.2 mm (3 inches). The first exploratory test indicated that silver recovery to bulk concentrate is about 72%, while the lead and zinc recoveries are approximately 66% and 78% respectively. The floating fraction accounted for about 13%, the slimes fraction 18%, and the rest is lost as final tailings. Lead and silver losses are up to 23% and 13%, respectively. The open batch flotation tests indicated that lead recovery is between 48% and 54%, while zinc recovery is in the range from 50.1% to 72%. Total silver recovery to both lead and zinc concentrates is between 30% and 68%. Lead concentrate grades range from 33.5% to 59%, zinc concentrate grades range from 49% and 55%. Similarly, silver grades in both concentrates range from 9,875 g/t to 15,333 g/t. A single LCT, a repetitive batch used to simulate a continuous circuit where all the intermediate material added to the appropriate location in the flowsheet, was conducted to produce a metallurgical projection of the sample tested and to assess if the flowsheet and reagent suite is stable. A good locked cycle test typically achieves steady state over the last three cycles. Steady state implies both stability and mass conservation. Stability implies constancy. It was not indicated whether the test reached stability or whether mass conservation was achieved. Assuming that steady state was reached, the results indicated that lead and zinc recoveries were 60.1% and 76.5%, respectively. Lead concentrate assayed 11,114 g/t Ag, 49.1% Pb and 4.81% Zn. Additionally, the metal values in the zinc concentrate were 2,220 g/t Ag, 2.29% Pb and 48.6% Zn. Concentrates account for about 2.9% w/w of the feed (0.81% lead and 2.1% zinc). Silver metal loss in the slimes is as high as in the tailings. Lead and silver losses in the final tails are 23.1% and 9.12% respectively. The PORCO flowsheet is basically a bulk flotation followed by lead and zinc flotation, this processing route should be carried out at high pH (12.2) intended to depress pyrite at the outset. However, the Pulacayo ore did not respond well mainly because of lead and silver selectivity issues and high consumption of acid (H2SO4) to drop the pH to a level suitable for lead flotation after the bulk stage.

 

Maelgwyn Mineral Services Africa carried out laboratory flotation optimization test work on ore samples from the Pulacayo Project during 2012. The objectives of the work were to: (i) test the flotation conditions supplied by Apogee on the core samples to determine the metal recoveries and grades achievable by differential flotation of the Pb and Zn minerals; (ii) to optimize the flotation conditions for effective differential of the Pb and Zn minerals and to achieve saleable grades of Pb and Zn concentrates; and (iii) to perform locked cycle testing of the optimized flotation conditions using selected variability core samples. Laboratory rod milling curves were produced for all the samples and found that the milling times required for the samples indicated a high degree of variability in hardness between the sample types. Flotation tests included 65 OCT’s (exploratory test work) and four locked cycle flotation tests. In summary, the locked cycle tests yielded Pb concentrates of 55-69% Pb at recoveries between 88% and 93% and Zn concentrates of 37% to 56% Zn at recoveries of 79% to 90% with a large variation in head grade from 1.5% Pb to 4.3% Pb. The silver recoveries ranged between 68% and 94% with a variation in head grade of between 136 g/t Ag and 375 g/t Ag.

The test mining between November 2011 and May 2013 produced 12,550 tons of ore that were used in a toll milling program to evaluate ore processing. The ore was hauled by truck to four concentrators – Tatasi, Fedecomin, La Estrella, and Zabaleta. The Zabaleta concentrator attained the best recoveries for which the results are presented in the table below.

Pulacayo Deposit Zabaleta Toll Milling Results

Material	Concentrate Grade				Recoveries
	Pb (%)	Zn (%)	Ag (g/t)	Pb (%)	Zn (%)	Ag (%)
Lead Concentrate	47.95	12.85	6,295	64.62	16.26	72.13
Zinc Concentrate	8.47	39.45	941	9.97	43.57	8.41
Tailings	0.58	0.97	49	25.41	40.16	18.45
Total Ag recovery: 81.55%

 

Only one series of metallurgical tests were performed on samples from the Paca deposit. The tests were completed on three samples composited from drill cores and included feed characterization, leaching, flotation and gravity tests, in-place bulk density determination, and mineralogy. Study of the three composite samples found the silver grade varied from 44.5 g/t Ag to 228.6 g/t Ag, lead minerals 0.56% Pb to 0.8% Pb), and zinc minerals 0.05% Zn to 0.41% Zn). The other sulfide minerals identified were sulphosalts and chalcocite. Coarse native silver was detected in one of the samples. The silver minerals were amenable to cyanide leaching for most of the composite samples (i.e. 28% to 82% Ag extraction) however, extraction of silver was size dependent and improved with fineness-of-size. The lime consumption in leach varied from 0.8 to 2.4 kg/t. The NaCN consumption was dependent on both ore type and particle size, increasing with fineness of a particular size and in general, averaged ± 1.5 kg/t. Due to the presence of coarse native silver, the silver leaching was not completed in 120 hours, hence, the data was extrapolated to 240 hours leach time to project anticipated silver recovery and indicated that over 90% of silver could potentially be recovered at fine particle size for two of the three composites. Assay of the final pregnant solution from selected tests found measurable quantities of gold, hence, it is reasonable to conclude that gold is present in those samples. Some of the copper minerals present in the samples are also readily soluble in cyanide. Differential lead/zinc flotation process recovered over 90% of silver in the combined lead and zinc concentrate for the composite assaying 228.6 g/t Ag. The flotation process shows promise of recovering silver. However, the flotation process did not recover acceptable silver values from the other composites. The gravity concentration process did not concentrate silver in the gravity concentrate, hence, it cannot be used alone as a process for recovering silver minerals. The average density was ± 2.2 gm/cc for the samples tested, but the in-place bulk densities were extremely variable for one composite (i.e., 1.79 and 2.58 gm/cc). In summary, the preliminary results were encouraging to warrant additional drilling and metallurgical testing.

Mining

Mineralization is found from the surface to at least 1,000 m depth at the Pulacayo deposit thus both surface and underground mining methods are likely. It is envisioned that surface mining will recover the oxidized ore and some sulphide ore to an elevation below which a crown pillar will be left and below which underground mining methods would start. Mineralization at the Paca deposit is found from the surface to approximately 60 m depth for the mantos-style mineralization and from approximately 10 m to 240m depth for the stockwork and vein style mineralization. Thus, it is anticipated mining will be mostly by surface methods.

Trial mining was conducted between November 2011 and May 2013 at the Pulacayo deposit. The trial mining was done to obtain geotechnical information, better understand mining dilution, obtain a large sample for process testing, and train the workforce. The mining methods included jack leg drill and blast with tracked haulage for development and drill and blast with trackless haulage for production by the shrinkage and reusing stoping methods. The haulage way was advanced and three stopes were mined. The trial mining produced 12,550 tons of ore.

 

 

Mineral Resource Estimates and Reserves

The current Pulacayo Project mineral resource estimates for the Pulacayo and Paca deposits has been extracted or summarized from the Pulacayo Technical Report.

The Pulacayo Technical Report documents new mineral resource estimates for the Pulacayo and Paca deposits that differ from the directly preceding estimates by their inclusion of open pit optimization methods for reporting of mineral resources. The current mineral resource estimates and this supporting technical report were prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards, 2014.

Geovia Surpac ® Version 2020 was used to create the Pulacayo Project block models, associated geological and grade solids, and to interpolate silver-zinc-lead grade. The current mineral resource estimate is based on combined results of 92,900 m of drilling, 44,469 core or chip analytical results, 355 trench samples, and 71 underground chip or channel samples for the two deposits. Geovia Whittle pit optimization software and the PseudoFlow algorithm were applied for pit shell optimization purposes.

A tabulation of the mineral resources for the Pulacayo Project is presented in the table below. Pit Constrained mineral resources were defined for each deposit within optimized pit shells. Sulphide zone pit optimization parameters include mining at US$2.00 per tonne, combined processing and G&A at US$12.50 per tonne processed, and haulage at US$0.50 per tonne processed for Pulacayo and US$2.00 per tonne for Paca. Oxide zone pit optimization parameters include mining at US$2.00 per tonne, combined processing and G&A at US$23.50 per tonne processed, and haulage at US$0.50 per tonne processed for Pulacayo and US$2.00 per tonne for Paca. Metal prices of US$17/oz Ag, US$0.95/lb Pb, and US$1.16/lb Zn were used and metal recoveries of 89.2% Ag, 91.9% Pb, and 82.9% Zn were used for sulphide zone mineral resources and 80% Ag for oxide zone mineral resources.

Pit Constrained sulphide mineral resources are reported at a cut-off value of 30 g/t silver equivalent (Ag Eq.) within optimized pit shells and Pit Constrained oxide mineral resources are reported at a cut-off value of 50 g/t Ag within optimized pits shells. Cut-off grades reflect total operating costs and are considered to reflect reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction using open conventional open pit mining methods. Out of Pit mineral resources are reported external to the optimized pit shells and are reported at a cut-off grade of 100 g/t Ag Eg. They are considered to have reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction using conventional underground mining methods such as long hole stoping based on a mining cost of US$35 per tonne and processing and G&A cost of $20.00 per tonne processed.

Mineral Resource Category Parameters

Definitions of mineral resources and associated mineral resource categories used in this report are those recognized under NI 43-101 and set out in the CIM Standards, 2014. Only Inferred and Indicated categories have been assigned to the Pulacayo deposit.

Several factors were considered in defining resource categories, including drill hole spacing, geological interpretations and number of informing assay composites and average distance of assay composites to block centroids. Specific definition parameters for each resource category applied in the current estimate are set out below.

Measured Resource: No interpolated resource blocks were assigned to this category.

Indicated Resource: Indicated mineral resources are defined as all blocks with interpolated silver grades from the first or second interpolation passes that meet the specified Pit Constrained or Out of Pit cut-off grades.

Inferred Resources: Inferred mineral resources are defined as all blocks with interpolated silver grades from the first, second, and third interpolation passes that were not previously assigned to the Indicated category and meet the specified Pit Constrained or Out of Pit cut-off grades.

Application of the selected mineral resource categorization parameters specified above defined distribution of Indicated and Inferred mineral resource estimate blocks within the block model. To eliminate isolated and irregular category assignment artifacts, the peripheral limits of blocks in close proximity to each other that share the same category designation and demonstrate reasonable continuity were wireframed and developed into discrete solid models. All blocks within these “category” solid models were re-classified to match that model’s designation. This process resulted in more continuous zones of each mineral resource estimate category and limited occurrences of orphaned blocks of one category as imbedded patches in other category domains.

Mineral Resource Estimate Tabulation

PULACAYO DEPOSIT

Mineral Resource Estimate

Block grade, block density and block volume parameters for the Pulacayo deposit were estimated using methods described in preceding sections of this report. Subsequent application of mineral resource category parameters resulted in the Pulacayo deposit mineral resource estimate presented below in table below. Results are presented in accordance with NI-43-101 and the CIM.

 

Pulacayo Deposit Mineral Resource Estimate – Effective Date: October 13, 2020**

Pit Constrained Mineral Resources
Cut -off	Zone	Category	Rounded Tonnes	Ag g/t	Pb %	Zn %	*Ag Eq. g/t
50 Ag g/t	Oxide	Indicated	1,090,000	125
		Inferred	25,000	60
30 *Ag Eq. g/t	Sulfide	Indicated	24,600,000	76	0.70	1.63	156
		Inferred	745,000	82	0.61	1.79	164
Out of Pit Mineral Resources
100 *Ag Eq. g/t	Sulfide	Indicated	660,000	268	0.44	1.35	307
		Inferred	900,000	179	0.42	2.14	257
50 Ag g/t	Oxide	Indicated	1,090,000	125
		Inferred	25,000	60
30/100 *Ag Eq. g/t	Sulfide	Indicated	25,260,000	81	0.69	1.62	160
		Inferred	1,645,000	135	0.51	1.98	215

 

 

Pit Constrained sulphide mineral resources are reported at a cut-off value of 30 g/t Ag Eq. within the optimized pit shell and Pit Constrained oxide mineral resources are reported at a cut-off value of 50 g/t Ag within the optimized pit shell. Cut-off grades reflect total operating costs and are considered to reflect reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction using conventional open pit mining methods. Sulphide zone pit optimization parameters include mining at US$2.00 per tonne, combined processing and G&A at US$12.50 per tonne processed, and haulage at US$0.50 per tonne processed. Oxide zone pit optimization parameters include mining at US$2.00 per tonne, combined processing and G&A at US$23.50 per tonne processed, and haulage at US$0.50 per tonne processed. Metal prices of US$17/oz silver, US$0.95/lb lead, and US$1.16/lb zinc were used and metal recoveries of 89.2% silver, 91.9% lead, and 82.9% zinc were used for sulphide zone mineral resources and 80% silver for oxide zone mineral resources. Optimization was constrained to an elevation of 4000 asl (maximum depth of approximately 400 m below surface). The optimized pit supports a 12.3:1 strip ratio with average pit slopes of 45°.

 

 

Out of Pit mineral resources are reported external to the optimized pit shell at a cut-off grade of 100 g/t Ag Eg. They are considered to have reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction using conventional underground mining methods such as long hole stoping based on a mining cost of US$35 per tonne and processing and G&A cost of $20.00 per tonne processed.

Validation of Mineral Resource Models

Results of block modeling were reviewed in three dimensions and compared on a section by section basis with associated drill hole data. Block grade distribution was shown to have acceptable correlation with the grade distribution of the underlying drill hole data. Silver, lead, and zinc grade descriptive statistics, presented in the table below, were calculated for all interpolated blocks at a zero cut-off value and were compared to the values of the combined assay composite population (100 g/t Ag domain and 45 g/t Ag Eq. domain). Average grades compare favorably between the composite and block populations. As expected, the large block grade population is characterized by lower coefficient of variation, standard deviation and variance values than those of the assay composite population.

Comparison of Pulacayo Deposit Block and Composite Values

	Capped Composite Values			Block Values
Parameter	Ag g/t	Pb %	Zn %	Ag g/t	Pb %	Zn %
Mean Grade	75.63	0.65	1.45	89.71	0.68	1.5
Maximum Grade	2,300	13	15	1,559	7.03	12.46
Minimum Grade	0	0	0	0	0	0
Variance	41,141	1.432	3.25	15,408	0.6	1.66
Standard Deviation	203	1.2	1.8	124	0.77	1.29
Coefficient of Variation	2.68	1.84	1.25	1.38	1.14	0.86
Number of Samples	10,168	10,168	10,168	4,196,877	4,196,877	4,196,877

 

Block volume estimates for each mineral resource solid were compared with corresponding solid model volume reports generated in Surpac and results show good correlation, indicating consistency in volume capture and block volume reporting. Mercator created swath plots in the easting and vertical directions comparing average composite grades and global mass weighted block grades.

Tonnage and Grade Sensitivity

Tonnages and average grades at various Ag Eq. cut-off grades are presented in the tables below for Pit Constrained and Out of Pit sulphide mineral resources and tonnages and average grades at various Ag cut-off grades for Pit Constrained oxide mineral resources. Approximately 95% of the Pit Constrained sulphide mineral resource is retained at a cut-off grade of 60 g/t Ag Eq., double the mineral resource cut-off grade of 30 g/t Ag Eq. Similarly, approximately 90% of the Out of Pit sulphide mineral resource is retained at a cut-off grade of 150 g/t Ag Eq. when compared to the mineral resource cut-off grade of 100 g/t Ag Eq. Significant tonnages are present at higher cut-off grades for Pit Constrained sulphide mineral resources and, when combined with Out of Pit sulphide mineral resources, demonstrate potential for higher grade bulk tonnage underground mining scenarios. Pit Constrained oxide mineral resources demonstrate a high sensitivity to Ag cut-off grade.

Pulacayo Deposit Pit Constrained Sulphide Zone Sensitivity Analysis

Cut-off Grade (Ag Eg. g/t)	Category	Rounded Tonnes	Ag g/t	Pb %	Zn %	Ag Eq. g/t
15	Indicated	24,710,000	76	0.70	1.62	155
	Inferred	755,000	81	0.60	1.77	162
*30	Indicated	24,600,000	76	0.70	1.63	156
	Inferred	745,000	82	0.61	1.79	164
60	Indicated	20,660,000	88	0.79	1.80	176
	Inferred	665,000	88	0.66	1.95	178
90	Indicated	13,700,000	121	0.99	2.17	227
	Inferred	290,000	154	0.97	3.62	312
150	Indicated	7,295,000	201	1.35	2.59	327
	Inferred	205,000	205	1.15	4.33	391

 

 

Cut-off Grade (Ag Eg. g/t)	Category	Rounded Tonnes	Ag g/t	Pb %	Zn %	Ag Eq. g/t
200	Indicated	5,385,000	249	1.54	2.75	383
	Inferred	180,000	230	1.22	4.57	426
300	Indicated	3,255,000	315	1.88	3.18	471
	Inferred	130,000	286	1.37	4.82	491
400	Indicated	1,860,000	387	2.25	3.62	565
	Inferred	105,000	297	1.46	5.29	521
*Mineral resource Estimate cut-off grade highlighted

 

Pulacayo Deposit Out of Pit Sulphide Zone Sensitivity Analysis

Cut-off Grade (Ag Eg. g/t)	Category	Rounded Tonnes	Ag g/t	Pb %	Zn %	Ag Eq. g/t
75	Indicated	880,000	211	0.38	1.34	253
	Inferred	1,250,000	137	0.36	1.92	209
*100	Indicated	660,000	268	0.44	1.35	307
	Inferred	900,000	179	0.42	2.14	257
150	Indicated	530,000	321	0.49	1.3	354
	Inferred	680,000	220	0.46	2.25	300
200	Indicated	435,000	359	0.53	1.41	394
	Inferred	505,000	260	0.54	2.37	343
300	Indicated	290,000	429	0.64	1.63	468
	Inferred	310,000	327	0.72	2.23	403
400	Indicated	180,000	490	0.74	1.93	538
	Inferred	165,000	384	0.99	2.01	455
*Mineral resource Estimate cut-off grade highlighted

 

Pulacayo Deposit Pit Constrained Oxide Zone Sensitivity Analysis

Cut-off Grade (Ag g/t)	Category	Rounded Tonnes	Ag g/t	Pb %	Zn %
30	Indicated	1,760,000	92
	Inferred	35,000	55
*50	Indicated	1,090,000	125
	Inferred	25,000	60
90	Indicated	615,000	171
	Inferred
200	Indicated	185,000	250
	Inferred
*Mineral resource Estimate cut-off of grade highlighted

 

Previous Mineral Resource Estimate

The current mineral resource estimate is the 7th mineral resource estimate prepared for the Pulacayo deposit under National Instrument 43-101 and in accordance with CIM Standards applicable at the respective effective dates. The first 4 estimates pre-date the Company’s acquisition of the Pulacayo Project and are noted in report section 6. The last two estimates were prepared on behalf of Prophecy, the Company’s precursor, and are noted in report section 9. The most recent previous mineral resource estimate for the Pulacayo deposit was prepared by Mercator and is described in a NI 43-101 technical report prepared for Prophecy that is titled "Prophecy Development Corp., Updated Mineral Resource Estimate and Technical Report, Pulacayo Project, Potosí District, Antonnio Quijarro Province, Bolivia, Effective Date: October 20th, 2017". This report is referenced herein as Cullen and Webster (2017) and is filed on SEDAR. Results of the mineral resource estimate supported by the 2017 technical report are briefly discussed below relative to results of the current mineral resource estimate.

 

The Cullen and Webster (2017) mineral resource estimation program applied methodologies specifically aimed at defining high grade silver mineralization and minimizing potential dilution of metal grade by adjacent lower grade tonnes. For these reasons, results of the resulting mineral resource estimates differ substantially from current 2020 results by having higher metal grades, thinner mineralized zone solids and significantly lower tonnages defined at higher cut-off values. In contract, the emphasis of the current mineral resource estimation program was definition of mineral resources having potential for economic extraction in the foreseeable future using primarily open pit mining methods. However, the sensitivity analysis of the current mineral resource estimate shows comparable mineral resources defined at the 400 g/t Ag Eq. cut-off value to those defined at that same cut-off value in the 2017 mineral resource estimates. The slight decrease in average grades and tonnes at that cut-off value is associated with several factors, including but not necessarily restricted to, a difference in interpolation methods, grade domain cut-off values, and evolution of the underground workings model. The value (pricing) of silver is comparable between the current mineral resource and the 2017 assessments. The 2017 mineral resource estimate for the Pulacayo deposit has been superseded by the current mineral resource estimate for the deposit.

PACA DEPOSIT

The Pulacayo and Paca deposits are related to the same mineralizing event that is associated with development of the associated Paca and Pulacayo volcanic centers. The Paca deposit is spatially related to the contact zone of the Paca volcanic dome which is comprised of porphyritic andesite and dacite units and related volcanic breccias. These are hosted by fine grained to conglomeratic volcaniclastic lithologies of the Quehua Formation. Silver-zinc-lead mineralization at Paca occurs primarily within an argillic to advanced argillic alteration envelope that affects both Paca dome igneous lithologies and surrounding host sequences. Silicification and alunite development are also well developed in association with some portions of the deposit. The Paca deposit presents a core zone of mineralization that correlates closely with an irregularly shaped body of altered and brecciated andesite and country rocks that closely follows the contact zone between the Paca dome andesite and the shallowly north-dipping host volcaniclastic sequence. Adjacent to this, stratabound replacement style (“mantos”) mineralization is present within the shallowly north-dipping host volcaniclastic sequence at several elevations. Mantos mineralization merges with that seen in the central breccia zone but is typically lower in all metal grades. A polylithic conglomerate unit that outcrops in the deposit area is also mineralized and shows a strong imprint of silicification represented by micro-crystalline replacement style silica in various forms.

Mineralization associated with discrete veins of significant width and lateral extent is not pervasively present at Paca. Mineralization more typically occurs in irregularly spaced discrete fracture systems as well as in matrix replacement sites. The mantos style mineralization is primarily represented as finely disseminated, fine grains and aggregates of silver, lead and zinc sulphide and sulphosalt phases, accompanied by others such as manganese oxide and barite. Argillic to advanced argillic alteration phases are pervasively present in areas of significant metallic mineralization. Mineral phases commonly recognized at Paca in association with metal grades of economic interest include sphalerite, galena, silver sulphosalts, tennatite, smithsonite, barite, manganese oxide, gypsum, jarosite, specularite, cerussite, dolomite aragonite and calcite. The style and occurrence of this mineralization is consistent with a low-to-intermediate epithermal style genetic model.

The Paca deposit resource is reported in the Mineral Resource Estimate Technical Report for the Pulacayo Project that describes mineral resources estimated following the CIM Standards, 2014. The Mineral Resource Estimate has an effective date of October 13, 2020.

The Mineral Resource Estimate was prepared by Mercator under the supervision of Matthew Harrington, P. Geo., who is an independent Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. A contained metal summary based on the Mineral Resource Estimate for the Paca deposit is reported below:

Paca Deposit Pit-Constrained Mineral Resource Estimate

Effective Date October 13, 2020**

Cut -off Grade	Zone	Category	Rounded Tonnes	Ag g/t	Zn %	Pb %	Ag Moz	Zn Mlbs	Pb Mlbs	*AgEq Moz	*AgEq g/t
50 Ag g/t	Oxide In-Pit	Indicated	1,095,000	185			6.5
		Inferred	345,000	131			1.5
30 *AgEq g/t	Sulfide In-Pit	Indicated	20,595,000	46	1.07	0.67	30.5	485.8	304.2	70.2	106
		Inferred	3,050,000	46	0.76	0.65	4.5	51.1	43.7	9.2	94
Total:		Indicated	21,690,000				37	485.8	304.2	70.2
		Inferred	3,395,000				6	51.1	43.7	9.2

 

**See detailed notes on the Mineral Resource Estimate parameters under preceding Table titled “Pulacayo Deposit Mineral Resource Estimate - Effective Date October 13, 2020”

Sensitivity analysis shown in the following two tables illustrates various pit-constrained grade-tonnage scenarios at the Paca deposit based on a range of cut-off grades:

 

Paca Deposit Pit-Constrained Cut-Off Grade Sensitivity Report for Oxide Zone

Cut -off Grade	Category	Rounded Tonnes	Ag g/t	Zn %	Pb %	Ag Moz	Zn Mlbs	Pb Mlbs	*AgEq Moz	AgEq g/t
30 Ag g/t	Indicated	1,805,000	128			7.4
	Inferred	500,000	102			1.6
45 Ag g/t	Indicated	1,225,000	170			6.7
	Inferred	375,000	124			1.5
90 Ag g/t	Indicated	800,000	231			5.9
	Inferred	235,000	159			1.2
200 Ag g/t	Indicated	420,000	311			4.2
	Inferred	55,000	285			0.5
400 Ag g/t	Indicated	80,000	493			1.3
	Inferred	5,000	459			0.1

 

Note: Cut-off grade for pit-constrained oxide mineral resources is 50 g/t Ag.

Paca Deposit Pit-Constrained Cut-Off Grade Sensitivity Report for Sulfide Zone

Cut -off Grade	Category	Rounded Tonnes	Ag g/t	Zn %	Pb %	Ag Moz	Zn Mlbs	Pb Mlbs	*AgEq Moz	AgEq g/t
30 AgEq g/t	Indicated	20,595,000	46	1.07	0.67	30.5	485.8	304.2	70.2	106
	Inferred	3,050,000	46	0.76	0.65	4.5	51.1	43.7	9.2	94
45 AgEq g/t	Indicated	19,315,000	48	1.11	0.69	29.8	472.7	293.8	68.3	110
	Inferred	2,650,000	51	0.81	0.7	4.4	47.3	40.9	8.7	102
90 AgEq g/t	Indicated	8,600,000	87	1.38	0.95	24.1	261.6	180.1	45.4	164
	Inferred	950,000	114	0.94	0.95	3.5	19.7	19.9	5.2	171