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Filed by sedaredgar.com - Silverado Gold Mines Ltd. - Form 10-KSB |
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-KSB
[X] ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended: November 30, 2008
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ____________ to ____________
Commission File Number 0-12132
SILVERADO GOLD MINES
LTD.
(NAME OF SMALL BUSINESS ISSUER IN ITS CHARTER)
British Columbia, Canada | 98-0045034 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
organization) | |
1111 West Georgia Street, Suite 1820 | |
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | V6E 4M3 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Issuer's telephone number: (800) 665-4646
Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act: None.
Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act: Common Stock, no par value.
Title of each class | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, no par value | None |
Check whether the issuer is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. [ ]
Check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 12months (or for 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 [X] No [ ]
Check if there is no disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of Regulation S-B contained in this form, and no disclosure will be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-KSB or any amendment to this Form 10-KSB. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [ ] No [ X ]
State issuer’s revenues for its most recent fiscal year: $0
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price atwhich the common equity was sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of a specified date within the past 60 days: $8,679,000 as of March 6, 2009.
The number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common equity, as of the latest practicable date: 1,098,612,771 common shares, no par value, outstanding as of March 6, 2009.
Documents Incorporated By Reference: None.
Transitional Small Business Disclosure Format (check one): Yes [ ] No [X]
Page | ||
PART I | ||
ITEM 1 | DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS | 1 |
ITEM 1A | RISK FACTORS | 25 |
ITEM 2 | DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY | 28 |
ITEM 3 | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS | 52 |
ITEM 4 | SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS | 52 |
PART II | ||
ITEM 5 | MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND SMALL BUSINESS ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES | 52 |
ITEM 6 | MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF OPERATION | 54 |
ITEM 7 | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 59 |
ITEM 8 | CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE | 61 |
ITEM 8A | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES | 61 |
ITEM 8B | OTHER INFORMATION | 61 |
ITEM 9 | DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS, CONTROL PERSONS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE; COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT | 61 |
ITEM 10 | EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | 63 |
ITEM 11 | SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS | 65 |
ITEM 12 | CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE | 67 |
ITEM 13 | EXHIBITS | 68 |
ITEM 14 | PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES | 69 |
SIGNATURES | 70 |
PART 1
ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The information in this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding our capital needs, business plans and expectations. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties regarding the market price of gold, availability of funds, government regulations, common share prices, operating costs, capital costs, outcomes of test mining activities and other factors. Forward-looking statements are made, without limitation, in relation to operating plans, property exploration activities, including test mining activities, availability of funds, environmental reclamation, operating costs and permit acquisition. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan”, “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,”
“predict,” “potential,” or “continue,” and the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Actual events or results may differ materially. In evaluating these statements, you should consider various factors, including the risks outlined below, and, from time to time, in other reports we file with the SEC. These factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update these statements, or disclose any difference between its actual results and those reflected in these statements. The information constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
INTRODUCTION
Silverado Gold Mines Ltd. (“Silverado” or the “Company”) is engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in the State of Alaska, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Silverado Gold Mines Inc., and in the development of a liquid fuel derived from low-rank coal through its other wholly-owned subsidiary, Silverado Green Fuel, Inc.
Silverado has committed over three decades of work to the exploration, development and test mining of gold properties throughout North America. In the mid-1980s, the Company decided to focus its efforts in Alaska. We have extensive experience in geological, geochemical and geophysical exploration techniques. Our mineral holdings are located in the Fairbanks Mining District and in the Koyukuk Mining District, consisting of both lode and placer mining claims. At the present time, our primary focus is the exploration and development of our Nolan Gold Project and our Hammond property located 175 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska. We are also continuing with exploration activities on our Eagle Creek Property and our Ester Dome Project, which are both located in the Fairbanks Mining District.
Silverado has been working for seven years through its “Low-Rank Coal-Water Fuel (Green Fuel)” division on the development of “Green Fuel”, a non-toxic liquid fuel product derived from sub-bituminous and lignite coal. In its finished form the fuel is a non-toxic, non-hazardous environmentally friendly strategic (liquid) fuel. Silverado is seeking financing to enable us to proceed with the construction of a commercial demonstration facility designed to document the combustion characteristics of Green Fuel. A successful demonstration project could lead to construction of a commercial production facility to manufacture the low-rank coal-water fuel as a replacement fuel for oil fired boilers and utility generators. In addition we look forward to our continued planning and progress designed to create a secondary fuel and other product facility designed to gasify and liquefy our green fuel to facilitate the creation of low cost rocket fuel, aviation fuel, gasoline, diesel fuel, synthetic natural gas, synthetic petrochemical feed–stocks, hydrogen for fuel cells, plastic, fertilizers, explosives, urea, ammonia CO2 for enhanced recovery in oil well production as well as a host of other products, all free of sulphur, heavy metals and particulate matter.
CORPORATE ORGANIZATION
Silverado Gold Mines Ltd. is a corporation organized under the laws of British Columbia, Canada. The Company was originally incorporated in June 1963. Silverado operates in the United States through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Silverado Gold Mines Inc., (incorporated May 29, 1981) and Silverado Green Fuel Inc. (incorporated August 14, 2006). We filed a transition application and notice of articles with the British Columbia Registrar of Companies on April 20, 2004 in order to replace our former memorandum adopted under the British Columbia Company Act and to alter our current articles to the extent necessary to ensure compliance with the British Columbia Business Corporations Act (the “BC Business Corporations Act”). The BC Business Corporations Act came into
1
force in British Columbia on March 29, 2004 and replaced the former British Columbia Company Act. The transition notice and notice of articles was filed under the BC Business Corporations Act that requires any British Columbia company incorporated under the former British Columbia Company Act to effect transition under the BC Business Corporations Act by filing with the British Columbia Registrar of Companies a transition application and notice of articles within two years following the coming into force of the BC Business Corporations Act.
Our exploration activities are managed and conducted by affiliated companies, Tri-Con Mining Ltd. (“Tri-Con”) and Tri-Con Mining Inc., pursuant to written operating agreements. Each of Tri-Con, and Tri-Con Mining Inc. are privately-owned corporations controlled by Garry L. Anselmo, who is our president, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and the chairman of our board of directors.
MINERAL EXPLORATION BUSINESS
We are a mineral exploration company with interests in properties located throughout the state of Alaska. The majority of such properties are in the early stages of exploration, and there is no assurance that a commercially viable mineral deposit exists on such properties. Effective January 1, 2009, based on completion of a preliminary feasibility study, our Nolan Gold and Antimony Lode Project has disclosed an economically viable mineral reserve. The preliminary feasibility study concluded that the resource estimates disclosed by the Company in its Current Report on Form 8-K on November 17, 2008 can be reclassified as a probable reserve. Though there were no material changes to the grades and quantities previously reported on November 17, 2008, there was additional data produced that added new grades and there was further work conducted on this zone that resulted in the aforementioned reclassification.
Certain definitions of geological and technical terms used in this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB are provided in the Glossary of Terms under Item 2. Readers and investors are cautioned that many of these terms, such as “inferred resource” and “indicated resource” are terms used and accepted by the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM), and although these terms are recognized and required by the Canadian Securities regulations, they are not recognized by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
We hold interests in the following four groups of mineral properties in Alaska:
1. |
Nolan Gold Project; | |
2. |
Ester Dome Gold properties; | |
3. |
Hammond properties; and | |
4. |
Eagle Creek properties. |
A description of our operations with respect to each of these mineral properties is as follows:
1. Description of Operations at the Nolan Gold Project
1.1 Nolan Gold Project Background
The Nolan Gold Project consists of both placer-style and lode-style deposit types for exploration and development. The Nolan Placer Gold Project involves exploration and development of gold occurring in placer deposits such as stream channels or ancient remnants of placer gold deposits. The Nolan Lode Gold and Antimony Project consists of exploration work designed to locate bedrock structures or formations of bedrock which host gold and antimony mineralization. These two facets of the Nolan Gold Project complement each other, as every stone or pebble in a placer deposit is a piece of rock eroded from some near or distant bedrock formation, and each gold nugget or grain of gold in a placer deposit was originally part of a bedrock formation or structure with lode gold mineralization. Because a placer deposit originates from a lode source, the search for the Nolan lode source involves unraveling the sequences of events that caused a placer deposit to form, as well as applying various geological, geochemical and geophysical exploratory investigations.
The Nolan Gold Project consists of numerous mineral prospects that are in the early stages of exploration, as well as mineral prospects in the advanced stages of exploration. During the years previous to 2007, the Company focused only minimal exploration effort on finding a lode source for gold and focused mostly on the exploration and development of placer gold. During 2008, the Company focused its efforts on the Nolan Gold and Antimony Project which is in the advanced stages of exploration and is potentially moving toward the development stage. During September of 2008, the Company commissioned an independent mining consultant to perform a preliminary feasibility study of the Workman’s Bench lode gold and antimony deposit. The results were released to the public on January 5, 2009.
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The previous bulk sampling projects of placer gold from the gravel benches along the left limit of Nolan Creek was indicated that there was an association between some of the placer gold recovered and an antimony sulfide mineral called stibnite which commonly associated with coated some of the coarser and angular gold nuggets. Stibnite is a sulfide mineral, and is a common pathfinder mineral for gold exploration and consists of the elements antimony and sulfur.
1.2 Nolan Gold Project’s Exploration Approach and Focus
2007
The new exploration approach involves not only looking for the lode source of the gold, but also giving economic consideration to the element antimony in addition to the gold, for exploration and development. In 2007, the Company began a new systematic and more scientific approach that combined soil and rock (surface) geochemical data and geophysical data (airborne and ground) with subsurface drill core geochemical and geological data. The data was compiled into a Geographical Information System (GIS) database. All GIS surface data acquired in the field was located with a Global Positioning System (GPS).
In 2007, the Company began focusing on the lode source of the gold and antimony in the areas referred to as Pringle Bench and Workman’s Bench. These two target areas are underlain by a quartz-gold-antimony veined zone that is part of a sheared and faulted structural zone referred to by the Company as the Solomon Shear Zone. The Company excavated eight trenches totaling 440 lineal feet of bedrock in the Pringle and Workman’s Benches and collected continuous chip samples from the bedrock that included the gold and antimony veins. The Company will continue to use the excavation of trenches to assist in exploration, especially to aid in defining drill targets, taking advantage of the historic roads and trails that allow transport of heavy equipment for exploration purposes.
In 2007, the Company acquired a tracked and mobile diamond core drill for exploration. The diamond core drill, and the 2 inch diameter (NQ) core, allow the geologist to make determination of the true width of mineralized veins and the relationship of the vein to other primary geologic structures. The diamond drill core allows for more accurate analysis of grade and interpretation of style of mineralization and timing of mineralization relative to other structures in the rock.
During 2007, the new soil and rock geochemical data and geophysical data further delineated the northeast trending structural zone, referred to by the Company as the Solomon Shear Zone, which is associated with gold and antimony mineralization. The new approach in 2007 involved the first phase of drilling, using the newly acquired diamond core. A total of 18 holes were drilled across the Solomon Shear Zone. The diamond core drilling data supported the geochemical and geophysical data. The drilling was focused on the Workman’s and Pringle Benches located on the south and north sides of Smith Creek respectively
During 2007, the Company’s exploration efforts in the Fortress area delineated gold and arsenic soil anomalies which coincide with east-west VLF-EM ground geophysical anomalies interpreted by the Company as possibly new mineralized structural trends. The Fortress area has never been drilled and is still in the earliest stages of exploration.
Exploration efforts in 2007 did not result in finding a commercially viable mineral deposit.
2008
During the winter of 2008, the Company excavated 570 feet of exploration tunnels into the bedrock below Workman’s Bench. During the summer of 2008, the Company began the second phase of diamond core drilling, focusing on the Workman’s Bench area, and did not drill north of Smith Creek. The Company continued with the ground (non airborne) very low frequency electromagnetic (VLF-EM) geophysical grid in the Fortress area located on the north end of the property.
The drilling under Workman’s Bench delineated 1,300 feet of gold and antimony mineralization in near vertical structures or veins that extend down dip two hundred feet and remain open at depth. The steeply dipping (near vertical) veins are much more favorable for mining and engineering purposes than lower angled subsurface structures. The 1,300 ft long and 80 to 100 ft wide zone of quartz-antimony-gold veins extends from Smith Creek southwest across Workman’s Bench and is interpreted by the Company to have been offset by a left-lateral fault at its southern extent. The interpretation of the left-lateral fault is based off of both geophysical data, and drill data, and it has possibly displaced the quartz-antimony-gold veined zone. The 1,300 ft long veined zone, located south of Smith Creek, under Workman’s Bench, requires 600 ft of infill drilling to confirm whether the zone connects with the veined zone underlying the Pringle Bench, which was drilled in 2007. The Company attempted to infill drill the area in the fall of 2008, but freezing temperatures halted that effort.
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The 2007 and 2008 drill results in the Workman’s Bench area were not sufficient to define a provable reserve, but the drill results combined with the recently released preliminary feasibility study, was sufficient enough to define a probable reserve. Reserves are listed in Item 2, below.
Another Nolan Gold Project prospect is located at the Hillside Zone, which is northeast of the Pringle Bench and along strike of the five mile long Solomon Shear Zone, The Hillside Zone was drilled previously in 2003. Five inclined percussion reverse circulation (RC) drill holes did not begin to intercept the veined zone until the extreme eastern extent of the eastern-most hole. The new GIS compiled data sets, indicate the previous collar locations were too far west. The new technological approach will allow the Company to select more accurate drill collar locations and drill hole orientations. The Hillside Zone was not drilled since 2003, but is a planned target area for drilling in 2009, upon the completion of infill drilling under the Pringle and Workman’s Benches.
Another Nolan Gold Project prospect that has potential for a lode gold source for exploration and development is located on the north end of the property in an area referred to by the Company as the Fortress. The Fortress area contains a slightly different gold-sulfide association and may be part of a different gold system. The orientation of the gold bearing quartz veins is east-west or slightly northwest to southeast, in contrast to the northeast striking gold-antimony bearing veins associated with the Solomon Shear Zone. The trace metals chemistry in the gold and the interpreted paleoflow direction of the recent glaciation indicate an association between the placer gold in the historic Thompson Pup placer deposits and the gold mineralization in the Fortress area.
In addition, our operations involve honoring our obligations to return the land to its natural state when possible. During 2007, we removed scrap materials and sealed the Swede Channel and Mary’s East sub surface placer exploration portals as part of our reclamation obligations with the Bureau of Land Management. During 2008, we reclaimed 27.5 acres of disturbed land as part of our continued reclamation obligations with the Bureau of Land Management. We will continue to work on our reclamation obligations with the Bureau of Land Management.
A more detailed description of our Nolan Gold Project operations is discussed in the following sections:
1.3 Nolan Gold Bulk Sampling Projects
1.3.1 2007 Placer Gold Bulk Sampling Projects
2007 Swede Channel and Mary’s East Bulk Sampling Projects
The Swede Channel and Mary’s East placer deposits represent the last bulk placer sampling projects that the Company has undertaken, and are disclosed herein as part of the background of the Company’s operations.
The Swede Channel Placer Gold Deposit (“Swede Channel”) is a glacial drainage perched several hundred feet above the Nolan Creek Valley. During the ice age, a glacial event caused the Swede Gulch to rapidly erode a deep, narrow water channel across earlier gold bearing river gravel deposits. Erosion and transportation caused the gold bearing gravel to be re-concentrated due to removal of the lighter gangue minerals, while much of the heavier gold, along with boulders and coarse gravel common to a high energy drainage environment, was deposited to the Swede Channel. Subsequent post glacial uplift and erosion has established the present topography including the perched Swede Channel location on the westerly flank of Smith Dome, and overlain by up to 100 feet of overburden making it an unidentifiable surface topographic expression.
The Mary’s East Placer Gold Deposit (“Mary’s East”) is located a few hundred yards northeast of the Swede Channel and directly east of Mary’s Bench Placer Gold Deposit. Unlike the gold concentrations in the Swede Channel, the placer gold in Mary’s East is concentrated in landslide material that was deposited onto a bedrock shelf during the ice age.
Swede Channel and Mary’s East 2007 Work
During the winter of 2006, Silverado re-opened the Swede portal and continued with its underground exploration and development program on the remaining sections of the Swede Channel until its completion by the middle of January 2007. A total of 8,963 loose cubic yards (“LCY”) of gravel material was stockpiled from the remaining Swede Channel.
In early January 2007, crews installed a portal into Mary’s East, and began an underground drift into the Mary’s East deposit. The Mary’s East project was completed at the end of March 2007 and 9,357 LCY of gravel material was stockpiled from this project.
4
The 2006-2007 winter stockpile contained 18,320 LCY (Swede Channel and Mary’s East combined) of gravel material, and was processed from June through July of 2007 at the existing sluice plant location, yielding 2,811.74 troy ounces of gold nugget gold and over 207 pounds of concentrate that contained gold particles smaller than ¼ inch in size. The fine concentrate yielded 915.06 troy ounces of gold (30% gold), which when combined with 2811.74 troy ounces of nugget gold recovered in 2007 totals 3726.80 troy ounces. Also, the fine concentrates yielded 65.10 troy ounces of silver or 2.15% silver.
The Swede channel and Mary’s East portals were both sealed after completion of the underground bulk sampling projects. Both sites were reclaimed in summer 2007 as required by the Bureau of Land Management.
1.3.2 2008 Nolan Lode Gold and Antimony Bulk Sampling Project
During 2008, the Company did not explore for placer gold resources. The exploration efforts involved the systematic process that may eventually allow for the extraction of a bulk sample or samples of gold-bearing semi-massive to massive stibnite (antimony mineral) from a lode source for mineral processing and metallurgical testing, with consideration for both gold and antimony as potential resources.
On November 16, 2007, we began the excavation of the Workman’s Bench Portal and continued excavating 570 feet of underground workings into the bedrock below Workman’s Bench. The tunnels were finished in early February of 2008. The tunnels are interconnected and serve a multitude of purposes. The first purpose was for determining the overall width of the veined gold and antimony mineralized zone and establishing the strike and dip of the individual quartz-gold-antimony veins. The second purpose was for the collection of insitu bedrock channel samples for geochemical assays, and the third was for the collection of significantly larger (bulk) samples of the main gold and antimony vein referred to by the Company as the Zone A vein, that typically consists of massive stibnite and gold, for more accurate geochemical assays as well as for preliminary milling and processing studies of the gold and antimony.
The final purpose of the tunnels is for access and egress for future bulk sampling at depth. Depending on funding, the Company plans to collect either a 1,000 cubic yard or 2,000 cubic yard bulk sample of the main gold and antimony vein referred to by the Company as the A Zone Vein. Other potential targets for future exploration and development include the West Zone, B Zone and C Zone that parallel the main A Zone Vein.
Bulk Sample of the ‘A’ Zone Vein
Prior to 2008, the Company had not completed mineral processing or tests for mineral processing of lode mineralization in the Nolan Creek area.
Thomas K. Bundtzen (the “QP”), an independent and AIPG Certified Professional Geologist, served as an independent third-party qualified person to the Company for the purpose of certifying and collecting data for the Nolan Gold Project. In April 2008, the QP collected a 414 lb bulk sample of semi-massive stibnite, vein quartz, and wall rock gangue from the defined mineralized ‘A’ Zone in the Workman’s Bench underground workings. The purpose was to determine the mineralogical nature of the antimony mineralization and the source of significant gold values within the ‘A’ Zone.
The 414 lb bulk sample was sent to Hazen Research Labs Inc. in Golden, Colorado, USA in order to discover the most optimal grind for potential marketing of a stibnite product, and to identify the mineralogical nature of the gold and antimony values. Hazen Research Labs Inc. produced two reports in September of 2008. Results of the first report involve flotation and gravity separation of the gold, stibnite and other sulfides and gangue minerals. The results of the second report involve mineralogical examination. Details of the two Hazen Research Lab reports are discussed under Item 2, below.
Silverado has recently acquired a permit from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to collect and process a maximum 1,000 cu yd of material from the Workman’s Bench Lode for metallurgical testing. The bulk sample will be collected to determine grinding, flotation, and other processing and mineralogical characteristics of stibnite.
The QP released a detailed technical report on July 29, 2008 referred to as NI 43-101 which disclosed both placer and lode resource estimates for the Nolan Creek properties. Discussion and results of the bulk sample collected by the QP are detailed in the technical report. The July 29, 2008 report was based on information available to the QP as of July 2, 2008, and the resource estimates in the report were superseded by the QP’s November 17, 2008 revised estimates which indicated a resource of 17,000 oz of gold which has been reclassified as a reserve of 17,000 oz of gold following the release of the preliminary feasibility study, effective January 1, 2009. The more recent reserve estimates are discussed in Item 2. The most recent reserve estimates are more complete and accurate since they include data from the completion of the 2008 drill program that ended in late September of 2008. The most recent report,
5
effective January 1, 2009 includes a feasibility study by the QP as well as additional drilling data and analysis of core samples. Readers and investors are cautioned that the 43-101 technical report in which the reserve estimates are based upon contains language and terms that may not be recognized by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.4 Nolan Placer Gold Project Exploration
1.4.1 2007 Nolan Placer Gold Exploration
During March and April 2007, placer gold exploration focused on drilling along the left limit of Nolan Creek to explore both north and south of the Mary’s East and Swede Channel deposits. Further placer drilling was carried out within the area between the Mary’s East/Swede Channel Deposits and the Topnotch Prospect. A total of 130 drill holes were completed during that drilling program with a total drill footage of 6,005 feet. Out of the 130 drill holes, 54 show the presence of gold. 3 drill holes showed sample intervals with gold values above the cut-off grade of 0.04 troy ounces per bank cubic yard (toz/BYCD) determined for underground bulk sampling (see table below).
Drill Hole
Number |
From (ft) |
To (ft) |
Sample Length (ft) |
Gold toz /BCYD |
07MB34 | 20 | 25 | 5 | 0.05 |
07MB65 | 40 | 45 | 5 | 0.06 |
07MB66 | 40 | 45 | 5 | 0.30 |
The 2007 placer drilling program discovered an entirely new zone of placer gold which has been named Jack London Bench. Jack London Bench is located 200 feet north-east of and 50 feet above the Mary’s East Bench.
RC drilling is the principal exploration method used by Silverado in the identification of placer gold deposits. All placer drilling in 2007 was performed by a contractor using 6 inch diameter drill rods. Placer drill samples were collected in 5 foot intervals (industry standard).
1.4.2 2008 Nolan Placer Gold Exploration
During 2008, the Company did not do any field exploration work such as reverse circulation (RC) drilling or any other active exploration for placer gold. The Company focused on the Nolan Lode Gold and Antimony Project.
On July 29, 2008, the QP released the NI 43-101 Report ‘Estimation of Lode and Placer Mineral Resources, Nolan Creek, Wiseman B-1 Quadrangle, Koyukuk District, Northern Alaska’, which describes lode and placer mineralization in the Nolan Creek area, including the Workman’s bench area. No new information concerning sampling methods and approach for placer deposits has been generated for Nolan Creek project since that release of information. The results of Bundtzen’s resource estimates differ from the placer gold resource estimates reported by Murton’s 2007 NI 43-101 report for the Company. The difference between the Murton resource estimates and the Bundtzen estimates was due to Bundtzen having access to more data.
1.4.3 Nolan Placer Gold Exploration 2009 Work Plan
Currently the Company is focusing on the Nolan Lode Gold and Antimony Project with an emphasis on infill drilling for more accurate resource estimates in the Workman’s and Pringle Bench Areas.
However, one of the objectives for the year 2009 is to compile all available RC downhole drill data and drill collar survey data from the Nolan Creek drainages and the Slisco Bench on the Hammond River. There has been over 900 percussion drill holes drilled in these areas between 1981 and 2007. A comprehensive GIS based study involving contouring the gold grade in gravels combined with new survey data could indicate potential placer targets that were not considered in previous years. The current placer drill hole database is extensive but incomplete, the consolidation of all the data into a comprehensive GIS database will enable a more accurate analysis of placer gold potential.
Depending on funding and investor interest in the Nolan Lode Gold and Antimony Project, the Company does not plan on any placer drilling exploration in the Nolan Creek drainage during 2009. More infill RC drilling is needed on Jack London Bench and other benches on the left limit of Nolan Creek. All targets for exploration along the left limit of Nolan Creek are well above the elevation of Nolan Creek. The Nolan Creek Deep Channel is a primary consideration for exploration and development, but additional data is needed for hydrologic studies.
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Based on previous RC drill data, the Company believes the best target for placer gold exploration and development is located in the Slisco Bench which is part of our Hammond Property and is discussed below.
Budget projections for this project are detailed under the section “Projected Annual Budget for 2009”
1.5 Nolan Lode Gold and Antimony Project Exploration
1.5.1 2007 Nolan Lode Gold and Antimony Project Exploration Work Summary
During 2007, exploration for a lode gold and antimony deposit on the Company’s Nolan property focused on the Nolan Creek area within the Solomon Shear Zone and the Fortress area. The Solomon Shear Zone is a five mile long gold and antimony bearing shear zone, which is a possible source of placer gold in the Nolan valley drainages, and bench deposits such as Swede Channel, Mary’s East Bench, Mary’s Bench, Eureka Bench, and Workman’s Bench.
The 2007 lode exploration program consisted of extensive ground geochemical soil surveys and ground geophysical very low frequency electromagnetic (“VLF-EM”) surveys, extensive backhoe trenching and a first phase diamond core drilling program to follow up on the significant results achieved by backhoe trenching.
A more detailed description of exploration work during 2007 is as follows:
2007 Nolan Creek Area
In May, June, and July of 2007, the Company undertook an extensive geochemical soil sampling campaign on the lower Smith Creek Dome hillside between Archibald Creek and Smith Creek (the “Hillside”), and south of Smith Creek in the lower western part of Midnight Dome. A total of 695 soil samples were collected during the campaign on a 196.85 x 98.43 foot grid. Assay results of the soil sampling campaign show a distinct arsenic and antimony anomalous trend on the eastern part of the Solomon Shear trend. Arsenic anomalies are strong indicators for the presence of gold.
Along with the soil sampling campaign, Silverado conducted an extensive VLF-EM ground geophysical survey (18.02 line miles) on the lower Smith Creek Dome hillside between Archibald Creek and Smith Creek, and south of Smith Creek in the lower western part of Midnight Dome, to identify structures such as shear zones, faults, and veins that occur within the bedrock. The VLF-EM survey identified structural trends in the Solomon Shear Zone that are overlain by arsenic, antimony, and gold in soil anomalies.
In June, July, and August of 2007 the Company undertook backhoe trenching on Pringle Bench and Workman’s Bench. This program was followed up by a first phase diamond core drilling program. Details of the 2007 exploration program are as follows:
Pringle Bench
Pringle Bench represents an area 500 feet wide by 700 feet long and consists of a series of sub parallel gold bearing antimony-quartz veins.
In 2007, the Company followed up on the results achieved on Pringle Bench in 2006 and excavated six additional trenches, totaling 1296 feet, to further investigate the gold bearing antimony-quartz veins previously identified in 2006. A total of 153 combined continuous chip and select chip rock samples were collected. Continuous chip samples were collected over a defined length along the trench walls and, therefore, are representative for a specific trench interval. Continuous chip samples do contain sample material of mineralized veins if those occur within the sample interval. Select samples were collected from individual quartz and stibnite-quartz veins exposed in the trenches and, therefore, their assays represent the individual veins sampled.
The following table presents significant 2007 trench assay results for Pringle Bench:
Trench G | ||||
Sample Number |
Sample Type |
Sample Length (ft) |
Au (toz/ton) |
Sb (%) |
07G11 | Continuous chip | 16.40 | 0.01 | 4.31 |
07G17 | Select chip | 0.07 | 0.05 | 24.60 |
07G18 | Select chip | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.15 |
07G19 | Select chip | 0.16 | 0.13 | 0.04 |
7
Trench H | ||||
Sample Number |
Sample Type |
Sample Length (ft) |
Au (toz/ton) |
Sb (%) |
07H02 | Continuous chip | 16.40 | 0.02 | 2.62 |
07H03 | Continuous chip | 16.40 | 5.22 | 8.74 |
07H06 | Continuous chip | 0.07 | 0.11 | 27.62 |
07H11 | Select chip | 0.03 | 0.12 | 0.03 |
07H12 | Continuous chip | 6.56 | 0.07 | 0.08 |
07H13 | Select chip | 0.03 | 0.36 | 0.80 |
Trench I | ||||
Sample Number |
Sample Type |
Sample Length (ft) |
Au (toz/ton) |
Sb (%) |
07I11 | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.00 | 1.11 |
07I12 | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.03 | 11.06 |
07I13 | Select chip | 3.28 | 0.03 | 18.22 |
07I14 | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.06 | 5.07 |
07I15 | Select chip | 1.97 | 0.23 | 26.23 |
07I19 | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.03 | 3.16 |
07I20 | Select chip | 1.31 | 0.04 | 30.03 |
07I23 | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.03 | 6.02 |
07I24 | Select chip | 5.91 | 0.03 | 30.35 |
07I28 | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.01 | 0.88 |
07I29 | Select chip | 0.66 | 0.04 | 22.92 |
07I32 | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.04 | 0.51 |
07I33 | Select chip | 1.64 | 0.12 | 11.78 |
07I39 | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.03 | 1.76 |
07I45 | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.00 | 1.30 |
07I46 | Select chip | 0.16 | 0.05 | 5.90 |
07I58 | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.01 | 2.78 |
07I59 | Select chip | 0.16 | 0.02 | 48.07 |
07I65 | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.01 | 11.86 |
07I66 | Select chip | 0.26 | 0.01 | 59.52 |
07I72 | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.01 | 3.87 |
07I73 | Select chip | 0.10 | 0.06 | 27.59 |
07I75 | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.01 | 11.80 |
07I76 | Select chip | 0.13 | 0.01 | 64.76 |
07I78 | Select chip | 3.28 | 0.01 | 0.42 |
8
Trench K | ||||
Sample Number |
Sample Type |
Sample Length (ft) |
Au (toz/ton) |
Sb (%) |
07K05 | Continuous chip | 6.56 | 0.13 | 3.75 |
07K06 | Select chip | 0.33 | 0.28 | 11.74 |
Trench M | ||||
Sample Number |
Sample Type |
Sample Length (ft) |
Au (toz/ton) |
Sb (%) |
07M08 | Continuous chip | 6.56 | 0.03 | 13.87 |
07M09 | Select chip | 0.03 | 0.01 | 0.83 |
07M10 | Select chip | 0.33 | 0.05 | 45.09 |
07M11 | Select chip | 0.03 | 0.07 | 7.12 |
07M12 | Select chip | 0.16 | 0.13 | 32.79 |
07M13 | Continuous chip | 6.56 | BDL | 35.11 |
07M14 | Select chip | 0.07 | 0.01 | 5.34 |
07M15 | Select chip | 0.07 | 0.02 | 9.53 |
07M16 | Select chip | 0.07 | 0.03 | 9.33 |
07M17 | Continuous chip | 13.12 | 0.02 | 1.45 |
07M18 | Select chip | 0.03 | 0.07 | 4.48 |
It should be noted that Trench H revealed a 16.4 ft interval (sample number 07H03) with an erratic gold grade. The Company instructed ALS Chemex to re-assay the pulp of the specific sample which confirmed the previous gold value. The Company also decided to re-sample Trench H. Re-sampling did not reproduce the grades of the previous sampling campaign, but confirmed the presence of gold and antimony mineralization. The stibnite-quartz veins in the Nolan area are known to contain coarse gold which can result in a “nugget effect” when assayed.
Following up on the encouraging results achieved by backhoe trenching, the Company started a first phase drilling program at Pringle Bench at the end of August 2007 using its own diamond core drill rig. Eleven drill holes were drilled on Pringle Bench totaling 2,415 feet. The core drilling program was designed to check for down-dip continuity of the gold bearing antimony-quartz vein systems in the zones identified thus far. The core drilling confirmed the presence of stibnite (antimony) and quartz veins at varying depths.
2007 Workman’s Bench
Workman’s Bench is located near the confluence of Smith and Nolan Creek.
In July 2007, the Company excavated one trench in the old Workman’s Bench pit with a total length of 125 feet. This trench exposed the largest antimony veins discovered in the Nolan Creek area to that date. A total of 15 continuous chip samples were collected from Trench J.
The following table presents significant 2007 trench assay results for Workman’s Bench:
Trench J (Workman's Bench) | ||||
Sample Number |
Sample Type |
Sample Length (ft) |
Au (toz/ton) |
Sb (%) |
0704WT | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.00 | 1.70 |
0710WT | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.00 | 30.30 |
0711WT | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.01 | 1.72 |
0712WT | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.04 | 11.70 |
0713WT | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.12 | 29.30 |
0714WT | Continuous chip | 8.20 | 0.02 | 2.56 |
0715WT | Continuous chip | 9.84 | 0.02 | 14.05 |
9
A first phase exploration drilling program on Workman’s Bench using the Company’s own diamond core drill rig started at the end of August 2007 and ended on October 23, 2007 due to weather conditions. Seven drill holes were drilled totaling 2,140 feet. This drilling program was designed to check for down-dip continuity of the gold bearing antimony-quartz veins previously discovered. Visual observation of the drill core had identified the presence of many antimony-quartz and quartz veins. The majority of these veins were found to be contained in an 80 foot wide zone.
On November 16, 2007, we began excavation of the portal that would continue into the bedrock below Workman’s Bench located on the south side of Smith Creek near the confluence with Nolan Creek. The tunneling effort continued into 2008 and resulted in 570 feet of underground workings consisting of four interconnected tunnels referred to as Crosscut Tunnels A, B, C and D.
The QP collected a 414 lb bulk sample from mineralized zone ‘A’ for metallurgical test work from the underground workings in April 2008. The underground exposure of the mineralized zone will play an important key role for the Company in obtaining a better understanding of the nature of the structurally controlled gold and antimony mineralization in the Solomon Shear Zone. This will significantly support Silverado’s exploration strategy.
2007 Fortress Area
The Fortress area is located two miles northeast of Nolan camp and north of Smith Creek Dome. This area exposes several outcropping northwest striking quartz veins, some of which contain significant gold mineralization. The Company investigated the Fortress area in late summer 2007 and collected several quartz vein samples and confirmed anomalous gold concentrations in vein samples.
Based on the encouraging results, the Company conducted a VLF-EM ground geophysical survey (9.33 line miles) along with a ground geochemical soil survey over the central part of the Fortress area. A total of 290 soil samples were collected on a regular grid during the campaign. Interpretation of the VLF-EM survey data by the Company revealed two east-west trending fault zones that are overlain by arsenic and gold in soil anomalies. A combination of soil survey results, ground geophysical data, and surface geology suggest to Silverado that formation of northwest-trending gold-bearing quartz veins may be controlled by east-trending deformational zones.
The VLF-EM ground geophysical survey along with the ground geochemical soil survey conducted in the Fortress area, confirmed the presence of the gold-bearing antimony quartz vein system on the Saddle, as part of the Solomon Shear trend, in the southern part of the Fortress area. Interpretation of the VLF-EM survey data by the Company revealed two northeast trending deformation zones of which the southern deformation zone is overlain by antimony and arsenic in soil anomalies.
1.5.2 2008 Nolan Lode Gold and Antimony Project Exploration Work Summary
During 2008, exploration for a lode gold and antimony deposit on the Company’s Nolan property focused again on the Nolan Creek area within the Solomon Shear Zone and Fortress area. The Solomon Shear Zone is a five mile long gold and antimony bearing shear zone, which is a possible source of placer gold in the Nolan valley drainages, especially the gravel bench deposits such as Swede Channel, Mary’s East Bench, Mary’s Bench, Eureka Bench, and Workman’s and Pringle Bench. The Fortress area is a broad ridge located on the north end of the property between the Hammond River drainage and the Nolan Creek drainage. The Fortress area hosts gold-quartz-arsenopyrite veins which are associated with east-west structures termed by the Company as the Fortress trend. The Fortress veins may be the source for the gold in the Thompson Pup placer deposits. The southern end of the Fortress area is cut by the Solomon Shear Zone and contains gold and antimony mineralized quartz veins distinctly different from the Fortress trend veins.
The 2008 lode exploration program consisted of a variety of field exploration work. During early February 2008, 570 lineal ft of underground tunnels, termed Tunnels A, B, C and D were completed in the bedrock below the Workman’s Bench, crosscutting the gold and antimony veins associated with the Solomon Shear Zone. Channel samples of the bedrock were collected from the newly excavated tunnels during the winter of 2008. During April of 2008, the QP collected a 414 lb bulk sample of the gold and stibnite-rich main vein, referred to by the Company as the Zone A vein. During the early summer of 2008, additional ground geophysical very low frequency electromagnetic (VLF-EM) surveys were conducted in the Fortress area. Approximately 79,000 ft (14.9 miles) of geophysical lines were surveyed in the former area. No soil samples were collected on any of the Nolan Gold Properties. Fourteen rock samples were collected throughout the Nolan Gold Project properties.
Additional diamond core drilling continued in the summer of 2008, but focused exclusively on the Solomon Shear Zone on the south side of Smith Creek. Thirty four drill holes were drilled into the gold-bearing antimony-quartz veined zone underlying Workman’s Bench and the southwest continuation of the zone. A total of 11,597 ft was drilled into the Solomon Shear Zone. Freezing temperatures disallowed the continuation of drilling in late September while the Company was trying to drill on the north side of Smith Creek between the Pringle Bench and Workman’s Bench areas.
10
In addition, in June of 2008, three vertical RC holes (water test wells) were drilled a minimum of 300 ft each to test for the presence of groundwater in the area around Workman’s Bench. The well holes were drilled outside the limits of the mineralized Solomon Shear Zone, yet were proximal to the zone. According to Swan Drilling of Fairbanks Alaska, no groundwater water was encountered in any of the RC drill holes. A total of 1,000 ft was drilled by Swan Drilling. The rock chips were collected every five feet and visually inspected by geologists for possible mineralization.
A more detailed description of exploration work during 2008 is as follows:
2008 Nolan Creek Area
2008 Workman’s Bench
Workman’s Bench is located near the confluence of Smith and Nolan Creek.
On November 16, 2007, we began the excavation of the Workman’s Bench Portal and continued excavating 570 feet of underground workings into the bedrock below Workman’s Bench. The tunnels were finished on February 2, 2008. The tunnels are interconnected and serve a multitude of purposes. The first purpose was for determining the overall width of the veined gold and antimony mineralized zone and establishing the strike and dip of the individual quartz-gold-antimony veins. The second purpose was for the collection of insitu bedrock channel samples for geochemical assays, and the third purpose was for the collection of significantly larger (bulk) samples of the main gold and antimony vein referred to by the Company as the ‘A’ Zone vein. The A zone vein typically consists of massive stibnite and gold with variable quartz and carbonate gangue minerals. The underground workings were mapped to determine the true strike and dip of the veins as well as the true width of the veins and mineralized zones. The QP collected a 414 lb bulk sample of the ‘A’ Zone Vein for more accurate geochemical assays as well as for preliminary milling and processing studies of the gold and antimony. The 414 lb sample of mostly massive stibnite with minor quartz and carbonate gangue was sent to Hazen Research Inc. Lakewood, Colorado, for the metallurgical tests. The underground tunnels will also be used for additional geotechnical studies and most importantly for access and egress of future bulk sampling efforts at depth.
During February of 2008, the Company collected 92 channel samples from the rock walls of the tunnels, and collected specific samples of the larger quartz-stibnite-gold veins. The channel samples were five feet in length. In addition, the QP collected 23 independent channel samples across 16 northeast striking steeply dipping quart-stibnite-gold veins, as well as 7 other less mineralized structures.
The following table presents assay values of significant 2008 underground channel samples and specific semi-massive and massive stibnite vein samples collected during February of 2008. The following table shows the slightly variable gold content within the stibnite rich areas, even when sampled from similar sites. The variable gold content in the massive stibnite, and stibnite-rich zones, supports the Company’s previous interpretation that there is a gold ‘nugget effect’ that makes the estimation of a lode gold to antimony ratio difficult to ascertain and is part of the reason why the Company is seeking a bulk sample on the scale of 1,000 to 2000 cubic yards or more. Also, further metallurgical work and processing studies will be carried out on a wider range of ore grade material. Refer to plan view map of the underground workings for the sample locations.
11
Sample Number |
Stibnite Target Vein Zone |
Sample
Location Number Or Tunnel |
True Width In feet |
Sb(%) | Au (oz/t) |
Brief Description |
203405 Bench Test Sample |
‘West’ Zone |
Tunnel D |
1.5 |
41.20 |
0.110 |
Semi-massive stibnite, quartz gangue |
203789 |
‘West’ Zone |
Tunnels A and D Intersection |
1.5 |
22.48 |
0.556 |
Wall rock of connecting drift |
203808 |
A Zone
|
Tunnel
D |
1.50
|
43.64
|
1.19 |
Nearly massive stibnite with quartz |
WBUG3 S1 | ‘A’ Zone | Site 3B | 0.42 | 52.10 | 0.676 | Massive Stibnite Vein in North Drift |
WBUG3 S2 | ‘A’ Zone | Site 3B | 0.42 | 58.89 | 0.329 | Massive Stibnite Vein in North Drift |
WBUG3 S3 | ‘A’ Zone | Site 3A | 0.42 | 60.90 | 0.031 | Massive Stibnite Vein in North Drift |
WBUG3 S4 | ‘A’ Zone | Site 3B | 0.42 | 55.71 | 0.451 | Massive Stibnite Vein in North Drift |
WBUG3 S5 | ‘A’ Zone | Site 3B | 0.42 | 11.10 | 0.444 | Semi-Massive Stibnite Vein in North Drift |
WBUG8- S2 | ‘A’ Zone | Site 8 | 0.42 | 58.76 | 0.145 | Massive stibnite Vein in South Drift |
203802 | ‘A’ Zone | Tunnel C | 2.50 | 37.78 | 0.076 | Semi-Massive Stibnite Vein in South Drift |
203810 | ‘B’ Zone | Tunnel C | 0.5 | 41.0 | 0.696 | Nearly massive stibnite with quartz, south drift |
203791 | ‘B’ Zone | Tunnel A | 0.50 | 39.73 | 0.362 | Nearly massive stibnite with hanging wall north drift |
WBUG8 S1 | ‘A’ Zone | Site 8 | 0.42 | 57.52 | 0.359 | Massive stibnite Vein in South Drift |
WBUG5 S2 | ‘B’ Zone | Site 5 | 0.42 | 50.04 | 1.040 | Massive Stibnite Vein in North Drift |
A total of 34 diamond core drill holes were drilled into the gold-bearing antimony-quartz veined Solomon Shear Zone in 2008, totaling 11,597 ft of core for the season, with a core recovery of over 95%. The second phase drilling effort was focused exclusively on the portion of the Solomon Shear Zone that extends 1300 ft southwest from Smith Creek across Workman’s Bench. Details of the results of the drilling program are discussed below.
During the 2008 drilling program, a total of 627 samples were collected from the drill core. The total samples collected is significantly less than the 1,195 core samples collected during the 2007 drill program even though the drilling footage in 2007 totaled only 4,555 ft. The fewer samples collected was based off of results of 2007 when the holes were sampled from top to bottom. Drill results in both the Pringle and Workman’s Benches in 2007 indicated that the gold mineralization was associated with the sulfide-bearing (stibnite or arsenopyrite) quartz veins. Thus, only individual quartz veins or zones of closely spaced thin veins were sampled, and these samples are referred to as specific samples. The adjoining wall rock of significant veined zones was also sampled, and these are referred to as reference samples for continuity across the zones.
Four discrete gold-bearing stibnite-quartz-carbonate veined zones, were defined by the results of the two drilling programs, and these four zones are also evident in the workman’s Bench Underground exploration tunnels. The four zones are depicted in the Fig below. Currently, the ‘A’ Zone vein is the largest in width and most well defined in our downhole projections and in the exploration tunnels. The ‘A’ zone vein was subject for the bulk sample collected by the QP in April of 2008. Results of the bulk sample are listed in Bundtzen’s 43-101 report. The resource estimates for the deposit exclude the ‘C’ Zone.
The map below is a plan-view of the 570 ft of underground workings and depicts three of the four mineralized zones. The ‘West’ zone which typically skirts the west side of the ‘A’ Zone is not outlined in the figure.
12
Location of underground development and channel samples, Workman’s Bench
13
Surface view of Workman’s bench mineralized zones, showing locations of underground workings, drill hole control, and interpreted extensions and overall widths of A, B, C and West Zones.
14
The following table shows examples of the types of mineralized veins in the four discrete zones within the Solomon Shear Zone. Some of the smaller veins are examples of individual veins and do not represent the entire zone which may contain more veins within it. The reserve estimates discussed in Item 2 are based off of the ‘A’,’B’, and West Zones and do not include the ‘C’ Zone. The table does not show all of the intercepts used by the Company for reserve estimates. The table is for description purposes only.
No. |
Drill Hole # (Assay Intervals) |
Stibnite Target Vein Zone |
From (feet) |
To (feet) |
Width (feet) |
Sb(%) |
Au (oz/ton) |
Brief Description |
1 |
08SH02 |
West Zone |
160.0 |
160.6 |
0.6 |
23.30 |
0.031 |
Quartz–Stibnite vein 2.0 inches wide |
2 |
08SH02 |
‘A’Zone |
186.5 |
187.5 |
1.0 |
37.92 |
0.091 |
5 inch (true
thickness)quartz– stibnite vein with semi– massive stibnite in medial portion |
3 |
08SH02 |
‘B’Zone |
193.0 |
193.8 |
0.8 |
7.11 |
0.190 |
2 parallel
quartz–stibnite veins totaling about 4 inches in thickness |
4 |
08SH03 |
West Zone |
41.3 |
42.5 |
1.2 |
37.91 |
0.301 |
Sheared stibnite–quartz zone;
about 1 foot true thickness; textures look like ‘A’ zone (offset?) |
5 |
08SH03 |
‘A’Zone |
115.9 |
117.0 |
1.1 |
26.73 |
0.410 |
Quartz–stibnite veins at vertical orientations. |
6 |
08SH03 |
Hanging wall ‘A’zone |
117.0 |
117.5 |
0.5 |
0.07 |
0.360 |
Hanging wall With 0.86% As; trace stibnite in quartz |
7 |
08SH03 |
‘B’Zone |
130.3 |
130.9 |
0.6 |
13.65 |
0.130 |
Stibnite–quartz vein zone
with visible siderite |
8 |
08SH03 |
‘C’Zone |
195.5 |
196.1 |
0.6 |
0.70 |
0.130 |
Quartz–stibnite zone; 10% Stibnite; possibly ‘C’ zone" |
9 |
08SH01B |
West or‘A’
|
33.8 |
35.2 |
1.4 |
53.44 |
0.280 |
Massive stibnite with only minor quartz; QP estimate is 11 inches true width |
Table of selected sample composites , illustrating composited assay information and true widths of mineralized structures and veins from 2008 Workman’s Bench core drilling program.
Independent Preliminary Feasibility Study Completed by Pacific Rim Geological Consulting Inc.
During September 2008, Thomas K. Bundtzen of Pacific Rim Geological Consulting Inc. (the “QP”) was commissioned by the Company to perform a preliminary feasibility study of the Workman’s Bench Antimony and Gold Lode Deposit. Bundtzen is a third party (independent) and AIPG Certified Professional Geologist. Bundtzen is a “Qualified Person” as defined by NI 43-101 and also qualifies under the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The significance of the preliminary feasibility study is that the resource estimates of the lode antimony and gold have been reclassified as a reserve and the deposit is an economically viable deposit.
15
The information in the report was based on data as of October 15, 2008. The report was prepared as a National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report in accordance with Form 43-101F, for the Company. Readers and investors need to take caution since the 43-101 technical report is under the guidelines of the British Columbia Securities Commission and that the United States Securities Exchange Commission does not recognize many of the terms used such as “indicated resources” and “inferred resources” and possibly other terms which are commonly used by the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM). Readers should note that the results of the study post date the previous report by the QP released on July 29, 2008, and that the information in the recent report which includes resource estimates supersedes the July report. The results of the study were released on January 1, 2009. The report in its entirety can be found at our website www.silverado.com. Some of the pertinent items discussed in the report are as follows:
1. |
Data Verification by the QP and QAQC of the Company’s Sample Management. | |
2. |
Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing of Bulk Sampled Material from the Underground Workings. | |
3. |
Summary of Resource and Reserve Estimates of the Antimony and Gold Lode Deposits. | |
4. |
Methodology and Modeling Used for the Lode Resource Estimates. | |
5. |
Waste Rock Management Plan | |
6. |
Mill Design (Pilot Mill) | |
7. |
Modeling Used for the Lode Resource Estimates. | |
8. |
Project Implementation Schedule. | |
9. |
Conclusions and Recommendations of the QP. |
Data Verification
During numerous personal inspections of the Nolan Creek properties during both 2007 and 2008, the QP observed sample collection and sample preparation practices for the Nolan Gold Projects lode-style deposits. On June 13 and 14 and September 28 and 29, 2008, the QP visited the Nolan Camp and examined all significantly mineralized core intervals acquired from the 2007 and 2008 drilling programs. A total of 124 mineralized intervals were examined. The analytical data was compared with each of the mineralized zones and confirmed the elevated antimony and gold values in the sampled areas.
The QP observed core logging and trench samples being prepared for shipment from Nolan Creek during October 22 to October 23, 2007. The QP also observed Silverado contractors preparing placer samples for separation of placer gold, the subsequent weighing of recovered gold and calculation of gold per unit volume of material.
Judgments and determinations by the QP in regards to the Company’s sample preparation, analytical procedures and security of samples are discussed in the 43-101 technical report.
Nolan Lode Gold and Antimony Project 2009 Work Plan
The recent feasibility study performed by the QP will be a guideline for our future activities. Depending on funding and the acquisition of certain permits, the Company plans to fast track efforts toward the development stage.
During 2009, lode exploration work will consist of additional diamond core drilling in several key areas throughout the property, as well as more test trenching and bedrock sampling along the northeast trending Solomon Shear Zone. The primary focus will be infill drilling in the intermediate area between the Pringle Bench and Workman’s Bench, as well as more infill drilling within the area drilled in 2008 for more accurate resource estimates of the gold and antimony mineralized veins. Additional drilling on the property will be dependent on our completion of drilling in the former key areas. The planned drilling schedule is as follows.
Workman’s Bench - The Company plans to infill drill a minimum of 20 holes along the portion of Solomon Shear Zone that was drilled in 2008, for a more accurate estimate of reserves.
Pringle South – The Company plans to infill drill a minimum of 10 holes along the Solomon Shear Zone on the north side of Smith Creek in the area between the Pringle and Workman’s Benches for a check of the continuity of the northeast striking zone.
Hillside Area - The bedrock underlying the Hillside Area was drilled in previous years with an RC drill, but the drilling locations were based on only bedrock trenching data. Since then, geophysical surveys and geochemical soil sampling surveys have indicated that drill collars were too far west and the Company plans to drill a minimum of 5 holes approximately 800 feet further to the east and drilling back toward the west to intercept the zone. In 2009, the Company plans to take advantage of the historic trails and use an excavator to dig additional test trenches in the area further to the east.
16
Medina’s Sleeping Giant - The Company’s newest prospect, based on air photo interpretation and airborne EM surveys, is another structural zone that is over three miles in length and parallels the Solomon Shear Zone. Located approximately 2,000 ft east of the Solomon Shear Zone, the zone cuts across Smith Creek in an area defined by two closely spaced ephemeral creeks (gullies), an area where “old timers” previously mined stibnite. The Company believes that this is likely another structural zone similar to the Solomon Shear Zone. The northeast striking zone extends northeast from Smith Creek along the break in slope directly south of Smith Dome.
The escarpment that remains at the base of the slope represents the highest erosion and movement by glaciers in the area, and this area may be responsible for the historic placer deposits in upper Smith Creek. The Company plans to excavate a minimum of four 100 ft test trenches into the overburden as well as the bedrock to check for gold and antimony mineralization. The test trenches are essential since there is no bedrock exposure, and the tundra covered soil horizons are poorly defined or absent.
Fortress Area - The Company plans to do detailed mapping and sampling of the quartz-arsenopyrite veins in various outcrops along the Fortress ridgetop. No drilling is planned for the Fortress Area in 2009.
Sample Collection, Sample Preparation, and Analytical Procedures
All primary sample preparation from both lode and placer mineral exploration programs at Nolan Creek was conducted by professional geologists employed by Silverado. All work completed on behalf of Silverado was completed by or under the supervision of a contractor of Silverado. Officers, directors, and associates of Silverado were not involved in sample preparation. Independent, off-site analytical laboratories completed additional sample preparation of samples from the lode-style deposits.
Analysis of placer samples is performed on-site by Silverado contractors. Analysis of lode-style deposit samples (core, percussion, trench, and underground channel) is performed by independent, off-site laboratories.
Samples from placer deposits are analyzed in their entirety (i.e., no sub-sampling) to minimize potential bias from sub-sampling of material with such a large proportion of gold nuggets. The primary sample is processed through a gravity separation technique at the drill rig to separate gold nugget, fine gold, and heavy minerals from the host gangue material. A systematic procedure was developed by geological staff for the collection and preparation of percussion drill hole samples. The sample is emitted from the drill and immediately submitted to a drill-mounted cyclone to dissipate the sample velocity, and then passed through a Jones™ splitter. The split sample is then processed through a Denver Gold Saver™. The oversize exits the revolving drum screen to a picking plate where +¼ inch nuggets are hand-picked. The – ¼ inch undersize reports to a Teflon lateral action sluice and the resultant heavy mineral concentrate is hand-panned. The gold in the concentrate is then picked with tweezers. The remaining fine heavy concentrate is treated with amalgamation and the resultant gold bead is weighed along with the hand-picked gold with a Champ™ electronic balance.
The Company judges that the combined weight of the hand-picked gold and the fine gold represents most of the gold in the sampled interval. Since there will always be some loss of gold during this analytical procedure, the gold grade in the sample is not likely to be overstated.
Silverado conducted volume measurements of samples collected during 2003 and 2004 drilling programs. Results of these measurements showed that a 5 foot sample from the Nolan Deep Channel averaged 14.80 gallons, whereas a 5 foot sample from the Mary’s East Bench deposit averaged 19.20 gallons. The Nolan Deep Channel deposits contain significant amounts of silt, sand, and clay, whereas the left limit bench deposits such as those at Mary’s East are much coarser grained. Determination of volumetric measurements results in a more accurate estimate of gold grade in the placer deposit. Hence, each placer deposit has been volume-characterized by Silverado contractors during exploration.
Sample grades for placer deposits are expressed as gold content per bank volume of material where bank volume is the in situ volume of material. To calculate the bank volume the sample volume must be factored using a predefined swell factor that quantifies how much the volume of the sample increases as a result of extraction. The weight of the gold extracted from the sample (the method of recovery which was described previously) is divided by the bank volume of the sample to determine the grade of the sample expressed in oz/cu yd Au.
Two methods are traditionally used by Silverado to estimate gold grades in a placer resource. One method is to calculate the amount of gold present in a bank cubic yard or ounces gold/cubic yard. When all of the values are on or near the bedrock-gravel interface, an alternative method of estimating gold quantities in a placer deposit is the amount of gold present on one square foot of surface area on bedrock, known as a bedrock square foot or ‘bsf’. Since most of the placer gold in the Nolan Deep Channel and in left limit benches are ‘bedrock placers’, some Silverado geologists have expressed gold values in exploration drill programs in ‘bsf’. This value varies with the thickness of auriferous materials both above and below the bedrock-gravel interface. Silverado has established conversion factors for converting ounces gold/bsf to ounces gold/cubic yard, which systematically varied from valley floor and bench deposits.
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All drill hole grade data is expressed in ounces gold per cubic yard. Sample recovery calculations have been implemented by Silverado geological staff.
The bsf method was used by the “old time miners” on the property as the steep bedrock terrain created extreme variables in vertical pay sections laying on bedrock, varying from one to fifteen feet thick. Therefore, cubic yard measurements could be misleading in estimating and measuring a deposit. Measuring deposits in valley bottoms or large bench areas allowed accurate calculations for those areas using the volumetric (i.e., bcy) method.
Diamond core samples are split in half on-site by Silverado personnel using a core saw. Half of the core is submitted to external laboratories for analysis and half is retained on site. Samples from RC drilling are split with a splitter and surface samples are split by contracted laboratory personnel.
ALS Chemex of Vancouver, Canada, an ISO 9001:2000 accredited laboratory, has analyzed most of the Silverado sample stream from lode-style deposits. More recently, Alaska Assay Laboratories LLC of Fairbanks, Alaska, an ANS/ISO/IEC Standard 17035:2005 accredited laboratory, has been used by Silverado for analytical work. Both laboratories produce a coarse split from which a finely ground material to 150 mesh is analyzed. The pulverized material and the coarse reject are stored by the laboratories for possible re-analysis.
Trench and drill core samples submitted to ALS Chemex are analyzed by the following methods: ME-MS41 (41 multi element), Au-AA23 (fire assay gold to 5 ppb level), and Sb-AA65 (> 1% antimony or referred to as ‘ore grade’ antimony). Soil samples shipped to ALS Chemex are analyzed for the same packages with the exception of the ore grade antimony or Sb-AA65.
Samples submitted to Alaska Assay Laboratories LLC were analyzed using the following methods: Au-30 element (multi-element), fire assay AA for gold and silver, and ICP-4A (ore-grade antimony). The packages from each laboratory are roughly comparable in both elemental suite and analytical methods.
Quality Control and Quality Assurance
Quality control and quality assurance (QC/QA) is routinely performed by Silverado exploration contractors. Standards have been obtained from Shea Clark Smith, a geochemist based in Tucson, Arizona that supplies standards for mining companies. For core intervals intersecting vein zones, two standards and one blank are randomly inserted in batches of twenty (20) sample intervals. One standard contains 0.174 oz/ton gold. The other standard contains 0.261 oz/ton gold. For core penetrating mainly wall rock zones, one standard and one blank are randomly inserted into batches of twenty (20) samples, with the standard used containing 0.174 oz/ton gold.
Core recovery is checked in every box coming off the drill rig. During 2008, Silverado's geological contractors have reported that core recovery averaged 95% since the exploration drilling switched to NQ core. Silverado contractors have competently prepared samples analysis and dispatch to external laboratories. All drill core is digitally photographed on site, and the photos are kept on file for future reference as needed. All photos from the 2007 and 2008 drill programs were submitted to the QP for additional verification.
Sample security is maintained by geological contractors. Samples are stored in a secure trailer at Nolan Camp. Individual samples are composited into larger rice bags and sealed with wire ties. Samples are then transported by contractors to the ALS Chemex preparation laboratory in Fairbanks, Alaska.
The analytical package selected from external assay laboratories reflects the need to: obtain precise antimony and gold values, obtain information on trace metals such as bismuth, lead, arsenic, cadmium, and selenium, and to seek to understand background levels of other elements for environmental monitoring reasons. Because Silverado is evaluating the lode resources of the area for potential development, it is useful for Silverado to take a broad look at the elemental suite present in the affected environment in order to better design an environmental monitoring program. Data from Workman’s Bench shows Ca values as high as 17.50 percent. This may indicate a high CaCO3 content of some sample intervals. Recent (2008) core logging criteria requires the geologist to do a cold diluted HCL acid test of the drill core while logging the core as a field test of the carbonate (buffering potential ) content of the bedrock. The rock encountered in the zones of interest have elevated sulfide contents that could pose an acid drainage problem during future mining operations. The Company tracks both the sulfide content and the carbonate content for acid-base accounting purposes.
In addition, marketability issues are being addressed. Some metals are considered to be deleterious in antimony purchases. For example, most antimony smelters will not accept material that exceeds 0.5% combined lead and arsenic. Smaller amounts of selenium and bismuth also pose potential limitations and may invoke smelter penalties. Hence a broader suite of elemental information has been acquired during the exploration of what is basically an antimony-gold-arsenic system.
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Mineralogical Processing and Metallurgical Testing Results of the 414 lb Bulk Sample.
Until very recently, Silverado had not completed mineral processing or processing tests of lode mineralization in the Nolan Creek area. Silverado has acquired a permit from the USBLM to collect and process a maximum 1,000 cu yd of material from the Workman’s Bench lode for metallurgical testing. The bulk sample will be collected for a more accurate determination of grinding, flotation, and other processing and mineralogical characteristics of the stibnite. The bulk sample will also determine the mineralogical nature of the gold and help determine the Company’s recent conclusions that there is a gold ‘nugget effect’ associated with the stibnite veins, and the larger bulk samples will serve to better ascertain a more accurate gold to antimony ratio for the Workman’s Bench deposit.
In April 2008, the QP collected a 414 lb bulk sample of semi-massive to massive stibnite, vein quartz, and wall rock gangue all from the defined mineralized ‘A’ Zone in the Workman’s Bench underground workings . The purpose was to determine the mineralogical nature of the antimony mineralization and the source of significant gold values. There is much variation in gold content of the stibnite zones even within constrained sample collection areas. The bulk sample was sent to Hazen Research Labs Inc. (Hazen) in Golden, Colorado, USA in order to discover the most optimal grind for potential marketing of a stibnite product, identify the mineralogical nature of gold and antimony values in the mineralization.
Two reports were produced by Hazen in September: 1) Report #1 - Flotation and Gravity Results, Workman’s Bench Stibnite-Gold Deposit, Wiseman District, Alaska; and 2) Report #2 - Mineralogical Examination, Workman’s Bench Stibnite-Gold Deposit, Wiseman District.
Summary of Hazen’s Report #1 - Rod mill grinding followed by two rougher stages yielded a gold recovery of 98% and an antimony recovery of nearly 100% in 37.8 percent of the weight, which strongly indicates flotation may be a viable process for recovering gold and antimony at Workman’s Bench. The gold and antimony grades from the sample were 0.546oz/ton (as stated, 18.7 g/t) and 36.7 percent respectively, which compare fairly closely to the average inferred resource grades of 39.13 % antimony and 0.395 oz/ton gold from ‘A’ Zone. Gravity separation using a quarter DeisterTM shaking table produced a second, cleaner gold and arsenopyrite concentrate that assayed 9.4 oz/ton (356.0 g/t) gold . This test work indicates that coarse gold and coarse stibnite can likely be recovered by gravity separation; however, fine grained components of both mineralogical products may require flotation. Given the tendency for stibnite to ‘slime’, a flotation circuit may be an important prerequisite for a recovery system. Using gravity only methods would result in a stibnite recovery of approximately 85 percent, and gold recovery of about 90 percent. No duplicate flotation and gravity confirmation tests were completed by Hazen Research Labs Inc.
Summary of Hazen’s Report #2 – The second report involved a different separation process that included a heavy liquid with a specific gravity of 2.96 (acetylene tetrabromide) for separation of the heavy minerals for statistical analysis and to determine the nature of the gold occurrence. The heavy liquid sink produced 85% stibnite, 10% gangue, 3% pyrite, 2% arsenopyrite, 1 % Rutile, and native gold.
Further metallurgical testing may prove that acceptable gold and antimony recoveries from slimes may be obtained through the side of the high centrifugal force effect provided by a Falcon Concentrator. If this proves to be the case, then the more costly flotation process may be avoided.
Budget projections for this project are detailed under the section “Projected Annual Budget for” 2009.
We are a mineral exploration company with interests in properties located throughout the state of Alaska. The majority of such properties are in the early stages of exploration, and there is no assurance that a commercially viable mineral deposit exists on all of such properties. Effective January 1, 2009, based on completion of a preliminary feasibility study, our Nolan Gold and Antimony Lode Project has disclosed an economically viable mineral reserve. The preliminary feasibility study concluded that the resource estimates disclosed by the Company in its Current Report on Form 8-K on November 17, 2008 can be reclassified as a probable reserve. Though there were no material changes to the grades and quantities previously reported on November 17, 2008, there was additional data produced that added new grades and there was further work conducted on this zone that resulted in the aforementioned reclassification.
2. Ester Dome Property
2.1 Ester Dome Property 2008 Work
The properties comprising our Ester Dome gold project are discussed in detail under the heading Description of Properties herein. In recent years, all exploration trenches were backfilled, stabilized, and seeded to resist surface erosion. Annual assessment work for
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2008 was completed and all claim rental payments were made to maintain the property in good standing. Fairbanks North Star Borough 2008 taxes were paid on the mill facility and mine facilities in the sum of $7,950.30.
2.2 Ester Dome Property 2009 Work Plan
During 2009, we plan to continue work toward completion of the closure of the Grant Mill Tailings Pond, as part of our asset retirement obligations. This pond, which is filled to capacity with tailings, will be capped and decommissioned after a final approval of the tailings pond closure plan is received from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (“ADEC”). Currently the Company is waiting on a report from Shannon and Wilson Inc., an engineering and environmental firm that is in the process of completing a study that is needed for the Company to move to the next phase of required permitting needed before the decommission process can take place. The Company remains in good standing with the state regulators and will continue reclamation work on our Ester Dome holdings during 2009.
Several large-scale projects have been proposed over the past ten years, but shelved either as a result of poor market conditions or due to internal decisions to favor shifting financial and manpower resources to the Nolan Project. One project that remains under consideration is environmentally friendly bio-degradable urea heap leaching of crushed and agglomerated gold ore after coarse gold has been recovered from the crushed ore by conventional gravity and water methods. A second project that continues under study involves mining of the O'Dea structure by underground methods. All past mining stopped at the 200 foot level of the workings, which is just above the water table. Close spaced diamond drilling between the 200 foot and 1,000 foot levels prove the existence of several significant high grade ore shoots within the O’Dea breccia zone.
3. Hammond Property
3.1 Hammond Property 2008 Work
The placer claims comprising our Hammond property are discussed in detail under the heading Description of Properties in this annual report. During 2008, rental payments were made to keep the mining claims in good standing.
3.2 Hammond Property 2009 Work Plan
To date, the Nolan Creek Deep Channel placer deposit and the Hammond River Slisco Channel have the greatest exploration potential for an economically viable placer deposit. Both prospects require more RC drilling and analysis.
RC placer drilling in 1995 and 2006 identified a channel containing placer gold that extends for a length of over 1,800 feet. The channel, named the Slisco Channel, remains open to the southeast and there is evidence of one or more tributary channels that remain to be explored in the near future. Within the Slisco Channel, the placer gold occurs on bedrock and on a second horizon about 20 feet above the bedrock channel.
The higher placer gold values in both pay layers are located within the left limit of the Slisco Channel. In addition to the encouraging drill results to date, the potential of extending the channel to the southeast plus the possibility of discovering gold bearing tributary channels, make this a prospect for additional discoveries. During the summer of 2009, a series of drill holes will be completed to explore for the extension of the Slisco Channel to the south. Presently, it has been traced for 1,800 feet. The drill program will also seek to define any gold bearing tributaries to the Slisco Channel.
This project may require the Company to secure additional funding. Even if funding is acquired, there is no guarantee that a commercial gold bearing placer deposit will be developed. Even if a gold bearing deposit is developed, additional funding will be required to mine the deposit, and until a feasibility study is completed, there is no guarantee that the deposit will be profitable to mine.
4. Eagle Creek Property
The properties comprising our Eagle Creek property are discussed in detail under the heading Description of Properties in this annual report. During 2008, annual assessment work was completed on the property, and rental payments were made to keep the mining claims in good standing.
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4.1 Eagle Creek Property 2009 Work Plan
During 2009, annual assessment work will be completed on the property to keep the mining claims in good standing. Assessment work will be focused on the northwest part of the claim block, where drilling and trenching has defined an intrusive host rock, thought to be a sill, containing low grade gold, silver and antimony mineralization. If funding permits, the Company will design a trenching and drilling program to further investigate the gold and byproduct mineral distribution of the intrusive. Additional work which includes trenching and drilling will also be completed on the Number One Vein. The Number One Vein was the lode quartz gold structure which has been mined commercially for antimony. The drilling will be performed by a drill contractor.
Completing the 2009 work plan will be contingent on available funding. Even if funding becomes available, there is no assurance that a commercial gold-silver-antimony deposit will be defined.
2009 Exploration Budget
Projected Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2009
Nolan Gold Project
Drilling and Exploration Program - Nolan Gold Project | $ | 1,000,000 | |
Underground Development and Mining Program - Nolan Gold and Antimony Project | 7,940,000 | ||
Total Costs for the Nolan Gold Project | 8,940,000 | ||
Total Costs for the Eagle Creek Project | 20,000 | ||
Total Costs for the Ester Dome Project | 520,000 | ||
Total Costs for the Hammond Project | 20,000 | ||
Administration – All Projects | 500,000 | ||
Total Budget All Projects | $ | 10,000,000 |
Completion of all of the projects described in the 2009 work plan will be contingent on additional funding. There is no assurance that additional funding will be obtained. Even if the additional funding is obtained, there is no assurance that a commercial ore deposit will be developed. Revenues from any anticipated gold and antimony sales are projected to be profitable.
LOW-RANK COAL-WATER FUEL BUSINESS
We commenced development of a low-rank coal-water fuel business in 2000. Our determination to enter into this business was based on a decision to broaden our business beyond mineral exploration and production. This aspect of our business is still in the start-up phase of operations and no revenues have been achieved to date. We do not anticipate that revenues from this technology will be achieved until commercialization of the technology has been established.
We entered the fuel sector in 2000 by forming a new Fuel Technology division which operates out of Fairbanks, Alaska. This division of the business is operated by our wholly owned subsidiary, Silverado Green Fuel Inc., under the supervision of Dr. Warrack Willson, Vice-President of Fuel Technology. The fuel product is called low-rank coal-water fuel (LRCWF or Green Fuel), which is a low-cost, non-toxic, non-hazardous alternative to oil fuels used in commercial boilers for the production of electricity and industrial heat. As a liquid fuel Green Fuel enjoys all the benefits of liquid handling and storage, Green Fuel allows coal to be used sight unseen and is made from coal, America’s most abundant fossil energy resource. This fuel is produced by the fine grinding of low-rank coal, and subsequent hydrothermal treatment of the finely ground coal particles. Hydrothermal treatment (HT) is an advanced technology, featuring moderate temperature/pressure, non-evaporative treatment or hot water drying, which irreversibly removes most of the inherent moisture from low-rank coal and allows the formulation of commercially viable LRCWFs. HT is similar in many respects to pressure cooking, and the product retains all of the desirable combustion characteristics of low-rank coal. When Green Fuel is injected into a boiler, the particles ignite and burn rapidly, which leads to little or no boiler de-rating when substituted for oil. We believe that demand for the Green Fuel and its production and utilization technology exists because of the high cost of oil and the desire for economical alternatives to oil that are environmentally friendly.
On December 18, 2006, Silverado Green Fuel Inc. announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between Choctaw County, the Choctaw County Economic Development District (“CCEDD”), the Mississippi Development Authority (“MDA”) and Silverado Green Fuel Inc. The MOU is an agreement to build the country’s first Low-Rank Coal-Water fuel commercial demonstration plant at the Red Hills Ecoplex just outside of Ackerman, MS. Considering the inability to receive a Federal fund appropriation over a seven year period as no energy bill was passed, the Company suggested that CCEDD and MDA retain their
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grants and not reconsider them until such time as complete funding for the project could be obtained. Both CCEDD and MDA agreed and dissolved the MOU and related grants pending senior project financing.
Silverado is currently having a $150,000 study conducted on the chemical and physical characteristics of Mississippi Red Hills Lignite Coal at the Mineral Industry Research Laboratory at the University of Alaska (Fairbanks) and expects results by late 2009.
Results of the tests as well as capital availability and an increase in oil prices would all have to be positive for Silverado Green Fuel Inc. to reconsider construction of its LRCWF project. In the meantime, Dr. Warrack Willson, at age 65, has retired from Silverado Green Fuel and the Company retains its rights under its agreement with Dr. Willson to the LRCWF technology and exclusive rights to technology developed by Dr. Willson during his employment with Silverado.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
Silverado and its subsidiaries collectively own (or partially own), lease, and/or hold purchase options on numerous federal and state placer and lode mining claims on the Nolan, Slisco, Eagle, and Ester properties, all of which are located in Alaska. These 801 total claims consist of: (i) 672 federal mining claims, comprised of 228 federal placer claims and 444 federal lode claims, and (ii) 129 state mining claims (the state of Alaska does not distinguish between placer and lode rights within each state mining claim).
The Company’s interests with respect to each specific property are currently as follows:
Nolan - Silverado is the sole owner of 204 federal placer mining claims and 407 federal lode mining claims.
Hammond (Slisco) – Silverado leases 24 federal placer mining claims and 36 federal lode mining claims from Alaska Mining Company, Inc.(ALMINCO)
Eagle – Silverado has an equal (50%) ownership interest in 77 state mining claims with Kathleen King.
Ester – Silverado is party to an agreement for the conditional purchase of 22 state mining claims from Paul I. Barelka, Donald J. May, and Mark Thoennes; Silverado leases 1 federal lode mining claim and 4 state mining claims from Gilbert Dobbs; and Silverado is party to an agreement for the conditional purchase of 26 state mining claims from Roger C. Burggraf.
The following is a brief description, in accordance with paragraph (b)(2) of Industry Guide 7, of the title, claim, lease, and/or option instruments under which Silverado and its subsidiaries have or will have the right to hold or operate its properties, the conditions which must be met in order to obtain or retain such properties, and the expiration dates of any leases or options, as well as certain other material terms:
i. Lease Of Mining Claims With Option To Purchase - The Hammond (Slisco) Property
Pursuant to that certain Lease Of Mining Claims With Option To Purchase, effective December 14, 1994, as amended on July 5, 1996 and on August 21, 1996 (the “Lease”), Silverado leased certain unpatented placer mining claims and lode mining claims recorded in Fairbanks, Alaska (collectively, “Claims”), and obtained an option to purchase such Claims, from Alaska Mining Company, Inc. (“ALMINCO”).
The Lease had an initial term of five years, but has been extended on a year-to-year basis on the same terms and will be in good standing for as long as the covenants in the Lease remain satisfied.
Silverado materially covenanted to (i) perform certain work and make certain expenditures on the Claims; (ii) obtain all licenses, permits, and bonds required by law; (iii) timely complete all required annual assessment work required for the Claims; (iv) pay the rents due to the United States on the Claims each year; (v) maintain adequate workers compensation insurance; (vi) indemnify ALMINCO for all losses and injuries not due to its own negligence; (vii) carry public liability insurance of at least $500,000 and name ALMINCO as an additional insured; (viii) indemnify ALMINCO for any liabilities or fines assessed by local, state, or federal governmental agencies that result from Silverado’s operations, actions, or omissions; (ix) refrain from pledging the Lease as security for any debt or to allow any liens to remain effective against the Lease or the Claims; and (x) refrain from assigning the Lease for the benefit of creditors or to seek protection from creditors under applicable bankruptcy laws.
The Lease obliges Silverado to make royalty payments equal to 10% of gross production from certain of the Claims each year, as well as minimum royalty payments of $20,000 on the first anniversary of the Lease, $40,000 on the second anniversary, and $80,000 on each of the third and subsequent anniversaries of the Lease.
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During the initial term, Silverado had an option to purchase the placer claims for $500,000 less royalty payments and an option to purchase the lode claims for $300,000, each subject to applicable price adjustments. Silverado has an option to purchase certain additional lode claims for $5,000,000.
Under the Lease, Silverado may cure any default relating to required royalty payments within thirty (30) days following notice of such default from ALMINCO, after which time ALMINCO may terminate the Lease if such default has not been cured. ALMINCO may not terminate the Lease for any other default for so long as Silverado is diligently attempting to cure such default.
ii. Lease and Purchase Agreement (King) - The Eagle Property
Silverado has an equal (50%) ownership interest in 77 state mining claims with Kathleen King (“King”). Silverado will acquire a full (100%) ownership interest in such state mining claims upon the payment of an additional $48,000 to King in installments of $5,000 per year.
iii. Agreement For Conditional Purchase And Sale Of Mining Property (May et. al.) - The Ester Property
Silverado is party to an Agreement For Conditional Purchase And Sale Of Mining Property (the “1979 Agreement”), dated May 12, 1979, with Donald J. May, Paul I. Barelka, and Mark Thoennes (collectively, the “Sellers”) pursuant to which Silverado agreed to conditionally purchase certain unpatented state mining claims located in Fairbanks, Alaska (the “1979 Claims”), including all other then-owned and after-acquired mining claims or interests in mining claims within one mile of any portion of the 1979 Claims, from the Sellers. The state mining claims formerly belonging to Thoennes were acquired by Barelka and May who have deeded the claims to Polar Mining Inc. and The Fairbanks Rescue Mission respectively. The present owners of the mining claims covered under the above agreement are Fairbanks Rescue Mission and Polar Mining, Inc.
The term of the 1979 Agreement commenced on the date Silverado took possession of the 1979 Claims and will expire upon the earlier of (i) the purchase price therefore being paid in full, or (ii) a default remaining uncured for more than sixty (60) days after the date of the written notice of such default.
Title to the 1979 Claims will pass to Silverado upon its payment in full of the purchase price of $2,000,000. The purchase price is payable at 15% of net profits (as such term is defined in the 1979 Agreement) per year, adjusted for inflation, calculated on a quarterly basis, and payable within sixty (60) days of the end of each calendar quarter. Upon full payoff of the purchase price, the Sellers will be entitled to a royalty payment in the form of a carried interest of 3% of net profits from Silverado’s operations until production on the 1979 Claims is permanently terminated.
Under the 1979 Agreement, Silverado also covenanted to: (i) perform annual assessment work beginning with the assessment year ending September 1, 1980; (ii) refrain from permitting any liens or levies to be placed against the 1979 Claims, and timely pay any taxes imposed on the 1979 Claims, each until such time title is conveyed to Silverado; (iii) indemnify the Sellers from any claims arising from Silverado’s operations and conditions on the 1979 Claims arising after the date of possession; and (iv) obtain and maintain adequate insurance.
In the event of default, the Sellers must provide written notice to cure to Silverado. If the Silverado fails to cure such default within sixty (60) days after the date of such notice, the non-defaulting party’s remedy is to arbitrate the issue in accordance with the terms of the 1979 Agreement.
iv. Exploration And Mining Lease - The Ester Property
Silverado and Gilbert Dobbs (“Dobbs”) entered into an Exploration And Mining Lease (“Dobbs Lease”), dated November 6, 1984, as amended on August 4, 1996, pursuant to which Silverado leased from Dobbs three federal lode mining claims in Fairbanks, Alaska known as the Moose Claim (BLM F061722), the Rosie Claim (BLM F061724) and the Brandy Claim (BLM F061725) (collectively, the “Dobbs Claims”), and all exploration, mining, and water rights associated therewith. The above federal Rosie and Brandy claims have been converted to four state mining claims: Rosie 1 (ADL575826), Rosie 2 (ADL575827), Brandy 1 (ADL575828), and Brandy 2 (ADL575829).
The Dobbs Lease had an initial term of ten (10) years, with automatic renewals for additional five (5) year terms to take effect beginning on November 6, 1999 and every fifth year thereafter if, at the commencement of each renewal period, the Dobbs Lease remains in good standing and Silverado pays US $10,000 to Dobbs.
In order for the Dobbs Lease to remain in good standing and for each renewal to take effect, Silverado must make royalty payments equal to 15% of the net profits (as such term is defined in the Dobbs Lease) derived from its operations on the Dobbs Claims. Such payments are due within sixty (60) days after the end of each calendar quarter. Once Silverado has paid $1,500,000 in aggregate royalty payments to Dobbs, subsequent royalty payments will be reduced to 3% of net profits derived from operations on the Dobbs Claims.
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Furthermore, Silverado must (i) perform annual assessment work beginning with the assessment year ending September 1, 1985; (ii) expend at least $1,500 per year on the Dobbs Claims until the $1,500,000 threshold is met (with such expenditures to be credited toward meeting such threshold); (iii) refrain from permitting any liens or levies to be placed against the Dobbs Claims, and timely pay any taxes imposed on the Dobbs Claims; (iv) indemnify Dobbs from any claims arising from Silverado’s operations and conditions on the Dobbs Claims arising after the date of possession; and (v) obtain and maintain adequate insurance.
In the event of default, the non-defaulting party must provide written notice to cure to the defaulting party. If the defaulting party fails to cure such default within sixty (60) days after the date of such notice, the non-defaulting party’s remedy is to arbitrate the issue in accordance with the terms of the Dobbs Lease.
v. Agreement For Conditional Purchase And Sale Of Mining Property (Burggraf) - The Ester Property
Silverado is party to an Agreement For Conditional Purchase And Sale Of Mining Property (the “1978 Agreement”), dated October 6, 1978, with Roger C. Burggraf (“Burggraf”) pursuant to which Silverado agreed to conditionally purchase six unpatented lode mining claims located in Fairbanks, Alaska (the “1978 Claims”), including all other subsequently located or acquired claims and interests in mining property within two miles of any portion of the 1978 Claims, from Burggraf. The 1978 Claims are identified as: Irishman No.1, Roosevelt, Banjo, O’Dea, White Rock Lode, and D. and Z.
The term of the 1978 Agreement commenced on the date Silverado took possession of the 1978 Claims and will continue until the earlier of (i) the purchase price therefor being paid in full, (ii) a default by Silverado remaining uncured for more than sixty (60) days after the date of the written notice of such default, or (iii) Silverado providing sixty (60) days notice of termination to Burggraf.
Title to the 1978 Claims will pass to Silverado upon its payment in full of the purchase price of $2,000,000. The purchase price is payable at 15% of net profits (as such term is defined in the 1978 Agreement) per year, calculated on a quarterly basis, and payable within sixty (60) days of the end of each calendar quarter. The 1978 Agreement also called for Silverado to issue an aggregate of 100,000 shares of its common stock to Burggraf over the course of four (4) years from the date thereof. Once Silverado pays the purchase price in full to Burggraf, it will be obligated to make royalty payments equal to 3% of net profits derived from its operations on the 1978 Claims until production is terminated. Furthermore, if any agreement is reached with a third party concerning properties owned by such third party within two miles of any portion of the 1978 Claims, Burggraf will be entitled to royalty payments equal to 2% of net profits derived from Silverado’s operations on the 1978 Claims. The original six federal unpatented federal lode claims incorporated in the “1978 Agreement with Burgraff” have been converted to state mining claims: Grant 26-31(ADL 536564-536569). All mining claims under the agreement are now state mining claims.
Silverado is also obligated to (i) perform annual assessment work beginning with the assessment year ending September 1, 1979; (ii) expend up to $15,000 per year on the 1978 Claims until the $2,000,000 purchase price is paid (with such expenditures to be credited toward Silverado’s payment of the purchase price); (iii) refrain from permitting any liens or levies to be placed against the 1978 Claims, and timely pay any taxes imposed thereon; (iv) indemnify Burggraf from any claims arising from Silverado’s operations and conditions on the 1978 Claims arising after the date of possession; and (v) obtain and maintain adequate insurance.
In the event of default, the non-defaulting party must provide written notice to cure to the defaulting party. If the defaulting party fails to cure such default within sixty (60) days after the date of such notice, the non-defaulting party’s remedy is to arbitrate the issue in accordance with the terms of the 1978 Agreement.
The maximum size of a federal placer mining claim is 20 acres, and the maximum size of a federal lode mining claim is 20.7 acres. The maximum size of a state of Alaska mining claim is 40 acres. Given the occasional necessity of forming "fractional" mining claims to infill between properties or to account for staking or survey errors, and using these maximum sizes, we estimate that Silverado either owns or leases a total of approximately 8,400 acres of federal lode claims, 4,050 acres of federal placer claims, and 5,125 acres of state mining claims.
COMPETITION
We are a mineral resource exploration company. We compete with other mineral resource exploration companies for financing and for the acquisition of new mineral properties. Many of the mineral resource exploration companies with whom we compete have greater financial and technical resources than those available to us. Accordingly, these competitors may be able to spend greater amounts on acquisitions of mineral properties of merit, on exploration of their mineral properties and on development of their mineral properties. In addition, they may be able to afford more geological expertise in the targeting and exploration of mineral properties. This competition could result in competitors having mineral properties of greater quality and interest to prospective investors who may finance additional exploration. This competition could adversely impact on our ability to finance further exploration and to achieve the financing necessary for us to develop our mineral properties.
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EMPLOYEES
We do not have any employees. Our operating and administrative activities are carried out through our agreements with the Tri-Con Mining Group.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENDITURES
We have spent the following amounts on research and development activities during the past two fiscal years:
December 1, 2007 | December 1, 2006 | |
to November 30, 2008 | to November 30, 2007 | |
Research and Development | ||
Expenditures: | $295,045 | $34,313 |
Research and development activities were primarily attributable to the pursuit of the development of our Green Fuel business. During 2007 and 2008, the majority of the research and development costs attributable to the low-rank coal-water fuel technology related to further technical work on the fuel creation temperature.
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
Our headquarters are located in, and our officers and directors are residents of, Canada. Further, some of our assets are, or may be, located outside the United States. Accordingly, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States on us or our officers and directors, or to enforce against them judgments obtained in United States courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the United States federal securities laws. There is also uncertainty as to both an investor’s ability to enforce, in an appropriate foreign court, judgments of United States courts based upon the civil liability provisions of the United States federal securities laws, and an investor’s ability to bring an original action in an appropriate foreign court to enforce liabilities against us or any person based upon the United States federal securities laws. If investors have questions with respect to these issues, they should seek the advice of their legal counsel.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
We face risks in completing our exploration plans and achieving revenues. The following risks are material risks that we face. If any of these risks occur, our business, our ability to achieve revenues, our ability to produce gold, our operating results and our financial condition could be seriously harmed.
If we do not obtain new financings, the amount of funds available to us to pursue exploration activities at the Nolan Gold Project and to pursue further exploration of our mineral properties will be reduced.
We have relied on recent private placement financings in order to fund exploration of the Nolan Gold Project. We will continue to require additional financing to complete our plan of operations for exploration work at the Nolan Gold Project and to carry out our exploration programs on our other mineral properties. While our financing requirements may be reduced through gold recoveries, any impairment in our ability to raise additional funds through financings would reduce the available funds for the exploration of the Nolan Gold Project, including additional test mining activities, with the result that our plan of operations may be adversely affected and potential recoveries reduced or delayed.
As we have not reported revenues in our last three fiscal years there is no assurance that we will be able to achieve the financing necessary to enable us to proceed with our exploration activities, including test mining activities.
We had deficit working capital of $1,293,886 as of November 30, 2008. We did not report revenues in our last three fiscal years ended November 30, 2008, 2007 or 2006. Our plan of operations calls for expenditures of a minimum of $10,000,000 to be incurred by us over the next twelve months in order to continue our mining exploration activities at the Nolan Gold, Ester Dome, Eagle Creek and Hammond Projects. While we will apply proceeds from gold sales generated from our test mining activities to cover our exploration expenditures, we anticipate that proceeds from gold sales over the next twelve months may not exceed our projected expenditures during this period with the result that we will require substantial financing in order for us to pursue our plan of operations. If we do not achieve the necessary financing, then we will not be able to proceed with our planned exploration activities, including our planned test mining activities, and our financial condition, business prospects and results of operations will be materially adversely affected.
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We are a mineral exploration company with interests in properties located throughout the state of Alaska. The majority of such properties are in various stages of exploration, and there is no assurance that a commercially viable mineral deposit exists on all of such properties.
Thomas K. Bundtzen, an independent third party mining consultant and an AIPG and NI 43-101 Qualified Person, completed a Preliminary Feasibility Study for the Company effective January 1, 2009. The study concluded that the lode gold and antimony deposit underlying Workman’s Bench and the southwestern portion of the Solomon Shear Zone contain probable reserves. Nevertheless, there is no assurance that we will be able to recover quantities of gold and antimony in these areas or in any others that will enable us to achieve sales of gold and antimony that will exceed our costs of recovering the gold and antimony.
If we are unable to achieve projected gold recoveries from our test mining activities at the Nolan Gold Project, then our financial condition will be adversely affected and we will have less cash with which to pursue our operations.
We plan to undertake test mining activities as part of our exploration program for the Nolan Gold Project. Our objective is to recover gold from test mining activities to offset the exploration cost of our test mining activities. As we have not established any reserves on this property, there is no assurance that actual recoveries of gold from material mined during test mining activities will equal or exceed our exploration costs. If gold recoveries are less than projected, then our gold sales will be less than anticipated and may not equal or exceed the cost of exploration and recovery in which case our operating results and financial condition will be adversely affected.
If the price of gold declines, our financial condition and ability to obtain future financings will be impaired.
Our business is extremely dependent on the price of gold. Our recoveries from sales of gold for the current fiscal year are dependent on the price of gold in addition to the quantity of gold that we are able to recover. If gold prices decline prior to the recovery and sale of gold from the Nolan Gold Project, then our recoveries from sales of gold and financial condition will be adversely impacted. We have not undertaken any hedging transactions in order to protect us from a decline in the price of gold. A decline in the price of gold may also decrease our ability to obtain future financings to fund our planned exploration programs activities.
The price of gold is affected by numerous factors, all of which are beyond our control. Factors that tend to cause the price of gold to decrease include the following:
(a) |
Sales or leasing of gold by governments and central banks; |
(b) |
A low rate of inflation and a strong US dollar; |
(c) |
Speculative trading; |
(d) |
Decreased demand for gold’s industrial, jewelry and investment uses; |
(e) |
High supply of gold from production, disinvestment, scrap and hedging; |
(f) |
Sales by gold producers and foreign transactions and other hedging transactions; |
(g) |
Devaluing local currencies (relative to gold price in US dollars) leading to lower production costs and higher production in certain major gold producing regions. |
If costs of gold recovery at our Nolan Gold Project are higher than anticipated, then our financial condition and ability to pursue additional exploration will be adversely affected.
We have proceeded with test mining activities on the Nolan Gold Project on the basis of estimated capital and operating costs. If capital and operating costs are greater than anticipated, then cash used in test mining activities at the Nolan Gold Project will be greater than anticipated. Increased cash used in test mining activities will cause us to have less funds for other expenses, such as administrative and overhead expenses and exploration of our other mineral properties and further test mining activities on the Nolan Gold Project. In this event, our financial condition will be adversely affected and will have fewer funds with which to pursue our exploration programs.
If our exploration costs are higher than anticipated, then our financial condition and ability to pursue additional exploration will be adversely affected.
We are currently proceeding with exploration of our mineral properties on the basis of estimated exploration costs. This exploration program includes drilling programs at various locations within the Nolan Gold Project. If our exploration costs are greater than
26
anticipated, then we will have fewer funds for our exploration activities, including test mining activities that we plan to carry out at our Nolan Gold Project, and for our general and administrative expenses. In this event, our financial condition will be adversely affected, our losses will increase and we will have fewer funds with which to pursue our exploration programs. Factors that could cause exploration costs to increase include adverse weather conditions, difficult terrain and shortages of qualified personnel.
Exploration activities, including test mining and operating activities are inherently hazardous.
Mineral exploration activities, including test mining activities, involve many risks that even a combination of experience, knowledge and careful evaluation may not be able to overcome.
Operations that we undertake will be subject to all the hazards and risks normally incidental to exploration, test mining and recovery of gold and other metals, any of which could result in work stoppages, damage to property and possible environmental damage. The nature of these risks are such that liabilities might result in us being forced to incur significant costs that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and business prospects.
There is no assurance that any of our mineral resources will ever be classified as reserves under the disclosure standards of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
This annual report discusses our mineral resources in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101, as discussed under the section of this annual report entitled “Description of Properties”. Resources are classified as “measured resources”, indicated resources” and “inferred resources” under NI 43-101. However, U.S. investors are cautioned that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize these resource classifications. There is no assurance that any of our mineral resources will be converted into reserves under the disclosure standards of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission except for those probable reserves defined in the January 1, 2009 report earlier referenced in this document. Further, “‘inferred resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an “inferred resource” exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
If we experience exploration accidents or other adverse events at our Nolan Gold Project, then our financial condition and profitability could be adversely affected.
Our exploration activities, including test mining activities, at the Nolan Gold Project are subject to adverse operating conditions. Exploration accidents or other adverse incidents, such as cave-ins or flooding, could affect our ability to continue test mining activities at the Nolan Gold Project. A particular concern at the Nolan Gold Project is warm temperatures that can reduce the winter season during which we can safely conduct underground test mining activities. The occurrence of any of these events could cause a delay in production of gold or could reduce the amount of gold that we are able to recover, with the result that our ability to achieve recoveries from gold sales and to sustain operations would be adversely impacted. Adverse operating conditions may also cause our operating costs to increase. Exploration accidents or other adverse events could also result in an adverse environmental impact to the land on which our operations are located with the result that we may become subject to the liabilities for environmental clean up and remediation.
If we become subject to increased environmental laws and regulation, our operating expenses may increase.
Our exploration activities, including test mining activities, are regulated by both US Federal and State of Alaska environmental laws that relate to the protection of air and water quality, hazardous waste management and mine reclamation. These regulations may impose operating costs on us. If the regulatory environment for our operations changes in a manner that increases costs of compliance and reclamation, then our operating expenses would increase with the result that our financial condition and operating results would be adversely affected.
Because of the speculative nature of exploration of mineral properties, there is no assurance that our exploration activities will result in the discovery of new commercially exploitable quantities of minerals or that we will be able to establish proven and probable reserves as a result of our exploration.
We plan to continue exploration on our mineral properties. The search for valuable minerals as a business is extremely risky. We can provide investors with no assurance that additional exploration on our properties will establish that additional commercially exploitable reserves of gold exist on our properties. Problems such as unusual or unexpected geological formations or other variable conditions are involved in exploration and often result in exploration efforts being unsuccessful. The additional potential problems
27
include, but are not limited to, unanticipated problems relating to exploration and attendant additional costs and expenses that may exceed current estimates. These risks may result in us being unable to establish the presence of commercial exploitable quantities of ore on our mineral claims with the result that our ability to fund future exploration activities may be impeded
As we face intense competition in the exploration industry, we will have to compete with our competitors for financing and for qualified managerial and technical employees.
The exploration industry is intensely competitive in all of its phases. Competition includes large established exploration companies with substantial capabilities and with greater financial and technical resources than we have. As a result of this competition, we may be unable to acquire additional attractive mining claims or financing on terms we consider acceptable. We also compete with other exploration companies in the recruitment and retention of qualified managerial and technical employees. If we are unable to successfully compete for financing or for qualified employees, our exploration programs may be slowed down or suspended.
Our business venture into the low rank coal water fuel business is subject to a high risk of failure.
Our business venture into the low rank coal water fuel technology business is at a very early stage and is subject to a high risk of failure. The low rank coal water fuel technology has not been proven by us to be a commercially viable fuel alternative. In order to establish commercial viability, we will have to undertake the construction and operation of the contemplated demonstration facility. The construction and three year operation of the demonstration facility would cost approximately $26 million. Even if the demonstration facility were constructed and operational, there is no assurance that the commercial viability of this process would be established or that we would be able to expand the facility into a commercially viable operation or to generate revenues from this technology. We are pursuing funding from the United States federal and state governments and from private sources to fund the construction of the demonstration facility. There is no assurance that we will succeed in obtaining government or private funding for this project. Even if funding is obtained and the demonstration facility constructed, there is no assurance that we would be able to generate profits or revenues from the operation of the demonstration facility.
ITEM 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY
Our head office is located at Suite 1820, 1111 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6E 4M3. These premises are comprised of approximately 4,752 square feet and are leased for a term expiring in July 2014.
Our four groups of mineral properties located in Alaska are described below. This disclosure incorporates the results of technical reports prepared during 2008 by Thomas K. Bundtzen (“Bundtzen”/the “QP”), a third party independent qualified person and certified professional geologist, in accordance with the requirements of Canadian National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). The resource information listed below is different from resource information and resource totals previously disclosed in our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB. The more recent 2008 resource estimates are different because Bundtzen determined that some of the data used for the 2007 resource estimates was outdated. Investors may view the NI 43-101 reports at the Company’s website at www.silverado.com.
The NI 43-101 reports provide disclosure regarding Silverado’s Alaska properties in accordance with NI 43-101. U.S. Investors are cautioned that the United States Securities Commission does not recognize the terms “indicated resources” and “inferred resources”, as more particularly discussed below.
The Company holds interest in the following four groups of mineral properties in Alaska:
1. |
Nolan Gold Project; | |
2. |
Hammond Property (Slisco Bench); | |
3. |
Ester Dome Properties; | |
4. |
Eagle Creek Properties; |
We are a mineral exploration company with interests in properties located throughout the state of Alaska. The majority of such properties are in the early stages of exploration, and there is no assurance that a commercially viable mineral deposit exists on such properties.
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NOLAN GOLD PROJECT
Effective January 1, 2009, based on completion of a preliminary feasibility study, our Nolan Gold and Antimony Lode Project has disclosed an economically viable mineral reserve. The preliminary feasibility study concluded that the resource estimates disclosed by the Company in its Current Report on Form 8-K on November 17, 2008 can be reclassified as a probable reserve. Though there were no material changes to the grades and quantities previously reported on November 17, 2008, there was additional data produced that added new grades and there was further work conducted on this zone that resulted in the aforementioned reclassification.
1. Location and Access
The majority of the properties comprising our Nolan Gold Project are adjacent to or within the Nolan Creek Valley, located approximately 8 miles northwest of the small town of Wiseman, and 175 air miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska in the southern foothills of the Brooks Range. Centrally located in the historic Koyukuk Mining District, Nolan Creek is a southerly flowing tributary to Wiseman Creek which flows southeasterly into the Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River. The Nolan Gold Project is accessible by the Elliott and the Dalton Highways, about 280 road miles north of Fairbanks Alaska. An all weather road connects the Nolan Creek Camp with the Dalton Highway and is suitable year-round for semi-tractors loaded with fuel and equipment. Air transportation is available by several commercial carriers from Fairbanks to the 4,500 ft long, state maintained Coldfoot Airport. The community of Coldfoot Alaska is about 15 miles south-southeast of Nolan, and has Alaska’s northernmost gas station, grocery, and public lodging. Coldfoot also has a weather station provided by the Alaska State Weather Service, and a post office.
All of the Nolan Gold Project properties are on federal land and located within the Wiseman B-1 Quadrangle. All of the mineral claims, with the exception noted below, are in the SE ¼, Township 31 North, Range 12 West, the NE ¼, Township 30 North, Range 12 West, and SW ¼, Township 31 North, Range 11 West, Fairbanks Meridian.
In addition to the Nolan Creek properties, Silverado also has two smaller placer claim groups on Clara Creek and Marion Creek, located 1.5 and 3 miles north respectively of the town of Coldfoot, Alaska, situated near the Dalton Highway.
A map illustrating the location and access to the Nolan Gold Project is provided below:
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2. Property Description and Ownership Interest
All of the mineral properties at the Nolan Gold Project are federal mining claims. Federal mining law allows for a locator to stake either a placer deposit or a lode deposit. Under the federal mining law, a 20 acre placer claim with the dimensions of 660 feet by 1,320 feet may be staked. Lode mining claims have dimensions of 600 ft by 1,550 ft.
As of November 30, 2008, Silverado’s Nolan Gold Project consist of 204 unpatented, federal placer mining claims covering approximately 4,080 acres in three non-contiguous groups, and 407 unpatented federal lode mining claims covering approximately 8,140 acres in one large contiguous group. Many of the 407 lode mining claims are superimposed over the placer mining claims. There has been no legal survey on any of the claims. These groups of properties are described in the next subsection.
The majority of the Nolan Creek mining claims are controlled by Silverado Gold Mines Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Silverado. Many of the claim names acquired or staked by Silverado have historic names such as Mary’s Bench and Workman’s Bench. Beginning in 2006, new lode and placer claims were designated in numerical succession.
Annual fees were paid to the federal government. The Company paid the claim maintenance fee of $125 dollars per claim due before September 1, 2008. Maintenance and holding fees for the federal placer and lode mining claims for the Nolan Gold Project totaled $76,375 USD, which were paid July 31, 2008 to the Bureau of Land Management. An affidavit of evidence of maintenance fees paid for federal mining claims was filed on August 6, 2008.
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(a) Nolan Gold Project Placer Property
Our Nolan Gold Project placer claim holdings are comprised of 197 contiguous unpatented federal placer mining claims located within the Nolan and Hammond River drainage systems. Silverado also holds 2 unpatented federal placer mining claims located on Marion Creek and 5 unpatented federal placer mining claims located on Clara Creek. Both Clara and Marion Creeks are left limit tributaries to the Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River. The Clara Creek and Marion Creek claims are located approximately 1.5 and 3 miles north of Coldfoot, Alaska, respectively, and are situated near the Dalton Highway. Silverado is the registered owner of all 204 placer claims. Over the years Silverado has conducted operations on this property entitled: the Nolan Deep Channel, Smith Creek, Thomson’s Pup, Mary’s Bench, Swede Channel, Mary’s East, Archibald Creek, Mary’s East, Workman's Bench, Upper Nolan Creek, Dolney Bench, West Block, "3B1" on Nolan Creek, and Eureka Bench, et al. The main block of contiguous Nolan Placer claims cover approximately 6 square miles of creeks and fluvial terraces and uplands.
Of these claims, the Thomson’s Pup claims consist of 6 unpatented federal placer claims. The Company’s ownership in these claims is subject to a royalty of 3% of net profits on 80% of production payable to Frank Figlinski and Lyle R. Carlson.
(b) Nolan Lode
The Nolan Lode claims are comprised of 407 unpatented federal lode claims. This number consists of the original 67 claims plus 241 claims added during 2006 and 99 claims added during 2007. Ownership of these federal lode claims is in the name of Silverado Gold Mines Inc. This area encompasses approximately 8,140 acres.
3. History of Operations
Placer mining on Nolan Creek and its tributaries was first recorded at about the turn of the last century. During the ensuing years and up to 1942, recoveries of approximately 120,000 oz. of placer gold were reported. This gold is well known for its coarse size and high fineness. The early miners mined Nolan Creek and its left limit tributaries, particularly Fay, Archibald and Smith creeks by surface methods on the upper areas and by underground methods in the lower reaches of the creeks when overburden became too deep. Shafts are found throughout these areas.
We first began acquiring placer claims on Nolan Creek in 1979. The following table summarizes gold production and gold recoveries by year from the Nolan properties since 1980.
YEAR |
STATUS OF OPERATIONS |
NATURE OF OPERATIONS |
LOCATION |
BCY MINED |
Tr.Oz. GOLD RECOVERED |
RECOVERED GRADE OZ/BCY (Bank Cubic Yards) |
1980-88 |
Test Mining During Exploration |
Surface Operations |
Archibald / Fay Creek |
40,000est |
2,400 * |
0.060est |
1993 |
Production |
Surface Operations |
Thompson Pup |
33,800 |
1,304 |
0.038 |
1994 |
Production |
Underground Operations |
Mary’s Bench Underground |
16,143 |
2,697 |
0.167 |
1994 |
Production |
Surface Operations |
Eureka Bench Open Cut |
29,300 |
5,733 |
0.196 |
1995 |
Production |
Surface Operations |
Phase 3 Open Cut |
22,285 |
2,394 |
0.107 |
1995 |
Production |
Underground Operations |
3B1 Underground |
12,991 |
1,006 |
0.077 |
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YEAR |
STATUS OF OPERATIONS |
NATURE OF OPERATIONS |
LOCATION |
BCY MINED |
Tr.Oz. GOLD RECOVERED |
RECOVERED GRADE OZ/BCY (Bank Cubic Yards) |
1995 |
Production |
Surface Operations |
West Block Open Cut |
18,988 |
1,305 |
0.069 |
1995 |
Production |
Surface Operations |
Mary’s Bench hydraulic |
600 |
27 |
0.045 |
1996 |
Test Mining During Exploration |
Surface Operations |
Dolney Bench Surface |
5,042 |
126 |
0.025 |
1998 |
Test Mining During Exploration |
Surface Operations |
Archibald Creek Surface |
5,947 |
128 |
0.022 |
1999 |
Test Mining During Exploration |
Underground Operations |
Swede Channel Underground |
4,575 |
623 |
0.136 |
1999 |
Test Mining During Exploration |
Surface Operations |
Workmans Bench Open Cut |
5,580 |
112 |
0.020 |
2000 |
Test Mining During Exploration |
Surface Operations |
Workmans Bench Open Cut |
14,919 |
201 |
0.013 |
2003 |
Test Mining During Exploration |
Underground Operations for Nolan Deep Channel; Surface Operations for Wooll Bench, Mary’s Bench and other |
Nolan Deep Channel, Wooll, Mary’s Bench, Other |
30,279 |
451 |
0.015 |
2006 |
Test Mining During Exploration |
Underground Operations |
Swede Channel Underground |
6,843 |
939 |
0.137 |
2007 |
Test Mining During Exploration |
Underground Operations |
Swede Channel and Mary’s East Underground |
14,092 |
3,726.8 |
0.264 |
2008 |
Exploration for Lode deposits Only |
Exploration for Lode deposits Only |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A | |
TOTALS |
261,384 |
23,172.8 |
0.089 |
*Includes 1,320 ounces produced by lessee.
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We have not achieved profitability in any of the years during which we have carried out test mining activities at the Nolan Gold Project.
We did not carry out any gold recovery operations during 2004 and 2005 as we focused on lode exploration on the property, as opposed to test placer mining activities. We also did not carry out any gold recovery operations in 2008, as we focused on the lode exploration program.
During the winter of 2005, Silverado began an underground exploration and development program on the Swede Channel. Continuing into 2006, Silverado installed about 900 feet of exploration drifts by underground tunneling methods into the Swede Channel. Prior bulk sampling had shown the channel to contain gold in the basal gravels, so the project was designed to obtain a large bulk sample from the tunnel being advanced into the channel. The 2005-2006 winter stockpile contained 8,896 LCY of gravel material, and was processed between June 28th through July 20th of 2006, yielding 939.07 troy ounces of gold nuggets and dust. The Swede portal was re-opened in early November of 2006, and gravel extraction on the remaining sections of the Swede Channel continued until its completion by the middle of January 2007. A total of 8,963 LCY of gravel material was stockpiled from the remaining Swede Channel.
In early January 2007, crews installed a portal into Mary’s East, and began an underground drift into the Mary’s East deposit. The Mary’s East project was completed at the end of March 2007 and 9,357 LCY of gravel material was stockpiled from this project.
The 2006-2007 winter stockpile contained 18,320 LCY (Swede Channel and Mary’s East combined) of gravel material, and was processed from June through July of 2007 at the existing sluice plant location, yielding 2,811.74 troy ounces of gold nugget gold and over 207 pounds of concentrate that contained gold particles smaller than ¼ inch in size. The fine concentrate yielded 915.06 try ounces of gold (30% gold), which when combined with 2811.74 troy ounces of nugget gold recovered in 2007 totals 3726.80 troy ounces. Also, the fine concentrates yielded 65.10 troy ounces of silver or 2.15% silver.
4. Present Condition of the Property
We have spent approximately $35,000,000 over the last 20 years acquiring, exploring and undertaking test mining activities and test exploration on the Nolan Gold Project. Up to November 30, 2008 we have completed 851 placer drill holes with a cumulative total of 49,370 feet of drilling. About 219 of those drill holes were completed along the frozen gold bearing deep channel of the Nolan Creek known as the Nolan Deep Channel. We have also completed lode exploration drill holes with a cumulative total of over 16,152 feet of diamond core drilling..
We also have a gold recovery facility located at the Nolan Gold Project that is used to recover gold from gravel that we extract during test mining activities as part of our exploration of the Nolan Gold Project. This gold recovery facility was modernized in 2006. Our gold recovery facility incorporates nugget traps, hydraulic riffles, classification and gravity concentration processes in order to remove gold present in gravel material. The gold recovery facility has a processing rate of 75 cubic yards of gravel material per hour. The gold facility can only be operated in the late spring to early fall months when free-flowing water is available to operate the plant.
On May 17, 2007, Silverado entered into a 10-year "shared well agreement" with Sukakpak, Inc., an Alaskan corporation, through which Silverado designed, drilled and installed at its expense a high-capacity water well in the nearby rural community of Wiseman, Alaska, to serve both as a source of high-quality drinking water, and a high-volume source of sample processing water. In addition, Silverado upgraded its Nolan Gold Project drinking water storage facility to a series of three fully-enclosed 2,000-gallon plastic storage tanks, and also a modern multi-modular kitchen and dining facility. Silverado also expended approximately $85,400 for the design and installation of a state-of-the-art "fast activated sludge treatment" (FAST®) arctic-capable wastewater treatment facility designed by Lifewater Engineering Company of Fairbanks, Alaska that is capable of serving the treatment needs of up to 24 personnel, and that treats the camp's domestic wastewater to such a high quality that it can be discharged directly to the land surface. The design, construction and installation of the wastewater facility was undertaken under the approval of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC).
Currently we have a fully functioning all season enclosed 23 man camp (Nolan Camp) with three functioning offices with computers and internet access. The camp has a STW treatment plant for sewage and graywater treatment. The camp site also has a large mechanics shop for working on heavy equipment such as backhoes and bulldozers. The camp also has multiple ADEC approved containments with tanks capable of storing 30,000 gallons of diesel fuel, and a peripheral explosives storage area. The camp also has an abundance of heavy equipment for excavating and road maintenance.
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Exploration Objectives for the Nolan Gold Project
Our exploration plans are to expand our reserves on Workman’s Bench and further define gold deposits in order to provide a basis for the assessment of the feasibility of future additional test mining activities at the Nolan project. We are currently undertaking an extensive geological exploration program on the Nolan Gold Project. The program includes drilling, as well as the review of geological, geochemical and geophysical data. We are currently preparing for the development stage on our Nolan Lode and Antimony Project. The Company has acquired a permit to collect a 1,000 cu yd bulk sample of quartz-antimony-gold from the mineralized zone in the Workman’s Bench portion of the Solomon Shear Zone. We have also completed a preliminary feasibility study effective January 1, 2009. The overall objectives of our exploration program are as follows:
1. |
To continue to expand reserves on the antimony-gold veined southwestern extent of the Solomon Shear Zone as well as northeast through Pringle Bench to the Hillside area, a distance of approximately 6000 feet where, drilling, trenching, geology, geochemistry, ground and air borne geophysics all when combined, indicate a continuation of the ore zone or more lode deposits on the Nolan Gold project that could be the source of our placer gold deposits. We will continue to use our new systematic and scientific approach utilizing both GPS and GIS for interpretation of our spatial data. |
2. |
To continue seeking capital investment to allow the successful advancement of our Nolan Gold and Antimony Project to the development stage and mining. We will use the Bundtzen preliminary feasibility study as a road map (guideline) for the project to move forward to the development and mining stage and continue to follow the recommendations of our QP which includes a 2009 program designed to upgrade from probable reserves to proven reserves in the Workman’s and Pringle Bench areas, and continue exploration along the strike length of the Solomon Shear Zone, advancing the drilling program northeast to the Hillside Zone. Also, as per our QP’s recommendations, we will involve continued aggressive permitting, fulfilling the requirements of our regulators in an expedient manner. |
3. |
To identify surface or sub-surface placer deposits at our Nolan Gold Project that are prospective for test mining operations. In general, these deposits are located on benches that are ancient river beds and lakeshore deposits located above the present channel of Nolan Creek. These deposits include Mary’s Bench, Jack London Bench, Wooll Bench, Workman’s Bench, Swede Channel, Upper Nolan Creek (deep channel), Lower Nolan Bench and Mary’s East including areas adjoining to the north, east and south. The objectives of our drilling program will include the determination of the nature and extent of areas of known bench deposits that are prospects for test mining operations and the identification of new bench deposits that may be prospects for test mining operations. Mary’s Bench East and areas adjoining north, east and south as well as, the Swede Channel and the areas adjoining to the east and south, in that order, are our exploration priorities as they have showed the most positive results from earlier exploration that we have completed. Wooll Bench and Workman’s Bench have been less extensively explored with only limited drilling. The Lower Nolan Bench has not been drilled. The newly discovered Jack London Bench may also be a priority target in the future. It is our belief that as a lode deposit goes into production, the placer deposits may then be mined in conjunction profitably by sharing various costs common to both types of mining. |
4. |
To identify any placer deposits at Slisco Bench, which is located on our Hammond River property that are prospective for test mining operations. The Slisco Bench (deep channel) deposit is approximately 3 to 4 miles northeast of the Nolan Deep Channel. |
We have been working on interpreting the geology of the Nolan area since 1979, when we first acquired the project. Our latest and most extensive exploration program began in early 2007 and was directed at improving our placer deposit definition and discovering potential lode sources of the placer gold. Our exploration geologists and mining engineers have worked to move this objective forward. Our exploration efforts have included the analysis of geophysical data, geochemical sampling results, Company records and analysis provided by government mineral investigation efforts and publications as well as the trenching and exploration drilling of target areas. The exploration strategy and focus has changed slightly since the beginning of 2007, and is discussed below.
Exploration Strategy and Focus
The current focus of the Company is the advancement toward the development stage of our Nolan Gold and Antimony Project, especially along the southwestern end of the Solomon Shear Zone in the Workman’s Bench Area. The Company is in a transitional phase between exploration and development/mining.
The current exploration strategy involves a complete systematic approach that combines placer gold test mining data, soil geochemical data, geophysical data, percussion drilling data and diamond drill core data for the further delineation of potential lode sources for gold and antimony in the areas known as Pringle and Workman’s Bench. Our strategy also involves performing studies in preparation for the development & mining stage for the antimony-gold deposit underlying the Workman’s Bench. These studies include but are not limited to geotechnical studies of the bedrock for underground engineering and design purposes, additional hydrologic studies
34
proximal to our planned underground workings, as well as collecting additional bulk samples of stibnite-gold vein material for larger scale milling and processing tests, and various environmental baseline studies.
The Company plans to drill more diamond core drill holes for additional estimates of reserves. We will continue to take advantage of the historic roads and trails on our property to use mobile heavy equipment for digging trenches into the bedrock for more accurate geologic interpretation and moving other mobile equipment like our newly acquired diamond core drill.
Prior to 2007, Silverado’s exploration efforts focused more on placer gold test mining activities , with only minor emphasis on drilling the bedrock to test for lode gold potential. Between 1993 and 2006, the Company drilled 14 percussion-reverse circulation (RC) drill holes totaling 3,695 ft. into bedrock and collected 727 assays for gold and antimony mineralization. The RC drilling indicated gold and antimony mineralized quartz veins . Although the data from the RC drilling indicated desired mineralization, it did not allow for the determination of the true width of the veins or other pertinent insitu information as the RC holes were used primarily to gather placer gold data. The recent focus of exploring for a lode gold and antimony deposit involves the use of a diamond core drill which allows the geologist to make determinations of the true width of mineralized veins and the relationship of the veins to other primary geologic structures. The diamond drill core allows for more accurate analysis of grade and interpretation of style of mineralization and timing of mineralization relative to other structures in the rock.
5. Geology
The Nolan Area properties are located in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. Regionally, the area is underlain by a series of metasedimentary rocks of the Coldfoot subterrain and Hammond subterrain of the Arctic Alaska terrain. The metasedimentary rocks have been assigned a Middle to Upper Devonian age. During Late to Early Cretaceous time, the Middle Devonian metasedimentary rocks of the Coldfoot subterrain were thrust northward onto the Middle to Upper Devonian metasedimentary rocks of the Hammond Subterrain. This is represented by a large thrust belt in the Nolan area and resulted in regional metamorphism of the continental rocks that were overridden.
The property area is underlain by gray–black phyllite, black slate and metasiltstone, gray–black and brown slate, brown micaceous schist and phyllite, gray–black micaceous schist, gray green to black muscovite schist that locally contains abundant pyrite and arsenopyrite, and banded quartzite interbedded with chloritic quartzite and quartz mica schist.
The valley bottoms and side hills are mantled by a heavy cover of glacial outwash and lake bottom sediments. Depth of overburden varies from a very few feet on the upper slopes to tens to hundreds of feet in the lower valley bottoms on the claims. Deeper areas of cover are permanently frozen. There have been four periods of glaciation on the Nolan properties and the placer gold distribution has been variously affected by the glaciation.
The placer deposits are of three types:
1. |
Shallow placers concentrated in present stream and river valleys; | |
2. |
Placer gold concentrated on bedrock in deeply incised bedrock channels that have been covered by ten to hundreds of feet of gravel and organic material; and | |
3. |
Placer deposits concentrated on benches lying anywhere from 10 to 400 feet above present stream levels. These bench gravels were deposited when streams were flowing at higher levels relative to present levels due to damming by glacial ice. |
Placer gold, lode gold and antimony are the main type of mineralization of interest on the property. We are currently exploring for a lode source for the placer gold. Known gold-bearing lodes identified on the Nolan Lode properties consist of stibnite-bearing quartz veins, and quartz veins containing free gold, which fill fractures cutting phyllite and metasiltstones.
Analysis of obtained airborne geophysical data identified a linear resistivity low that has been named the “Solomon Shear trend”. The resistivity low is coincident with a geochemical anomaly for gold, antimony, arsenic and other indicator minerals. This anomaly trends sub-parallel to Nolan Creek along the east side from south of Smith Creek into the Hammond River drainage. Immediately east of this trend lies a second sub parallel resistivity low also identified by airborne geophysics and showing similar characteristics to the “Solomon Shear Trend”.
The Company has identified a new zone with anomalous gold mineralization, which has been named “the Fortress”. The Fortress area is part of an east-west trending deformation zone that is overlain by strong arsenic and gold in soil anomalies, which are up to over 1,500 feet in length.
35
We will continue our exploration program in 2009 with the objective of identifying mineralization of commercial significance along this zone.
We have discovered a number of new areas that contain placer gold mineralization on the Nolan property that are too loosely defined under NI 43-101 to allow the mineralization to be categorized as a resource. Additional exploration drilling and testing may bring these mineralized areas up to a higher level of confidence and thus a higher category which could be included in the total gold inventory of the property. There is no assurance however that this upgrade will take place.
6. 2008 Nolan Gold and Antimony Project Mineral Reserves and Resource Estimates.
The following results are based on a Preliminary Feasibility study performed by Thomas K. Bundtzen (“Bundtzen”/the “QP”) of Pacific Rim Geological Consulting Inc. Bundtzen is an independent third party mining consultant who is an AIPG Qualified Person. The Company requested the study in September 2008. The study concluded that the lode gold and antimony deposit underlying Workman’s Bench and the southwestern portion of the Solomon Shear Zone, contains a probable reserve.
For a complete summary of the data used and the methods of determination of the lode resource estimates, readers are encouraged to view the recent 43-101 report by Bundtzen, effective January 1, 2009, which is posted on the Company’s website and on EDGAR and SEDAR.
General Note Regarding Estimates
The following information should be considered in connection with our estimates for Workman’s Bench, which we are disclosing in accordance with applicable SEC standards and regulations:
A cutoff grade of 4% antimony was used in our analysis. A 4% cutoff grade should be regarded as 4% antimony equivalent. No cutoff grade was used for gold, as antimony was the primary commodity being examined, and none of the resource polygons contained less than 0.05 oz/ton gold.
The reserve estimates for each of the three zones (A, B, and West) were determined by drill hole intercepts of each zone as well as channel samples of the zone from the underground workings. The QP used a polygonal estimation of grade by compositing sample assay information taken within designated widths and lengths of mineralized zones, giving consideration only for intercepts with an antimony value greater than 4% antimony (7% stibnite). A total of 124 intercepts of antimony-quartz-gold were assayed from the 41 diamond core drill holes for the three zones.
Considering the specific gravity of pure stibnite is 4.52 and quartz and schist gangue are 2.70 and 2.66 respectively, The QP used a tonnage factor of 8.2 cubic ft per ton (massive stibnite would be 7.1 cubic ft per ton).
Polygonal Calculations of tons, Grades and Amounts of Antimony and Gold
Readers are cautioned that the following estimates are under the category of a probable reserve and they are not a proven reserve, which requires a higher degree of feasibility study. These values are based off of a preliminary feasibility study, which is not the same as a legal feasibility study.
The following tables summarize the polygon calculations used by the QP to determine the probable mineral reserves for the Workman's Bench gold and antimony deposit, effective January 1, 2009. The data below is based off of 2007 and 2008 diamond core drilling data. As well as channel samples and specific vein samples collected from our underground workings that were collected by the QP in 2008. Detailed maps, outlining the polygons used in the probable reserve estimates, are shown in the QP’s NI 43-101 technical report (feasibility study), effective January 1, 2009.
36
Polygonal Probable Reserve Calculations of Workman’s Bench ‘A’ Zone, Nolan Creek, Alaska
Polygon | Tons | Antimony (%) | Antimony (tons) | Gold (oz/ton) | Gold (ounces) |
1 | 365 | 4.70 | 17.2 | 0.056 | 20.4 |
2 | 337 | 4.20 | 14.1 | 0.120 | 40.4 |
3 | 445 | 22.80 | 101.5 | 1.090 | 485.1 |
4 | 484 | 22.85 | 110.5 | 1.070 | 517.8 |
5 | 602 | 29.60 | 178.2 | 1.120 | 674.2 |
6 | 508 | 23.09 | 116.8 | 0.056 | 28.4 |
7 | 390 | 50.89 | 198.4 | 1.109 | 432.2 |
8 | 379 | 31.40 | 119.0 | 1.115 | 422.6 |
9 | 305 | 28.03 | 85.4 | 0.987 | 301.0 |
10 | 195 | 13.47 | 26.2 | 0.146 | 28.5 |
11 | 950 | 22.36 | 212.4 | 0.193 | 183.4 |
12 | 175 | 27.94 | 48.9 | 1.097 | 191.9 |
13 | 125 | 10.66 | 13.3 | 0.970 | 121.3 |
14 | 105 | 16.17 | 33.9 | 0.102 | 10.7 |
15 | 535 | 19.73 | 105.5 | 0.300 | 160.6 |
16 | 335 | 31.68 | 106.1 | 0.307 | 102.8 |
17 | 452 | 34.24 | 154.7 | 0.334 | 150.9 |
18 | 152 | 24.68 | 37.5 | 0.486 | 73.8 |
19 | 109 | 21.43 | 23.3 | 0.240 | 26.1 |
20 | 485 | 24.40 | 118.3 | 0.323 | 156.6 |
21 | 855 | 24.73 | 211.4 | 0.196 | 167.5 |
22 | 245 | 19.90 | 48.7 | 0.256 | 62.7 |
23 | 140 | 17.48 | 24.4 | 0.250 | 35.0 |
24 | 65 | 16.50 | 10.7 | 0.160 | 10.4 |
25 | 85 | 18.86 | 16.0 | 0.166 | 14.1 |
26 | 101 | 18.19 | 18.4 | 0.150 | 15.1 |
27 | 100 | 15.77 | 15.8 | 0.143 | 14.3 |
28 | 146 | 14.18 | 20.7 | 0.170 | 24.8 |
29 | 389 | 36.55 | 141.9 | 0.322 | 125.2 |
30 | 716 | 35.86 | 256.7 | 0.340 | 243.4 |
31 | 384 | 23.49 | 90.2 | 0.141 | 54.1 |
32 | 345 | 23.10 | 79.7 | 0.181 | 62.4 |
33 | 107 | 24.18 | 25.8 | 0.217 | 23.2 |
34 | 330 | 32.04 | 106.0 | 0.267 | 88.0 |
35 | 780 | 39.10 | 304.9 | 0.681 | 531.2 |
36 | 840 | 36.57 | 307.1 | 0.492 | 413.2 |
37 | 2,050 | 48.74 | 999.0 | 0.416 | 853.0 |
38 | 2,490 | 48.68 | 1,212.0 | 0.453 | 1,128.0 |
39 | 2,300 | 54.59 | 1,255.0 | 0.725 | 1,667.0 |
40 | 459.0 | 21.00 | 96.3 | 0.459 | 210.6 |
41 | 1,180 | 39.43 | 465.0 | 0.201 | 237.0 |
42 | 550 | 30.66 | 165.0 | 0.130 | 72.0 |
43 | 185 | 20.50 | 37.9 | 0.106 | 19.6 |
44 | 820 | 28.02 | 229.6 | 0.114 | 93.4 |
45 | 353 | 18.14 | 64.0 | 0.107 | 37.8 |
46 | 697 | 7.93 | 55.2 | 0.123 | 85.7 |
47 | 998 | 17.53 | 174.9 | 0.101 | 100.7 |
48 | 157 | 20.93 | 32.8 | 0.106 | 16.6 |
49 | 140 | 14.49 | 20.3 | 0.056 | 7.8 |
50 | 450 | 10.80 | 48.6 | 0.098 | 44.1 |
51 | 135 | 28.76 | 38.8 | 0.140 | 18.9 |
52 | 100 | 29.58 | 29.6 | 0.130 | 13.0 |
53 | 85 | 29.60 | 25.1 | 0.120 | 10.2 |
54 | 454 | 23.74 | 107.8 | 0.171 | 77.6 |
55 | 423 | 24.02 | 101.6 | 0.516 | 218.2 |
56 | 228 | 23.02 | 52.5 | 0.463 | 105.6 |
57 | 235 | 20.02 | 47.0 | 0.413 | 33.6 |
58 | 338 | 26.46 | 89.4 | 0.463 | 156.4 |
59 | 564 | 21.44 | 120.9 | 0.526 | 296.6 |
TOTAL/AVERA | 28,452 | 31.52 | 8,967.9 | 0.405 | 11,516.7 |
37
Polygonal Probable Reserves Calculations for ‘B’ Zone, Workman’s Bench, Nolan Creek Area, Alaska
Polygon | Tons | Antimony (%) | Antimony (tons) | Gold (oz/ton) | Gold (ounces) |
1 | 185 | 34.32 | 64.0 | 0.298 | 55.0 |
2 | 237 | 40.13 | 95.0 | 0.618 | 146.0 |
3 | 175 | 39.36 | 69.0 | 0.507 | 89.0 |
4 | 475 | 47.50 | 226.0 | 1.105 | 524.0 |
5 | 590 | 41.42 | 244.0 | 0.652 | 384.0 |
6 | 574 | 45.32 | 260.0 | 1.060 | 608.0 |
7 | 195 | 31.32 | 61.0 | 0.425 | 83.0 |
8 | 289 | 17.59 | 50.8 | 0.154 | 44.5 |
9 | 830 | 37.15 | 308.0 | 0.802 | 666.0 |
10 | 675 | 34.97 | 236.0 | 0.724 | 489.0 |
11 | 116 | 21.73 | 25.2 | 0.123 | 14.3 |
12 | 79 | 19.76 | 15.6 | 0.130 | 10.3 |
13 | 160 | 10.10 | 16.2 | 0.313 | 50.1 |
14 | 186 | 21.60 | 40.2 | 0.451 | 83.9 |
15 | 487 | 15.25 | 74.2 | 0.430 | 209.4 |
16 | 875 | 25.54 | 223.4 | 0.317 | 277.3 |
17 | 95 | 16.51 | 15.7 | 0.241 | 22.9 |
18 | 331 | 16.06 | 53.1 | 0.244 | 80.8 |
19 | 209 | 4.59 | 9.6 | 0.067 | 14.0 |
20 | 107 | 5.16 | 5.5 | 0.070 | 7.5 |
21 | 145 | 13.82 | 20.0 | 0.063 | 9.1 |
22 | 155 | 13.58 | 21.1 | 0.050 | 7.8 |
23 | 365 | 7.98 | 29.1 | 0.160 | 58.4 |
24 | 385 | 5.65 | 21.7 | 0.083 | 31.9 |
25 | 567 | 8.30 | 47.0 | 0.310 | 175.8 |
26 | 269 | 4.77 | 12.8 | 0.256 | 68.8 |
TOTAL/AVERAGE | 8,756 | 25.63 | 2,244.2 | 0.480 | 4,210.8 |
Polygonal probable reserve Calculation for ‘West’ Zone, Workman’s Bench, Nolan Creek area, Alaska
Polygon | Tons | Antimony (%) | Antimony (tons) | Gold (oz/ton) | Gold (ounces) |
1 | 565 | 2.86 | 16.1 | 0.908 | 513.0 |
2 | 446 | 2.39 | 10.6 | 0.108 | 48.2 |
3 | 450 | 3.12 | 14.0 | 0.921 | 414.5 |
4 | 359 | 2.64 | 9.5 | 0.121 | 43.4 |
5 | 131 | 3.36 | 4.4 | 0.140 | 18.3 |
6 | 73 | 9.30 | 6.8 | 0.143 | 10.2 |
7 | 210 | 9.81 | 20.6 | 0.124 | 26.0 |
8 | 297 | 18.09 | 53.7 | 0.105 | 31.2 |
9 | 110 | 19.06 | 20.9 | 0.261 | 28.7 |
10 | 95 | 12.10 | 11.5 | 0.225 | 21.3 |
11 | 109 | 14.53 | 15.8 | 0.215 | 23.4 |
12 | 166 | 13.13 | 21.8 | 0.229 | 38.0 |
13 | 286 | 18.35 | 52.4 | 0.293 | 83.8 |
14 | 397 | 11.75 | 46.6 | 0.098 | 38.9 |
15 | 175 | 21.56 | 37.7 | 0.146 | 25.6 |
16 | 537 | 19.82 | 106.4 | 0.140 | 75.2 |
17 | 160 | 23.59 | 37.7 | 0.143 | 22.8 |
18 | 192 | 35.32 | 67.8 | 0.230 | 44.2 |
19 | 75 | 31.78 | 23.8 | 0.196 | 14.7 |
20 | 115 | 21.74 | 25.0 | 0.113 | 13.0 |
21 | 256 | 25.28 | 64.7 | 0.147 | 37.6 |
TOTAL/AVERAGE | 5,204 | 12.80 | 667.8 | 0.302 | 1,572 |
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Total Probable Lode Mineral Reserves, for Workman’s Bench, Nolan Creek Area “A”. “B” and “West” Zones
Readers are cautioned that the following estimates are under the category of a probable reserve and they are not a proven reserve, which requires a higher degree of feasibility study. These values are based off of a preliminary feasibility study, which is not the same as a legal feasibility study.
Reserve Category |
Cut-off g r a d e (% Sb) |
Quantity (ton) |
Grade (% Sb) |
Metal (ton Sb) |
Grade (oz/ton Au) |
Metal (oz Au) |
Probable | 4.0 | 42,412 | 28.00 | 11,880 | 0.408 | 17,300 |
Notes:
– Rounding may result in some discrepancies.
–
No processing recovery factors have been applied to these reserve figures.
–
The unit ton refers to short tons.
– Cut-off grade is 4.0% Sb ‘equivalent’,
which refers to the combined values of gold plus antimony expressed in terms of
antimony alone
– Effective date of the estimate is January 1,2009.
Total Inferred Lode Mineral Resources, Nolan Creek Area effective January 1, 2009
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Inferred Resources
The following table uses the term ‘inferred resources’. Silverado advises U.S. investors that while this term is recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize this term. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves.
The following table summarizes the mineral resources for the gold and antimony deposit, effective January 1, 2009.
Resource Category |
Cut-off grade (% Sb) |
Quantity (ton) |
Grade (% Sb) |
Metal (ton Sb) |
Grade (oz/ton Au) |
Metal (oz Au) |
Inferred | 4.0 | 27,697 | 12.26 | 3,397 | 0.230 | 6,372 |
Notes:
– Mineral Resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated
economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may
be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal,
title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.
– Rounding may result in some discrepancies.
– No processing recovery factors have been applied to these resource figures.
– The unit ton refers to short tons.
– Cut-off grade is 4.0% Sb ‘equivalent’, which refers to the
combined values of gold plus antimony expressed in terms of antimony alone.
Mineral Resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
HAMMOND PROPERTY (SLISCO BENCH)
1. Location and Access
Our Hammond property is located approximately 8 miles north of Wiseman, and 175 air miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska in the foothills of the Brooks Range in an area known as the Koyukuk Mining District. The Hammond property is located approximately three miles northeast of the Nolan Gold Project.
The Hammond property is accessible by the Trans-Alaska Pipeline road about 280 road miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska. An all-weather 4x4 road connects Hammond to the pipeline road.
A map illustrating the location and access to the Hammond property is provided above under the heading Nolan Gold Project.
2. Ownership Interest
Silverado leases 24 federal placer mining claims and 36 federal lode mining claims from Alaska Mining Company, Inc. (“Alminco”).
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As of November 30, 2008, we were in arrears of required mineral property claims and option payments of $390,000 and therefore our rights to the property were adversely affected. We are currently re-negotiating the terms and conditions of the Alminco agreement with Alminco. Alminco has confirmed that our mineral claims and options are in good standing on the understanding we will use our best efforts to pay the minimum royalty payments, including the payments that are in arrears for the past four years, when business conditions permit, however there is no assurance that we will be able to successfully renegotiate the terms and conditions of the Alminco agreement.
3. History of Operations
In 1993 we acquired the group of placer gold mining claims overlying the Slisco Bench, and located along the right limit of the Hammond River. The Hammond River drainage has been the subject of intense exploration since the early 1900s. Poor exposures, difficult terrain, and deep overburden confronted the first explorers and early miners in the Hammond River region. Those miners who worked with persistence succeeded for the most part in developing small-scale projects constrained in scope by the inadequacies of their mechanical equipment, and the lack of technical knowledge and financial support. Nevertheless, because of the work done by these early explorers, the Hammond River has produced approximately eighty thousand ounces of placer gold, including the second largest gold nugget ever discovered in Alaska – a nugget weighing more than 135 ounces.
The Bench was first staked by Martin Slisco, and prospected by hand methods since the 1930’s, but no commercial production was recorded. During the late 1970s, placer gold, including some nuggets characteristic of the Koyukuk Mining District were recovered by open cut prospecting and bulk sampling from a prospect pit at the northern end of the bench. The prospect pit was open to bedrock and with a nominal 20 feet of overburden exposed, indications were favourable for defining a large open pit mine-able placer gold deposit. The surface topography indicates the bench could extend up to 4,500 feet southerly from the prospect pit. Beyond that distance the bench is intersected by the present Hammond River Channel where past and ongoing erosion has removed all surface expression of the bench. Below that intersection, the bench has been eroded and during 1995, Silverado completed a Phase I drill program, completing 64 drill holes to the south of the prospect pit. Analysis of the data from the Phase I program determined that the Slisco Bench surface topography conceals an ancient gold bearing channel. Depths of drilling to bedrock were much deeper than anticipated. Several hundred feet south of the prospect pit bedrock depths are about 60 feet below surface, increasing to more than 230 feet in depth at a distance of 1,200 feet south of the prospect pit. The gravel layer at bedrock was found to contain encouraging and sometimes, significant placer gold content at channel bottom intercepts.
In 2006, Silverado commenced drilling along the Slisco deep channel which completed additional 39 drill holes with a total footage of 4,782 feet. This exploration work was done to define the length of the Slisco deep channel. Phase one and Phase two drilling, sampling, and sample analysis of a total of 103 drill holes, has served to delineate the Slisco deep channel for a total length of 1800 lineal feet. Surface topography indicates that the channel could cover a length of up to 4,500 feet.
4. Present Condition of the Property and Current State of Exploration
A drilling program is planned to explore the remaining 2,700 feet extending south from the present known location of the Slisco deep channel. Additional in-fill drilling will be necessary along the length of the channel, as well as potential gold bearing tributaries, and other areas by drilling fences or lines of drill holes with close hole spacing across the channel bottom. These holes will be necessary to ascertain the width of the channel, and to collect adequate sample data at close spacing, for mining feasibility studies. After completing the Phase one and Phase two drilling, data showed the channel to be narrower than the surface topography indicated and bedrock depths increased to the south. Present known maximum depth is 230 feet. We presently estimate that as many as several hundred additional drill holes would be necessary to fully define and evaluate the Slisco deep channel. The Slisco deep channel is presently in a state of ongoing exploration, and there is no camp, production facilities, or equipment located on the property. Currently, there is no power supply to the Hammond property. All support for ongoing and planned work on the property is currently provided from the Nolan Creek Camp.
5. Geology
The primary areas of geological interest on the Hammond Property are the placer gold deposits, which are similar to the placer gold deposits present on the adjoining Nolan Gold Project. Geologically, the Slisco Bench gold-placer deposit is a deeply buried, permanently frozen, ancient and now abandoned river channel of the Hammond River. Subsequent to the geologic processes that forced the Hammond River to abandon its channel at Slisco Bench, glacial and peri-glacial processes (processes acting upon permanently frozen terraines ) buried the gold-bearing gravel of the Slisco deposit with as much as 230 feet of frozen sedimentary detritus. The deep thickness of frozen overburden identified probably prohibits the economical application of traditional open-pit methodologies. Underground placer gold recovery methods which we have utilized extensively would probably be used to remove the gold-bearing gravel.
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Mineral investigations by our geologists in conjunction with a federal study of mineral resources in the area have revealed the presence of west-north-westerly striking gold bearing hydro-thermal quartz veins on the property. Those veins, in conjunction with a north-easterly trending shear zone are thought to have contributed, at least in part, to the placer gold found on the property.
ESTER DOME PROJECT
The Ester Dome Project encompasses all of our optioned properties on Ester Dome.
1. Location and Access
Access to the property is provided by the paved Ester Dome road and a well-maintained gravel road. The main line of the Alaska Railroad passes by the west perimeter of the property and a high capacity electrical line carrying power to the Fort Knox mill passes 300 feet below the Grant Mill on the property. A map illustrating the location and access to the Ester Dome Project is provided below:
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2. Ownership Interest
The Ester Dome property is comprised of 52 state mineral claims and 1 unpatented federal mineral claim. The claims are not all contiguous in that there are 5 separate blocks of claims. Silverado Gold Mines Inc. is the registered owner of all claims.
The total area of all claims equals approximately 2.5 square miles and all claims are valid. There has been no legal survey on the claims.
There are three separate agreements covering the above mentioned 53 claims on the Ester Dome property.
(a) |
Grant Mine | |
The 26 State mineral claims called the Grant Mine claims are covered by an option to purchase agreement with Mr. Roger Burggraf dated October 6, 1978, as amended in October 1997. Our ownership interest is subject to the payment of 15% of net profits until $2,000,000 has been paid, and 3% of net profits thereafter. Our minimum work requirements are $15,000 per year. In December of 1997, for the purpose of facilitating an agreement with Placer Dome U.S. Inc. and in consideration for us making a payment of $20,000, the conditional purchase and sale agreement was amended to reduce the royalty payments to 3% of net profits as defined in the agreement. The owner of the claims has confirmed our agreement is in good standing. | ||
(b) |
St. Paul / Barelka | |
The 22 State mineral claims called the St. Paul / Barelka claims are covered by a purchase agreement with Don May and Paul Barelka dated May 12, 1979. Our ownership interest is subject to the payment of 15% of net profits until $2,000,000 (inflation indexed from 1979) has been paid and 3% of net profits thereafter. | ||
(c) |
Dobbs | |
The remaining 4 state mineral claims and 1 federal mineral claim called the Dobbs claims are covered by a purchase agreement with Mr. G. Dobbs dated November 6, 1984, as amended on August 4, 1996. Our ownership interest is subject to the payment of 15% of net profits until $1,500,000 has been paid and 3% of net profits thereafter. Our minimum work requirements are $1,500 per year. Access to Dobbs is the same route as St. Paul / Barelka. Our lease on this property is for 10 years, beginning in 1984, with five-year renewals thereafter. The owner of the claims has confirmed our agreement is in good standing. |
3. History of Operations
The Ester Dome property first became known as a result of the discovery of placer gold in the creeks draining Ester Dome in about 1902. By 1909, approximately 1.5 million oz. had been mined from alluvial deposits. Ultimately, approximately 4 million ounces of placer gold have been mined from creeks draining Ester Dome.
Shortly after the discovery of placer gold, lode claims were staked on quartz veins discovered on Ester Dome. By 1912, four stamp mills were operating in the area.
(a) Grant Mine
Work at the Grant Mine, on the eastern flank of Ester Dome, was initiated in about 1928 with the sinking of shafts to bedrock to attempt to locate buried alluvial gold. This work, while it did not locate alluvial gold, did reveal quartz rubble near bedrock containing free gold. Mr. Grant, the claim owner, sunk two shafts through about 80’ of loess (silt) cover and by 1931 had reportedly mined about 600 tons from the newly discovered Irishman Vein. This work was all completed from the only levels established, the 50, 100 and 150-foot levels. Mr. Roger Burggraf purchased the claims from Grant’s heirs in 1973 and deepened the shaft to the 200-foot level. This work revealed a new vein, the O’Dea vein which has eclipsed the Irishman vein in importance. Burggraf completed limited development on the Irishman vein and the O’Dea vein during the next 5 years, and in 1978 entered into a lease option agreement with Silverado.
Over the subsequent 8 years up to 1986, we completed an extensive surface exploration and underground development program as well as test milling the underground development muck from work on the O’Dea structure, in a small (approximately 50 tons per day) gravity mill, during 1980 – 1982. In 1984, we entered into a joint venture agreement with Aurex Inc., a subsidiary of Marubeni
42
America Corporation to further explore and develop the Grant Mine plus a larger area of interest around the mine. Aurex withdrew from the joint venture at the end of 1985 and the mill was shut down in Jan. 1986. A total of approximately 22,000 tons of gold bearing rock were mined from the O’Dea structure during the period 1980 to January 1986, yielding 4,090 ounces of gold.
When Aurex became involved in the joint venture, a decision was made to construct a 230 ton per day gravity / cyanide mill to treat the expanded resource that had been outlined on the O’Dea structure above the 200’ level. This mill and related support facilities were constructed by Tri-con Mining Inc. for Silverado using a design provided by Melis Consulting Engineers Ltd. The completed mill was commissioned in October 1985 and was shut down in January 1986. During the short mill run, the plant operated above design capacity. Lower feed grades than had been forecast plus other underground problems caused Aurex to elect to withdraw from the project and a premature shutdown of the facility.
During the period 1987 – 1989, we decided to open pit mine the Ethel - Elmes structures, located a short distance from the mill facility on the Dobbs claims adjacent to the Grant Mine. This mining operation generated approximately 71,620 tons of gold bearing material. Combined with the previously mined stockpile from the O’Dea vein, (11,000 tons), and material from another source (Silver Dollar), the total tonnage processed amounted to 111,852 tons.
The total tonnage processed through the Grant mill up to 1989 amounts to 111,852 tons with a total of 11,215 oz. of gold produced for an average calculated recovered grade of 0.10 oz/ton. Gold recoveries from the Grant Mine are summarized as follows:
YEAR |
DRY MILLED |
TONS RECOVERED OZ. GOLD |
RECOVERED GRADE |
1980 – 1981(1) | 4,170 | 1,424 | 0.341 |
1985 –1986 | 7,069 | 1,372 | 0.193 |
1987 - 1989 | 100,586 | 8,419 | 0.083 |
TOTALS | 111,852 | 11,215 | 0.10 |
(1) This material was processed through a 20 ton per day pilot plant prior to the construction of the Grant Mill.
We did not make a profit from our operations at the Grant Mine during any of the above periods during which we achieved gold recoveries.
The mill has been properly secured and remains in good condition.
In June of 1990, ACNC (American Copper and Nickel Company) entered into a joint venture with us on the Grant Mine claims and a larger area of Ester Dome. This included the Dobbs, and St Paul / Barelka properties.
On the Grant Mine property, ACNC completed the drilling of 10 diamond drill holes and fourteen wedge cuts on the O’Dea – Irishman system totaling 10,097’. This work confirmed the previous drill grades and intercept width encountered by Silverado and helped to further define the O’Dea structure.
(b) St. Paul / Barelka
The St. Paul / Barelka claims have undergone a significant amount of exploration since the early 1980s when they were first acquired by us. The early work was in the form of electromagnetic surveys, geochemical soil sampling, trenching and diamond and percussion drilling. Most recently, in 1991-1992, ACNC completed 9 diamond drill holes and 3 rotary reverse circulation holes. Subsequent work in 1996-1997 amounted to significant trenching and 91 drill holes focusing on the St Paul structure which had been partially defined by our previous work.
(c) Dobbs
The Dobbs property contains the Ethel – Elmes vein system and structure which had been located in the first work and prospecting that took place on Ester Dome in the early 1900’s. Exploration in the 1980’s by us revealed a mineralized shear zone up to 25’ wide containing high grade quartz veins and veinlets. This was the structure mined in 1987 – 1989 which generated approximately 71,620 tons of gold bearing material. Combined with the previously mined stockpile from the O’Dea vein, (11,000 tons), a total of approximately 82,620 tons were mined and milled during 1988 – 1989 producing 7,362 oz. of gold.
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4. Present Condition of the Property and Current State of Exploration (a) Grant Mine-O’Dea Vein:
The Grant Mine operations, including camp, buildings, machine shops and related equipment, were constructed in the late 1980s. Our mill and equipment are in operating condition but are not currently operating. The mill has remained inactive since February 1989. The plant and equipment cost us $2,076,780. This amount has been written down to $nil on our audited financial statements. Power to the Grant Mine operations is provided by diesel powered generators located on site. Commercial power transmission lines cross through the property, and could provide power to the facilities for any future operations. Auxiliary power to the Grant Mine operations will be provided by diesel powered generators located on site. During fiscal 2007, our work on the property was limited to assessment work. We plan to maintain claim rental payments for the current fiscal year and to continue with assessment work.
If gold prices remain strong, we may re-commence exploratory drilling on our Ester Dome properties with the objective of increasing our database of geological information on these properties.
(a) May (St. Paul) / Barelka:
The St. Paul property is undeveloped and does not contain any open-pit or underground mines. There is no plant or equipment located on the St. Paul property. Currently, there is no power supply to the St. Paul property.
We have no plans at this time to do any work other than as required for annual claims maintenance and when we do there is no guarantee the work will present economic viability for this deposit.
(b) Dobbs:
The Dobbs property is undeveloped and does not contain any open-pit or underground mines. There is no plant or equipment located on the Dobbs property. Currently, there is no power supply to the Dobbs property.
We have no plans at this time to do any work other than as required for annual claims maintenance.
5. Geology
The Fairbanks Mining District is in the northwest part of the Yukon – Tanana metamorphic complex. This region, referred to variably as Yukon Crystalline Terrain, Yukon Cataclastic Complex or Yukon Tanana Terrain is an enormous tract of multiple deformed and metamorphosed rocks occupying much of east central Alaska and adjoining Yukon Territory.
The Fairbanks District is underlain by three metamorphosed stratigraphic packages all in apparent thrust fault contact. From oldest to youngest these are: (1) Chatanika Terrain, a Precambrian eclogite-garnet-amphibolite unit exposed on the northern edge of the district; (2) Fairbanks Schist, a dominant lithology and host to the majority of gold occurrences in the district, comprised of late Proterozoic to early Paleozoic sedimentary and volcanic rocks metamorphosed to greenschist facies; and (3) Chena River Sequence, an early to mid Paleozoic unit metamorphosed to lower amphibolite facies.
Stocks and dikes are common in the Fairbanks District, varying from diorite to granite. In recent years they have been conclusively linked to significant gold mineralizing systems. Mid Cretaceous ages have been determined for two of the stocks. Lamprophyre dikes are locally present in the district.
The Ester Dome property is underlain by late Proterozoic to early Paleozoic sedimentary and volcanic rocks that have been metamorphosed to greenschist facies. Dominant lithologies are quartz-mica schist, graphitic phyllite and micaceous quartzite, with lesser chlorite schist and calcareous schist. The schists are locally intruded by fine grained granitic to dioritic dikes and sills with minor porphyritic phases.
Four main structural patterns that crosscut stratigraphy and folding are present on Ester Dome. The most prominent is northeast trending shearing that is probably related to northeast thrusting in the region. Most of the past and present exploration has taken place along mineralized veins and shears parallel to this trend.
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6. Estimates of Indicated and Inferred Resources
We have not established any commercially viable reserves on any of our properties that comprise the Ester Dome Project.
General Note Regarding Estimates
The following information should be considered in connection with our estimates for the Ester Dome properties, which we are disclosing in accordance with applicable SEC standards and regulations:
Rounding may result in discrepancies. No process recovery factors have been applied to any of the following resource estimates. The unit ton refers to short tons.
The following resource estimates were extracted from a July 11, 2008 NI 43-101 report prepared by Bundtzen. Thomas K Bundtzen is an AIPG Certified geologist who represents the Company as a third party independent Qualified Person.
There are no mineral reserves estimated for Silverado’s Ester Dome properties. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
A. GRANT MINE - O’DEA STRUCTURE
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Indicated Resources and Inferred Resources
The following table uses the term ‘indicated resources’. Silverado advises U.S. investors that while this term is recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize this term. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves.
The following table also uses the term ‘inferred resources’. Silverado advises U.S. investors that while this term is recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize it. ‘Inferred resources’ have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
O'Dea-Grant Mineral Resources, effective July 11, 2008
Deposit |
Resource Category |
Cut-off Grade (oz/ton) Au |
Quantity (ton) |
Grade (oz/ton Au) |
Metal (oz of Au) |
O'Dea-Grant | Indicated | 0.08 | 342,000 | 0.303 | 103,630 |
O'Dea-Grant | Inferred | 0.04 | 1,380,620 | 0.089 | 123,670 |
B. DOBBS – (ETHEL – ELMES)
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Inferred Resources
The following table uses the term ‘inferred resources’. Silverado advises U.S. investors that while this term is recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize it. ‘Inferred resources’ have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources may not form the basis of
45
feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
Dobbs (Ethel-Elmes) Inferred Mineral Resources, effective July 11, 2008
Deposit |
Resource Category |
Cut-off Grade (oz/ton) Au |
Quantity (ton) |
Grade (oz/ton Au) |
Metal (oz of Au) |
Ethel Elmes | Inferred | 0.04 | 1,172,820 | 0.077 | 90,470 |
C. ST. PAUL
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Indicated Resources and Inferred Resources
The following table uses the term ‘indicated resources’. Silverado advises U.S. investors that while this term is recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize this term. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves.
The following table also uses the term ‘inferred resources’. Silverado advises U.S. investors that while this term is recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize it. ‘Inferred resources’ have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
St. Paul-Barelka Indicated Mineral Resources, effective July 11, 2008
Deposit |
Resource Category |
Cut-off Grade (oz/ton) Au |
Quantity (ton) |
Grade (oz/ton Au) |
Metal (oz of Au) |
St. Paul-Barelka |
Indicated |
0.08 |
271,600 |
0.085 |
23,070 |
Ester Dome Mineral Resource Totals, Effective July 11, 2008
Category |
Cut-off grade (oz/ton Au) |
Quantity (ton) |
Grade (oz/ton Au) |
Metal (oz Au) |
Total Indicated | 0.08 | 613,600 | 0.21 | 126,700 |
Total Inferred | 0.04 | 2,553,400 | 0.08 | 214,100 |
Note: Rounding may result in discrepancies. No processing recovery factors have been applied to any of these resource estimates. The unit ton refers to short tons. The mineral resource estimates reported in this section were prepared by Bundtzen. There are no mineral reserves estimated for Silverado’s Ester Dome properties. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
EAGLE CREEK PROPERTY
1. Location and Access
The Eagle Creek property is accessed by the Steese Highway, 10 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska to Fox, Alaska, then traveling along the Elliot highway 6 miles north to Murphy Dome Road, then west along Murphy Dome Road about 5 miles to the property. A map illustrating the location and access to the Eagle Creek property is provided below:
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2. Ownership Interest
The Eagle Creek property is comprised of 77 Alaska state mineral claims. All claims are contiguous and are located in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. The total area of the claims equals approximately 3080 acres and all claims are valid. There has been no legal survey on the claims. Ownership of the claims is in the name of Silverado Gold Mines Inc. There is an "option to purchase" agreement with Arley Taylor (i.e., now with his descendants), to purchase a 100% interest in the property for $400,000, of which $48,000 remains to be paid. The amount of $5,000 per year is required to be paid to keep the agreement in good standing. The original option agreement with Arley Taylor was acquired through an agreement with S. Tan who assigned the agreement to us in consideration of 15% royalty from production (15% of net operating profits after payback of costs). We have continued to make option payments on the Eagle Creek property based on the agreement, and as a result all of our mineral claims and options are in good standing.
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3. History of Operations
Earliest work on the property started approximately in 1913, with the original owner exploring for antimony. A number of companies have explored the property from 1964 to the present.
During the early 1980s, geochemical surveys located anomalous gold and antimony targets. Drilling conducted on the property during 1991 and 1992 resulted in the outlining definition of gold mineralization hosted in intrusive rocks. Further in-fill drilling is necessary to determine continuity of the gold bearing sequence, and to ascertain grades of gold within the deposit. We will consider doing additional work on the gold-antimony bearing veins upon which the property was founded.
4. Present Condition of the Property and Current State of Exploration
We did not complete any exploration activity on the Eagle Creek property during 2008 other than assessment work and maintenance; however, an exploration work plan that includes trenching and drilling was developed and successfully permitted through the APMA process during 2007. Extensive exploration drilling has shown gold mineralization throughout the property. Exploration of the Eagle Creek property is currently in the preliminary stages.
The Eagle Creek property is undeveloped and does not contain any open-pit or underground mines. There is no plant or equipment located on the Eagle Creek property. Currently, there is no power supply to the Eagle Creek property, although GVEA power transmission lines run through the property and could supply power in the event a facility is warranted for ore processing in the future. Surface exploration work, including geochemical and geophysical surveys is recommended to be continued as a means of tracing promising mineral bearing rock units. Drilling is recommended to test the subsurface continuity and gold content of the rock units.
5. Geology
The Eagle Creek property is located within the same regional geology as the Ester Dome property.
The Eagle Creek property is 90% underlain by late Proterozoic to early Paleozoic sedimentary and volcanic rocks that have been metamorphosed to greenschist facies. Dominant lithologies are quartz mica schist, micaceous quartzite, graphitic phyllite and chlorite schist, with lesser calc-schist, feldspathic schist, graphitic schist and minor quartz sericite schist.
The remaining 10% of the property is underlain by felsic igneous rocks which intrude the schists in all sectors of the property. Compositions range from biotite quartz monzonite to muscovite granite. Porphyritic phases with quartz and feldspar phenocrysts are ubiquitous. Contact relations observed from mapped distribution of granitic rock fragments in soil and from diamond drill core indicate the intrusives are dikes and sills up to 200’ thick.
FEDERAL CLAIM MAINTENANCE FEES AND STATE CLAIM RENTALS
We pay an annual federal claim maintenance fee to the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) of $125 for each federal mineral claim that is owned by us or held under a purchase or lease agreement. We paid aggregate annual federal claim maintenance fees of $83,750 during 2007; in addition, the Company paid $18,805 to BLM for staking new claims. In 2008, we paid an annual federal claim maintenance fee of $84,000 to BLM. We anticipate an amount similar to that paid for 2008 will be due in fiscal 2009.
Annual Alaska state claim rentals are due for each state mining claim that is owned or held by us under a purchase or lease agreement. An annual fee of $130 per claim is payable by us to the Alaska Department of Revenue for each claim. We paid aggregate Alaska state claim rental fees of $16,770 in fiscal 2007 and $16,770. We anticipate that a similar amount will be paid in fiscal 2009.
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GLOSSARY OF TERMS
The definitions of geological and technical terms used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are provided below:
Amphibolite Facies |
An assemblage of minerals formed under medium to high pressure during regional metamorphism |
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Arsenopyrite |
Mineral composed of iron, arsenic and sulphur. |
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Auriferous |
Containing gold. |
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Bedrock |
Rock units which underlie unconsolidated surface overburden or soils. |
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Brecciated |
Rock composed of angular fragments held together in a matrix. |
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Calcareous Schist |
A laminated metamorphic rock containing calcium carbonate. |
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Chlorite Schist |
A laminated metamorphic rock containing prominent chlorite, which is a hydrated silicate of aluminum, iron and magnesium. |
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Chloritic Quartzite |
A metamorphic rock composed primarily of quartz (silicon dioxide) with minor chlorite (see previous entry). |
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Development Stage |
Includes all mining companies engaged in the preparation of a mineral deposit with reserves for production and which are not in the production stage. |
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Dikes |
A tabular intrusive body of rock with a vertical or near vertical orientation. |
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Diorite |
A body of intrusive rock composed of feldspars, amphibole and a small amount of quartz. |
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Dioritic Dikes |
See dikes. See diorite. |
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Dominant Lithology |
In a given area, the rock type occurring at the highest percentage. |
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Drilling |
The process of boring a hole in the rock to obtain a sample for determination of metal content. “Diamond Drilling” involves the use of a hollow bit with diamonds on the cutting surface to recover a cylindrical core of rock. “Reverse Circulation Drilling” involves chips of rock being forced back through the center of the drill pipe using air or water. |
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Exploration |
The process of using prospecting, geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, drilling, sampling and other means to detect and perform initial evaluations of mineral deposits. |
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Fairbanks Schist |
A grouping of metasedimentary rocks which underlie much of the Fairbanks District. |
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Federal Lode Claims, |
Mineral claims up to 20 acres, located on federal land under the U.S. |
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Federal Placer Claims |
Exploration Law of 1872. See below for definitions of “Lode” and “Placer”. |
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Felsic |
A mnemonic adjective derived from (fe) for feldspar. (l) for feldpathoids and (s) for silica and is applied to light-colored rocks containing an abundance of one or all of these constituents. |
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Geochemical Survey |
Sample of soil, rock, silt, water or vegetation analyzed to detect the presence of valuable metals or other metals which may accompany them. E.g., Arsenic may indicate the presence of gold. |
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Geophysical Survey |
Electrical, magnetic and other means used to detect features, which may be associated with mineral deposits. |
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Gold Deposit |
A concentration of gold in rock sufficient to be of economic interest. |
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Granite |
An intrusive rock which includes feldspar, mica and quartz. |
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Graphitic Phyllite |
Metamorphic rock intermediate between slate and schist, and containing graphite (carbon). |
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Greenschist Facies |
An assemblage of minerals formed under low to medium pressure during regional metamorphism. |
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Host Rocks |
A term used for a rock unit which, as a result of favorable structural or chemical characteristics, provides an environment for precipitation or deposition of metals or other foreign materials. |
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Lode Source |
The lode mineral deposit from which placer minerals have been derived by erosion. |
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Lode |
Mineral in place in the host rock, as in “lode gold”. |
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Metamorphic Complex |
A grouping of metamorphic rocks which have complicated structural relationships. |
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Metamorphism |
Processes, including pressure, heat and introduction of new chemical substances, by which consolidated rocks are changed from one form to another. |
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Metasedimentary |
Partially metamorphosed sedimentary rocks. |
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Metasiltsone |
A rock formed from consolidated silt, which has been partially changed to schist. |
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Micaceous Quartzite |
A metamorphic rock, mostly quartz with minor mica. |
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Micaceous |
Containing mica, usually referring to metamorphic rocks. |
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Mineral Claims |
General term used to describe the manner of land acquisition under which the right to explore, develop and extract metals is established. |
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Mineral Deposit |
A mineral deposit is a mineralized body, which has been intersected by a sufficient number of drill holes or by underground workings to give an estimate of grade(s) of metal(s) to warrant further exploration or development. A mineral deposit does not qualify as a commercially viable mineral deposit with reserves under standards set by the Securities and Exchange Commission until a final, comprehensive, economic, technical and legal feasibility study has been completed. |
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Mineral reserve |
Securities and Exchange Commission Industry Guide 7 Description of Property by Issuers Engaged or to be Engaged in Significant Mining Operations of the Securities and Exchange Commission defines a reserve’ as that part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. Reserves consist of: |
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(1) Proven (Measured) Reserves. Reserves for which: (a) quantity is computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes; grade and/or quality are computed from the results of detailed sampling; and (b) the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are spaced so closely and the geologic character is so well defined that size, shape, depth and mineral content of reserves are well- established. | |
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(2) Probable (Indicated) Reserves. Reserves for which quantity and grade and/or quality are computed from information similar to that used for proven (measured) reserves, but the sites for inspection, | |
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sampling and measurement are farther apart or are otherwise less adequately spaced. The degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven (measured) reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observation. | |
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Mineral resource |
National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators defines a “Mineral Resource” as 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. |
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Mineral Resources are sub-divided, in order of increasing geological confidence, into Inferred, Indicated and Measured categories. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource. An Indicated Mineral Resource has a higher level of confidence than an Inferred Mineral Resource but has a lower level of confidence than a Measured Mineral Resource. | |
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(1) Inferred Mineral Resource. An ‘Inferred Mineral Resource’ is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade or quality can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and grade 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. | |
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(2) Indicated Mineral Resource. An ‘Indicated Mineral Resource’ is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade 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 grade continuity to be reasonably assumed. | |
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(3) Measured Mineral Resource. A ‘Measured Mineral Resource’ is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape, physical characteristics are so well established that they can be estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support production planning and evaluation of the economic viability | |
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of the deposit. The estimate 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 that are spaced closely enough to confirm both geological and grade continuity. | |
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Industry Guide 7 – “Description of Property by Issuers Engaged or to be Engaged in Significant Mining Operations” of the Securities and Exchange Commission does not define or recognize resources. As used in this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, “resources” are as defined in National Instrument 43-101. | |
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Muscovite |
A light coloured mica. |
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Ore |
A natural aggregate of one or more minerals which, at a specified time and place, may be mined and processed and the product(s) at a profit or from which some part may be profitably separated. |
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Phyllite |
An argillaceous rock intermediate between slate and schist. |
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Placer |
Mineral, which has been separated from its host rock by natural processes and is often reconcentrated in streams as “placer deposits” or “placer gold”. |
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Porphyritic Phases |
Areas of rock in which one or more minerals occur as larger crystals in a relatively finer groundmass. |
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Production Stage |
Includes all mining companies engaged in the exploitation of a mineral deposit with proven reserves. |
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Pyrite |
A mineral containing iron and sulphur. |
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Quartzite |
A metamorphic rock composed mostly of quartz (silicon dioxide) |
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Quartz-Mica Schist
Resistivity Low |
A laminated metamorphic rock with roughly equal quartz and mica. In geophysical surveying, an area with higher electromagnetic conductivity than the surrounding area. |
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Schist |
Flat plate-like metamorphic rock formations, which contain primarily mica. |
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Slate |
A metamorphosed mudstone. |
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State Claims |
Mineral claims up to 40 acres, located on State of Alaska lands. |
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Stibnite | A mineral composed of antimony and sulphur. |
Stocks | Small intrusive bodies of rock. |
Thrust Fault Contact | One rock type pushed over top of another at a relatively low angle. |
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
The Company is not a party to any pending legal proceeding, nor is the Company’s property the subject of any pending legal proceeding. The Company also is not aware of any proceeding that a governmental authority is contemplating.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
None.
PART II
ITEM 5. |
MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND SMALL BUSINESS ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES |
Our common shares are quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol “SLGLF,” on the Berlin Stock Exchange under the symbol “SLGL,” and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “SLGL.” The following table indicates the range of high and low bid information of our common shares for each quarter within the last two fiscal years:
OTCBB: | |||
QUARTER ENDED | HIGH BID | LOW BID | |
November 30, 2006 | $0.08 | $0.05 | |
February 28, 2007 | $0.14 | $0.06 | |
May 31, 2007 | $0.16 | $0.09 | |
August 31, 2007 | $0.11 | $0.06 | |
November 30, 2007 | $0.09 | $0.07 | |
February 29, 2008 | $0.08 | $0.06 | |
May 31, 2008 | $0.04 | $0.04 | |
August 31, 2008 | $0.03 | $0.03 | |
November 30, 2008 | $0.01 | $0.01 | |
BERLIN: | |||
QUARTER ENDED | HIGH BID | LOW BID | |
November 30, 2006 | $0.06 | $0.04 | |
February 28, 2007 | $0.14 | $0.06 | |
May 31, 2007 | $0.016 | $0.09 | |
August 31, 2007 | $0.11 | $0.06 | |
November 30, 2007 | $0.09 | $0.07 | |
February 29, 2008 | $0.04 | $0.04 | |
May 31, 2008 | $0.03 | $0.03 |
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August 31, 2008 | $0.02 | $0.02 | |
November 30, 2008 | $0.01 | $0.01 | |
FRANKFURT | |||
QUARTER ENDED | HIGH BID | LOW BID | |
November 30, 2006 | $0.06 | $0.04 | |
February 28, 2007 | $0.11 | $0.05 | |
May 31, 2007 | $0.12 | $0.07 | |
August 31, 2007 | $0.08 | $0.04 | |
November 30, 2007 | $0.07 | $0.05 |
February 29, 2008 | $0.05 | $0.05 | |
May 31, 2008 | $0.03 | $0.03 | |
August 31, 2008 | $0.02 | $0.01 | |
November 30, 2008 | $0.01 | $0.01 |
The source of the high and low bid information is: http://ca.finance.yahoo.com. The market quotations provided reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, markdown or commission and may not represent actual transactions.
Holders
As at March 6, 2009 we had 1,098,612,771 common shares issued and outstanding that were held by approximately 2,817 registered holders.
Dividends
We have not declared any dividends on our common stock in our two most recent fiscal years.
We are restricted in our ability to pay dividends by limitations under British Columbia law relating to the sufficiency of profits from which dividends may be paid. In addition, Silverado’s Articles (the equivalent of the Bylaws of a United States corporation) provide that no dividend shall be paid otherwise than out of funds or assets properly available for the payment of dividends and declaration by the directors as to the amount of such funds or assets available for dividends shall be conclusive.
Securities Authorized For Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
Set forth in the table below is information regarding outstanding equity awards made under equity compensation plans through November 30, 2008, the end of our most recently completed fiscal year.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Number of | Weighted | Number of | |
securities to be | average exercise | securities | |
issued upon | price of | available for | |
exercise of | outstanding | future plan | |
outstanding | options, | issuance | |
options, | warrants, and | ||
warrants, and | rights | ||
Plan Category | rights | ||
Equity compensation plans | N/A | N/A | N/A |
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approved by security holders | |||
Equity compensation plans not | |||
approved by security holders | |||
2007-1 Equity Compensation Plan | N/A | N/A | 2,300,000 |
2007 Stock Option Plan | 19,900,000 | $0.07 | N/A |
Equity Compensation Plans Prior to 2007 | 50,500,000 | $0.05 | N/A |
There was no stock option plan adopted for fiscal year 2008.
On August 31, 2007, our Board of Directors adopted the 2007-1 Equity Compensation Plan (the "Incentive Stock Option Plan"). The Incentive Stock Option Plan was established to encourage certain of our officers, employees, directors and consultants to acquire and hold stock in the Company as an added incentive to remain with the Company and to increase their efforts in promoting the interests of the Company, as well as to attract and retain capable individuals. A maximum of twenty-five million (25,000,000) shares of our common stock can be issued under the Incentive Stock Option Plan. The aggregate fair market value of the our common shares issued to an employee in exchange for stock options under the Incentive Stock Option Plan cannot exceed $100,000 during any calendar year. The Incentive Stock Option Plan may be terminated at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company. On January 11, 2007, our Board of Directors adopted the 2007 Stock Option Plan (the "2007 Plan"). The 2007 Plan authorizes the issuance of options to purchase our common stock to directors, officers, employees, and eligible consultants. We reserved 25,000,000 shares of our Common Stock for awards to be made under the 2007 Plan. On February 20, 2007, we filed a registration statement on Form S-8 to register all 25,000,000 of such shares. The 2007 Plan is to be administered by a committee of two or more members of the Board of Directors. The 2007 Plan allows for the issuance of incentive stock options (which can only be granted to employees) and non-qualified stock options. The committee shall determine the type of option granted, the exercise price, the option term (which may be no more than ten years), and terms and conditions of exercisability.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
We have not sold any unregistered securities during the last completed fiscal year, other than those we previously reported in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB or Current Reports on Form 8-K and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ITEM 6. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF OPERATION
PLAN OF OPERATION
Certain forward-looking statements are discussed in this plan of operation with respect to the Company’s activities and future financial results, which are made based upon management’s current expectations and beliefs. These are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause projected results or events to differ materially from actual results or events. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. All currency references are in US dollar, the Company’s reporting currency, unless otherwise noted.
Our plan of operation for the next twelve months is as follows:
The Nolan Gold Project
The plan of operation for the Nolan Gold Project for the 2009 fiscal year is the advancement toward the development and mining stage of our Nolan Gold and Antimony Project, especially along the southwestern end of the Solomon Shear Zone in the Workman’s Bench Area. The Company is in a transitional phase between exploration and development. The recent preliminary feasibility study effective January 1, 2009, supported a mineral reserve of antimony and gold underlying the southwestern portion of the Solomon Shear Zone, an area referred to by the Company as Workman’s Bench. The study by Bundtzen (2008 QP) concluded that the Nolan Gold and Antimony Project in the Workman’s Bench area is economically viable.
Our plan of operations involves collecting a 1,000 cu yd bulk sample of the stibnite-gold vein material from the mineralized zones referred to as the ‘A’ Zone and possibly ‘B’ and West Zones. The bulk sample will be for larger scale milling and processing tests, and a more accurate mineralogical determination of the gold, especially what the Company has termed ‘nugget effect’ of the gold found in the massive stibnite veins. The Company believes that the grade of gold will increase upon the extraction of the larger scale bulk sample due to the ‘nugget effect’ which is not represented during the drilling effort. The successful extraction of a 1,000 cu yd sample will give a better indication of the special and physical relationships between the gold and the antimony. The bulk sample is also
54
necessary for additional verification of the purity of the antimony content in the stibnite and whether or not at depth there is a potential for zonation of increased deleterious metals that could contaminate the antimony ore.
Also, the plan of operations for 2009 involves performing a variety of characterization studies in preparation for the development stage and for permitting requirements necessary for the future production of the antimony-gold deposit underlying the Workman’s Bench. These studies include but are not limited to additional hydrologic studies proximal to our planned underground workings, as well as environmental baseline studies of the flora and fauna and the baseline chemical and physical parameters of the creek water, and acid-base accounting (ABA) studies of the ore-hosting rock determining an appropriate, effective and safe disposal of acid mine waste rock.
Much of the work planned for 2009 is seasonal dependent. During the summer months we plan to use our diamond core drill for infill drilling for additional reserve estimates and structural interpretation. We plan to drill a minimum of 35 shallow (200 to 500 ft) NQ diamond core drill holes. During the summer months we plan to do a variety of surveying work which includes topographic surveys and establishment of more local survey control monuments for engineering purposes. Also, many of the formerly mentioned characterization studies will be continued through the summer months. Also, during the summer, we plan the procurement of necessary facility and system upgrades, as well as the acquisition of necessary equipment and the construction of a pilot mill facility. Currently we have a fully functioning all season enclosed 23 man camp with three functioning offices with computers and internet access. The camp has a STW treatment plant for sewage and graywater treatment. The camp site also has a large mechanics shop for working on heavy equipment such as backhoes and bulldozers. The camp also has multiple ADEC approved containments with tanks capable of storing 30,000 gallons of diesel fuel, and a peripheral explosives storage area. The camp also has an abundance of heavy equipment for excavating and road maintenance.
During the late fall of 2009, we plan to open our portal and begin the excavation of a decline to begin the extraction of the bulk sample. We plan to extract the majority of vein material from the ‘A’ Zone since more than 70% of the current reserve is in this zone. We plan to use a cut-and-fill stoping method. Once a stope is driven, the vein structure will be shot off the rib at an estimated width of 2 feet and mucked out for storage and processing at the surface. Waste rock will be temporarily stored on lined pads along the left limit Bench of Nolan Creek Valley, an area used previously by the Company for seasonal storage of bulk samples.
Currently, at the time of this writing, the Company’s engineers and geologists have designed the subsurface routes for an access decline and egress routes for the extraction of the bulk sample material, as well as located sites for temporary tailings storage and additional layout sites and mill design. The geologists have finished their geotechnical studies for engineering purposes. However, depending on various characterization studies and additional infill drilling results during 2009, the subsurface plan may be amended.
Readers and investors need to take caution, in that much of the work planned in 2009 is contingent upon available funding and the success and speed of the permitting process.
Our proposed drilling program for 2009 will be aimed at lode gold and antimony exploration. Lode drilling will focus on Pringle Bench, Workman’s Bench and the Hillside along the Solomon’s Shear trend, and is designed to provide a better three dimensional understanding of the mineralized sections of the structure and how it is related to the placer gold deposits of the Nolan Creek area. Since the Project is advancing into the development stage, exploration drilling will not be conducted in the Fortress area which is part of a gold bearing east-west trending deformation zone. The Company plans to drill a minimum of 35 shallow (200-500 ft) diamond core drill holes. Placer drilling will be dependent on funding for the extraction of the Workman’s Bench 1,000 cu yd bulk sample.
Workman’s Bench - The Company plans to infill drill a minimum of 20 holes along the portion of Solomon Shear Zone that was drilled in 2008, to further define and increase reserves.
Pringle South - The Company plans to infill drill a minimum of 10 holes along the Solomon Shear Zone on the north side of Smith Creek in the area between the Pringle and Workman’s Benches for a check of the continuity of the northeast striking zone.
Hillside Area - The bedrock underlying the Hillside Area was drilled in previous years with an RC drill, but the drilling locations were based on only limited bedrock trenching data. Since then, geophysical surveys and geochemical soil sampling surveys have indicated that the drill collars were too far west. The Company plans to select a minimum of 5 sites approximately 300 to 800 feet further to the east and drill back toward the west to intercept the zone. The Company plans to take advantage of the historic trails and use a backhoe to dig additional test trenches in the area further to the east.
The Total Cost for the Drilling Exploration Program is expected to be US $1,000,000.
55
Our exploration plans are to further define gold deposits in order to provide a basis for the assessment of the feasibility of future additional test mining activities at the Nolan project. We are currently undertaking an extensive geological exploration program on the Nolan Gold Project. The program includes drilling and trenching, as well as the review of geological and geophysical data.
We have been working on interpreting the geology of the Nolan area since 1979, when we first acquired the project. Our latest and most extensive exploration program began in early 2007 and was directed at improving our placer deposit definition and discovering potential lode sources of the placer gold. Our exploration geologists and mining engineers have worked to move this objective forward. Our exploration efforts have included the analysis of geophysical data, geochemical sampling results, Company records and analysis provided by government mineral investigation efforts and publications as well as the trenching and exploration drilling of target areas.
We plan to spend up to$10,000,000 in the next twelve months in carrying out our exploration, permitting and development activities for the Nolan Gold Project. Of this amount, $1,000,000 is projected for lode drilling and trenching on the Solomon Shear Zone. The actual amount that we spend on exploration will depend on the actual amount of funds that we have available for exploration. We are presently seeking to obtain sufficient financing to enable us to proceed with these plans.
Effective January 1, 2009, we have economically viable reserves on our properties that comprise the Nolan Gold Project.. We plan to carry out activities on the Nolan Gold Project. The objective of the activities on the Nolan Gold Project is to complete permitting, drill, and continue underground development and bulk sampling and processing.
Ester Dome Property
During 2009, we plan to complete the closure of the Grant Mill Tailings Pond. This pond is filled to capacity, and will be capped and decommissioned after a final approval of the tailings pond closure plan is received from State of Alaska regulatory agencies. A meaningful exploration program may be completed during the summer months to explore for and identify small high-grade gold anomalies as well as larger low-grade gold anomalies.
Completing the 2009 exploration work plan will be contingent on available funding.
Hammond Property
The encouraging drill results to date, the potential of extending the Slisco Channel to the southeast plus the possibility of discovering gold bearing tributary channels, make this a prospect for additional discoveries. This project will require additional funding. Even if funding is acquired, there is no assurance that a commercial gold bearing placer deposit will be developed. Even if a gold bearing deposit is developed, additional funding will be required to mine the deposit, and until a feasibility study is completed, there is no assurance that the deposit will be profitable to mine.
Eagle Creek Property
During 2009, annual assessment work will be completed on the Eagle Creek property to keep the mining claims in good standing. Assessment work will be focused on the northwest part of the claim block, where drilling and trenching has defined an intrusive host rock, thought to be a sill, containing low grade gold, silver and antimony mineralization. If funding permits, the Company will design a drilling program to further investigate the gold and by-product mineral distribution of the intrusive. Additional work which includes trenching and drilling will also be completed on the Number One. The Number One Vein was the lode quartz structure which has been mined commercially for antimony.
A commercially viable economic mineral deposit has not been defined on the property, and there is no assurance that a commercially viable economic mineral deposit exists on the property.
Low-Rank Coal-Water Fuel Project
During late May of 2007 Silverado environmental staff met in a “pre-permitting” meeting with representatives of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (“MDEQ”). At that meeting all the various sections of MDEQ that would be involved in the permitting of the Green Fuel industrial process were present, representatives of these sections were assigned to our project, and the lead MDEQ regulator that will serve as our point-of-contact was designated.
Silverado is currently having a $150,000 study conducted on the chemical and physical characteristics of Mississippi Red Hills Lignite Coal at the Mineral Industry Research Laboratory at the University of Alaska (Fairbanks) and expects results by late 2009.
56
Results of the tests as well as capital availability and an increase in oil prices would all have to be present and sufficient for Silverado Green Fuel Inc. to reconsider construction of its LRCWF project. In the meantime, Dr. Warrack Willson, at age 65, has retired from Silverado Green Fuel and the Company retains its rights under its agreement with Dr. Willson to the LRCWF technology and exclusive rights to technology developed by Dr. Willson during his employment with Silverado.
During the year ended November 30, 2008, we have spent approximately $300,000 to fund the research into lignite coal conversion in conjunction with the University of Fairbanks, Alaska, referred to above, and the preparation of a Phase I feasibility study and cost estimate for the Mississippi Commercial Low Rank Coal Water Fuel plant.
Cash Requirements and Additional Financings
At November 30, 2008, the Company had a deficit working capital of $1,293,886 as compared to working capital of $1,741,698 as at November 30, 2007. During the first quarter of 2009 we raised $147,000 in additional share capital and received $135,000 subscription through private placements.. Our plan of mining operations in Alaska anticipates that we will expend $10,000,000 during fiscal year 2009. In addition, we expect to spend $100,000 on research and development for the Green Fuel project and approximately $2,000,000 on general and administrative costs in the Company’s Vancouver head office.
Our management is confident that they will be able to raise additional capital during the second, third and fourth quarters of Fiscal 2009 to cover the resulting anticipated shortfall of approximately $13,100,000. However, there is no assurance that we will be able to raise the financing necessary to enable us to implement our business plan.
Planned operations as described above could be curtailed if funding were not available.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Exploration Stage Company
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Exchange Act Guide 7 “Description of Property by Issuers Engaged or to be Engaged in Significant Mining Operations” requires that mining companies in the exploration stage should not refer to themselves as development stage companies in their financial statements, even though such companies should comply with Financial Accounting Board Statement No. 7, if applicable. We are an exploration stage company under the SEC’s Guide 7 and accordingly, we have not been referred to as a development stage company in our financial statements. Accumulated results of operations are presented from December 1, 2001, the date we re-entered the exploration stage.
Mineral rights payments and exploration costs
Pursuant to EITF 04-02, “Whether Mineral Rights are Tangible or Intangible Assets and Related Issues”, the Company has modified its accounting policy with respect to mineral claim payments, retroactively effective to June 1, 2004, to capitalize the direct costs to acquire or lease mineral properties and mineral rights as tangible assets. The direct costs include the costs of signature (lease) bonuses, options to purchase or lease properties, and brokers’ and legal fees. If the acquired mineral rights relate to unproven properties, the Company does not amortize the capitalized mineral costs, but evaluates the capitalized mineral costs periodically for impairment. The Company expenses all costs related to the exploration of mineral claims in which it had secured exploration rights prior to establishment of proven and probable reserves.
Asset retirement obligation
Effective December 1, 2002, we adopted SFAS 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, which addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated retirement costs. The standard applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and normal use of the asset.
SFAS No. 143 requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The fair value of the liability is added to the carrying amount of the associated asset and this additional carrying amount is depreciated over the life of the asset. The liability is accreted at the end of each period through charges to operating expense. If the obligation is settled for other than the carrying amount of the liability, we will recognize a gain or loss on settlement.
57
Stock Based Compensation
Effective December 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 123(R) (Share-based Compensation) requiring equity awards granted under its stock option plan to be accounted for under the fair value method. Accordingly, share-based compensation is measured at grant date, based on the fair value of the award. Prior to December 1, 2006, the Company accounted for awards granted under its stock option plans utilizing the intrinsic value method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (APB 25), and related interpretations, and provided the required pro forma disclosures prescribed by SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (SFAS 123), as amended. Under the existing stock option plans, all options vest entirely on the grant date. Therefore, there were no partially vested options outstanding as of the SFAS 123(R) adoption date.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We have not entered into any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources, and that would be considered material to investors.
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ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
Our audited financial statements for the year ended November 30, 2008, as set forth below, are included with this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB. Our audited financial statements are prepared on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and are expressed in U.S. dollars.
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and
Stockholders of Silverado Gold Mines Ltd.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Silverado Gold Mines Ltd. and Subsidiaries (An Exploration Stage Company) (the “Company”) as of November 30, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations and other comprehensive gain (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. Our opinion on the consolidated statements of operations and other comprehensive gain (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the period since recommencement of the exploration stage from December 1, 2001 to November 30, 2008 insofar as it relates to amounts for the prior periods through November 30, 2004 is based on the reports of other auditors.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Silverado Gold Mines Ltd. and Subsidiaries (An Exploration Stage Company) as of November 30, 2008 and 2007, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company’s dependence on outside financing, lack of sufficient working capital, and recurring losses from activities in the exploration stage raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
/s/ Berkovits & Company, LLP
Fort
Lauderdale, Florida
March 6, 2009
F - 1
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
November 30, 2008 | November 30, 2007 | |||||
ASSETS | ||||||
Current Assets | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 50,991 | $ | 1,073,457 | ||
Gold inventory | 50,106 | 1,969,870 | ||||
Prepaid and other receivables | 383,358 | 294,505 | ||||
Total Current Assets | 484,455 | 3,337,832 | ||||
Mineral rights | 1,197,591 | 1,012,316 | ||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 1,631,824 | 2,158,379 | ||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 3,313,870 | $ | 6,508,527 | ||
LIABILITIES | ||||||
Current Liabilities | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 561,460 | $ | 210,404 | ||
Due to related parties | 1,076,881 | 1,214,717 | ||||
Convertible debentures, current portion | 140,000 | 140,000 | ||||
Capital lease obligation, current portion | - | 31,013 | ||||
Total Current Liabilities | 1,778,341 | 1,596,134 | ||||
Asset retirement obligation | 537,258 | 529,311 | ||||
Mineral claims royalty payable | 390,000 | 360,000 | ||||
Total Liabilities | 2,705,599 | 2,485,445 | ||||
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||
Common stock | ||||||
Authorized: | ||||||
unlimited common shares with no par value | ||||||
Issued and outstanding: | ||||||
977,437,101 common shares (2007:785,607,717) | 94,718,072 | 89,374,641 | ||||
Additional paid-in capital | 1,200,408 | 1,200,408 | ||||
Subscriptions received | - | 275,136 | ||||
Accumulated deficit during exploration stage | (95,310,209 | ) | (86,827,103 | ) | ||
Total Stockholders' Equity | 608,271 | 4,023,082 | ||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | $ | 3,313,870 | $ | 6,508,527 |
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F - 2
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE GAIN (LOSS) |
for the years ended November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Period Since | |||||||||
Recommencement of | |||||||||
Years ended November 30, | Exploration Stage from | ||||||||
December 1, 2001 to | |||||||||
2008 | 2007 | November 30, 2008 | |||||||
General and administrative expenses | |||||||||
Accounting and audit | $ | 328,263 | $ | 106,298 | $ | 718,198 | |||
Advertising, promotion and travel | 212,275 | 928,416 | 2,945,290 | ||||||
Consulting fees | 1,183,131 | 1,157,569 | 7,946,990 | ||||||
Depreciation, accretion and impairment | 334,221 | 255,264 | 2,559,732 | ||||||
Exploration expenses | 2,287,192 | 3,075,869 | 14,714,807 | ||||||
Financing activities | - | 50,000 | 302,003 | ||||||
Legal | 558,670 | 175,758 | 1,270,085 | ||||||
Management services | 854,529 | 1,820,129 | 5,619,236 | ||||||
Office Expenses | 837,488 | 1,041,794 | 4,607,598 | ||||||
Related party charges in excess of costs incurred | 1,176,926 | 1,243,430 | 4,943,868 | ||||||
Reporting and investor relations | 442,732 | 228,604 | 983,122 | ||||||
Research | 295,045 | 34,313 | 1,064,735 | ||||||
Transfer agent and filing fees | 67,310 | 59,443 | 278,790 | ||||||
Write-off of mineral claim expenditures | - | - | 1,159,529 | ||||||
Write-down of property, plant and equipment | 31,550 | - | 317,425 | ||||||
Total expenses | 8,609,332 | 10,176,887 | 49,431,408 | ||||||
Loss from operations | (8,609,332 | ) | (10,176,887 | ) | (49,431,408 | ) | |||
Gold income earned during the exploration stage | |||||||||
Gold sale proceeds earned during the exploration stage | 2,200,547 | 1,169,509 | 3,661,860 | ||||||
Cost of gold sold | (1,919,764 | ) | (1,012,443 | ) | (3,206,583 | ) | |||
Gold inventory addition from gold extraction | - | 2,489,125 | 3,248,056 | ||||||
Total gold income earned during the exploration stage | 280,783 | 2,646,191 | 3,703,333 | ||||||
Other income (expenses) | |||||||||
Interest income | 21,139 | 18,689 | 277,807 | ||||||
Interest expenses on capital lease obligations | (15,927 | ) | (16,518 | ) | (333,221 | ) | |||
Interest expenses on convertible debentures | (11,200 | ) | (11,200 | ) | (707,007 | ) | |||
Other interest expenses and bank charges | (12,636 | ) | (10,990 | ) | (60,108 | ) | |||
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment | (111,383 | ) | - | (111,383 | ) | ||||
Total other expenses | (130,007 | ) | (20,019 | ) | (933,912 | ) | |||
Net loss before cumulative effect of accounting change | (8,458,556 | ) | (7,550,715 | ) | (46,661,987 | ) | |||
Cumulative effect of accounting change | - | - | (99,481 | ) | |||||
Net loss | (8,458,556 | ) | (7,550,715 | ) | (46,761,468 | ) | |||
Other comprehensive (loss) income | |||||||||
(Loss) Gain on foreign exchange | (24,550 | ) | 242,558 | 356,203 | |||||
Comprehensive loss for the period | $ | (8,483,106 | ) | $ | (7,308,157 | ) | $ | (46,405,265 | ) |
Net loss per share | $ | (0.009 | ) | $ | (0.011 | ) | |||
Basic and diluted weighted average number | |||||||||
of common shares outstanding | 913,263,595 | 700,523,325 |
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F - 3
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
for the years from December 1, 2001 to November 30, 2008 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||
Deficit | |||||||||||||||||||||
Number of | Common | Common | Additional | during | |||||||||||||||||
Common | Shares - | Stock to be | Paid in | Deferred | Exploration | ||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Issued | Capital | Compensation | Stage | Total | |||||||||||||||
# | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Balance, November 30, 2001 | 42,423,988 | 47,056,285 | - | - | - | (48,904,944 | ) | (1,848,659 | ) | ||||||||||||
Shares issued: | |||||||||||||||||||||
For options exercised | |||||||||||||||||||||
January 2002 @ $0.15 per share | 3,700,000 | 555,000 | - | - | - | - | 555,000 | ||||||||||||||
April 2002 @ $0.11 per share | 2,000,000 | 220,000 | - | - | - | - | 220,000 | ||||||||||||||
May 2002 @ $0.125 per share | 1,200,000 | 150,000 | - | - | - | - | 150,000 | ||||||||||||||
For warrants exercised | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
March 2002 @ $0.05 per share | 5,300,000 | 265,000 | - | - | - | - | 265,000 | ||||||||||||||
April 2002 @ $0.08 per share | 2,000,000 | 160,000 | - | - | - | - | 160,000 | ||||||||||||||
July 2002 @ $0.35 per share | 1,800,000 | 630,000 | - | - | - | - | 630,000 | ||||||||||||||
July 2002 @ $0.20 per share | 2,000,000 | 400,000 | - | - | - | - | 400,000 | ||||||||||||||
August 2002 @ $0.10 per share | 5,150,000 | 515,000 | - | - | - | - | 515,000 | ||||||||||||||
For consulting fees | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
February 2002 @ $0.11 per share | 1,091,667 | 120,084 | - | - | - | - | 120,084 | ||||||||||||||
April 2002 @ $0.12 per share | 350,000 | 42,000 | - | - | - | - | 42,000 | ||||||||||||||
May 2002 @ $0.13 per share | 308,333 | 40,083 | - | - | - | - | 40,083 | ||||||||||||||
May 2002 @ $0.15 per share | 391,667 | 60,000 | - | - | - | - | 60,000 | ||||||||||||||
February 2002 @ $0.18 per share | 350,000 | 63,000 | - | - | - | - | 63,000 | ||||||||||||||
June 2002 @ $0.23 per share | 308,333 | 70,917 | - | - | - | - | 70,917 | ||||||||||||||
August 2002 @ $0.34 per share | 300,000 | 102,000 | - | - | - | - | 102,000 | ||||||||||||||
August 2002 @ $0.35 per share | 41,667 | 14,583 | - | - | - | - | 14,583 | ||||||||||||||
June 2002 @ $0.38 per share | 41,667 | 14,583 | - | - | - | - | 14,583 | ||||||||||||||
July 2002 @ $0.39 per share | 83,333 | 32,500 | - | - | - | - | 32,500 | ||||||||||||||
October 2002 @ $0.40 per share | 41,667 | 16,667 | - | - | - | - | 16,667 | ||||||||||||||
November 2002 @ $0.41 per share | 268,333 | 109,217 | - | - | - | - | 109,217 | ||||||||||||||
September 2002 @ $0.43 per share | 925,005 | 397,752 | - | - | - | - | 397,752 | ||||||||||||||
October 2002 @ $0.44 per share | 50,000 | 22,000 | - | - | - | - | 22,000 | ||||||||||||||
September 2002 @ $0.46 per share | 41,667 | 19,167 | - | - | - | - | 19,167 | ||||||||||||||
September 2002 @ $0.48 per share | 100,000 | 48,000 | - | - | - | - | 48,000 | ||||||||||||||
November 2002 @ $0.60 per share | 99,996 | 59,998 | - | - | - | - | 59,998 | ||||||||||||||
For private placements, net of | |||||||||||||||||||||
commissions | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 2002 @ $0.04 per share | 2,500,000 | 100,000 | - | - | - | - | 100,000 | ||||||||||||||
February 2002 @ $0.05 per share | 5,300,000 | 265,000 | - | - | - | - | 265,000 | ||||||||||||||
April 2002 @ $0.09 per share | 2,000,000 | 180,000 | - | - | - | - | 180,000 | ||||||||||||||
May 2002 @ $0.10 per share | 2,000,000 | 200,000 | - | - | - | - | 200,000 | ||||||||||||||
June 2002 @ $0.15 per share | 4,000,000 | 600,000 | - | - | - | - | 600,000 | ||||||||||||||
July 2002 @ $0.26 per share | 250,000 | 65,000 | - | - | - | - | 65,000 | ||||||||||||||
July 2002 @ $0.30 per share | 1,200,000 | 360,000 | - | - | - | - | 360,000 | ||||||||||||||
September 2002 @ $0.38 per share | 400,000 | 152,000 | - | - | - | - | 152,000 | ||||||||||||||
November 2002 @ $0.32 per share | 3,125,000 | 1,000,000 | - | - | - | - | 1,000,000 | ||||||||||||||
In lieu of payment for debentures | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 2002 @ $0.10 per share | 1,628,971 | 162,897 | - | - | - | - | 162,897 | ||||||||||||||
June 2002 @ $0.11 per share | 1,437,520 | 158,127 | - | - | - | - | 158,127 | ||||||||||||||
March 2002 @ $0.13 per share | 1,234,710 | 160,512 | - | - | - | - | 160,512 | ||||||||||||||
September 2002 @ $0.37 per share | 2,643,107 | 984,391 | - | - | - | - | 984,391 | ||||||||||||||
Subscriptions received | - | - | 268,613 | - | - | - | 268,613 | ||||||||||||||
Stock option granted | - | - | - | 292,320 | (164,213 | ) | - | 128,107 | |||||||||||||
Net loss for the year | - | - | - | - | - | (6,965,911 | ) | (6,965,911 | ) | ||||||||||||
Balance, November 30, 2002 | 98,086,631 | 55,571,763 | 268,613 | 292,320 | (164,213 | ) | (55,870,855 | ) | 97,628 |
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F - 4
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
for the years from December 1, 2001 to November 30, 2008 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||
Deficit | |||||||||||||||||||||
Number of | Common | Common | Additional | during | |||||||||||||||||
Common | Shares - | Stock to be | Paid in | Deferred | Exploration | ||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Issued | Capital | Compensation | Stage | Total | |||||||||||||||
# | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Shares issued: | |||||||||||||||||||||
For private placements (net) | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 2002 @ $0.50 per share | 5,500,000 | 2,750,000 | - | - | - | - | 2,750,000 | ||||||||||||||
January 2003 @ $0.55 per share | 909,091 | 500,000 | - | - | - | - | 500,000 | ||||||||||||||
April 2003 @ $0.33 per share | 3,525,582 | 1,163,400 | - | - | - | - | 1,163,400 | ||||||||||||||
July 2003 @ $0.15 per share | 1,666,667 | 250,000 | - | - | - | - | 250,000 | ||||||||||||||
August 2003 @ $0.10 per share | 13,050,000 | 1,305,000 | - | - | - | - | 1,305,000 | ||||||||||||||
Commissions paid | - | (641,155 | ) | - | - | - | - | (641,155 | ) | ||||||||||||
For options exercised | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 2002 @ $0.35 per share | 200,000 | 70,000 | - | - | - | - | 70,000 | ||||||||||||||
For warrants exercised | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
August 2003 @ $0.08 per share | 10,864,539 | 884,121 | - | - | - | - | 884,121 | ||||||||||||||
July 2003 @ $0.12 per share | 954,546 | 114,546 | - | - | - | - | 114,546 | ||||||||||||||
September 2003 @ $0.10 per share | 3,459,086 | 345,908 | - | - | - | - | 345,908 | ||||||||||||||
For consulting fees | |||||||||||||||||||||
November 2003 @ $0.22 per share | 2,511,668 | 554,085 | (268,613 | ) | - | - | - | 285,472 | |||||||||||||
In lieu of payment for debentures | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 2002 @ $0.38 per share | 372,818 | 141,671 | - | - | - | - | 141,671 | ||||||||||||||
April 2003 @ $0.18 per share | 3,274,865 | 588,893 | - | - | - | - | 588,893 | ||||||||||||||
August 2003 @ $0.14 per share | 913,551 | 127,897 | - | - | - | - | 127,897 | ||||||||||||||
November 2003 @ $0.46 per share | 738,308 | 340,006 | - | - | - | - | 340,006 | ||||||||||||||
Subscriptions received | - | - | 115,000 | - | - | - | 115,000 | ||||||||||||||
Amortization of stock-based | |||||||||||||||||||||
compensation | - | - | - | - | 129,397 | - | 129,397 | ||||||||||||||
Stock option granted | - | - | - | 171,994 | (42,896 | ) | - | 129,098 | |||||||||||||
Net loss for the year | - | - | - | - | - | (8,519,169 | ) | (8,519,169 | ) | ||||||||||||
Balance, November 30, 2003 | 146,027,352 | 64,066,135 | 115,000 | 464,314 | (77,712 | ) | (64,390,024 | ) | 177,713 | ||||||||||||
Shares issued: | |||||||||||||||||||||
For private placements | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 2003 @ $0.075 per share | 1,533,894 | 115,000 | (115,000 | ) | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||
February 2004 @ $0.075 per share | 15,390,070 | 1,154,255 | - | - | - | - | 1,154,255 | ||||||||||||||
June 2004 @ $0.05 per share | 21,666,667 | 1,083,334 | - | - | - | - | 1,083,334 | ||||||||||||||
September 2004 @ $0.04 per share | 2,500,000 | 100,000 | - | - | - | - | 100,000 | ||||||||||||||
September 2004 @ $0.035 per share | 2,857,143 | 100,000 | - | - | - | - | 100,000 | ||||||||||||||
October 2004 @ $0.06 per share | 1,166,667 | 70,000 | - | - | - | - | 70,000 | ||||||||||||||
November 2004 @ $0.03 per share | 10,000,000 | 300,000 | - | - | - | - | 300,000 | ||||||||||||||
Commissions paid | - | (357,690 | ) | - | - | - | - | (357,690 | ) | ||||||||||||
For warrants exercised | |||||||||||||||||||||
January 2004 @ $0.075per share | 8,876,597 | 665,745 | - | - | - | - | 665,745 | ||||||||||||||
November 2004 @ $0.03 per share | 6,000,000 | 180,000 | - | - | - | - | 180,000 | ||||||||||||||
For consulting fees | |||||||||||||||||||||
January 2004 @ $0.14 per share | 495,000 | 69,300 | - | - | - | - | 69,300 | ||||||||||||||
April 2004 @ $0.09 per share | 750,000 | 67,500 | - | - | - | - | 67,500 | ||||||||||||||
April 2004 @ $0.10 per share | 50,000 | 5,000 | - | - | - | - | 5,000 | ||||||||||||||
April 2004 @ $0.137 per share | 720,000 | 98,640 | - | - | - | - | 98,640 | ||||||||||||||
June 2004 @ $0.12 per share | 410,000 | 49,200 | - | - | - | - | 49,200 | ||||||||||||||
August 2004 @ $0.07 per share | 150,000 | 10,500 | - | - | - | - | 10,500 | ||||||||||||||
November 2004 @ $0.06 per share | 1,516,667 | 91,000 | - | - | - | - | 91,000 | ||||||||||||||
November 2004 @ $0.06 per share | 2,325,000 | 186,000 | - | - | - | - | 186,000 |
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F - 5
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
for the years from December 1, 2001 to November 30, 2008 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||
Deficit | |||||||||||||||||||||
Number of | Common | Common | Additional | during | |||||||||||||||||
Common | Shares - | Stock to be | Paid in | Deferred | Exploration | ||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Issued | Capital | Compensation | Stage | Total | |||||||||||||||
# | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
In lieu of payment for debentures | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 2003 @ $0.11 per share | 1,119,342 | 123,128 | - | - | - | - | 123,128 | ||||||||||||||
February 2004 @ $0.10 per share | 559,915 | 55,992 | - | - | - | - | 55,992 | ||||||||||||||
June 2004 @ $0.067 per share | 248,685 | 16,660 | - | - | - | - | 16,660 | ||||||||||||||
September 2004 @ $0.049 per share | 86,588 | 4,243 | - | - | - | - | 4,243 | ||||||||||||||
Subscriptions received | - | - | 70,000 | - | - | - | 70,000 | ||||||||||||||
Amortization of stock-based | |||||||||||||||||||||
compensation | - | - | - | - | 77,712 | - | 77,712 | ||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | - | - | - | 2,000 | - | - | 2,000 | ||||||||||||||
Net loss for the year | - | - | - | - | - | (4,836,363 | ) | (4,836,363 | ) | ||||||||||||
Balance, November 30, 2004 | 224,449,587 | 68,253,942 | 70,000 | 466,314 | - | (69,226,387 | ) | (436,131 | ) | ||||||||||||
Shares issued: | |||||||||||||||||||||
For private placements | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 2004 @ $0.032 per share | 3,076,924 | 100,000 | (70,000 | ) | - | - | - | 30,000 | |||||||||||||
February 2005 @ $0.04 per share | 562,500 | 22,500 | - | - | - | - | 22,500 | ||||||||||||||
October 2005 @ $0.0275 per share | 5,454,546 | 150,000 | - | - | - | - | 150,000 | ||||||||||||||
November 2005 @ $0.02 per share | 8,250,000 | 165,000 | - | - | - | - | 165,000 | ||||||||||||||
November 2005 @ $0.025 per share | 8,000,000 | 200,000 | - | - | - | - | 200,000 | ||||||||||||||
November 2005 @ $0.03 per share | 38,540,338 | 1,156,210 | - | - | - | - | 1,156,210 | ||||||||||||||
November 2005 @ $0.032 per share | 56,335,379 | 1,267,546 | - | - | - | - | 1,267,546 | ||||||||||||||
Commissions paid | - | (325,363 | ) | - | - | - | - | (325,363 | ) | ||||||||||||
For consulting fees | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 2004 @ $0.025 per share | 2,000,000 | 50,000 | - | - | - | - | 50,000 | ||||||||||||||
December 2004 @ $0.033 per share | 1,150,000 | 38,000 | - | - | - | - | 38,000 | ||||||||||||||
January 2005 @ $0.06 per share | 420,000 | 25,200 | - | - | - | - | 25,200 | ||||||||||||||
January 2005 @ $0.07 per share | 160,000 | 11,200 | - | - | - | - | 11,200 | ||||||||||||||
January 2005 @ $0.09 per share | 160,000 | 14,400 | - | - | - | - | 14,400 | ||||||||||||||
February 2005 @ $0.05 per share | 1,450,000 | 72,500 | - | - | - | - | 72,500 | ||||||||||||||
February 2005 @ $0.08 per share | 895,000 | 71,600 | - | - | - | - | 71,600 | ||||||||||||||
May 2005 @ $0.04 per share | 50,000 | 2,000 | - | - | - | - | 2,000 | ||||||||||||||
Subscriptions received | - | - | 54,500 | - | - | - | 54,500 | ||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 2004 @ $0.07 per share | 600,001 | 42,000 | - | - | - | - | 42,000 | ||||||||||||||
December 2004 @ $0.06 per share | 3,500,000 | 210,003 | - | - | - | - | 210,003 | ||||||||||||||
Net loss for the year | - | - | - | - | - | (3,394,107 | ) | (3,394,107 | ) | ||||||||||||
Balance, November 30, 2005 | 355,054,275 | 71,526,738 | 54,500 | 466,314 | - | (72,620,494 | ) | (572,942 | ) | ||||||||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change, | |||||||||||||||||||||
net of income taxes | - | - | - | - | - | 272,867 | 272,867 | ||||||||||||||
Shares issued: | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
For private placements | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
December 2005 @ $0.028 per share | 4,285,715 | 120,000 | - | - | - | - | 120,000 | ||||||||||||||
December 2005 @ $0.035 per share | 428,573 | 15,000 | (15,000 | ) | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||
January 2006 @ $0.025 per share | 85,806,201 | 2,145,145 | - | - | - | - | 2,145,145 | ||||||||||||||
January 2006 @ $0.03 per share | 14,020,000 | 420,600 | (8,000 | ) | - | - | - | 412,600 | |||||||||||||
January 2006 @ $0.0325 per share | 4,776,924 | 155,250 | - | - | - | - | 155,250 | ||||||||||||||
January 2006 @ $0.038 per share | 1,914,475 | 72,750 | - | - | - | - | 72,750 | ||||||||||||||
February 2006 @ $0.114 per share | 788,782 | 90,000 | - | - | - | - | 90,000 | ||||||||||||||
April 2006 @ $0.06 per share | 71,626,667 | 4,297,600 | - | - | - | - | 4,297,600 | ||||||||||||||
April 2006 @ $0.07 per share | 9,900,001 | 693,000 | - | - | - | - | 693,000 | ||||||||||||||
May 2006 @ $0.08 per share | 5,650,000 | 452,000 | - | - | - | - | 452,000 | ||||||||||||||
May 2006 @ $0.10 per share | 4,000,000 | 400,000 | - | - | - | - | 400,000 | ||||||||||||||
October 2006 @ $0.0285 per share | 35,087,719 | 1,000,000 | - | - | - | - | 1,000,000 | ||||||||||||||
Commissions paid | - | (1,170,791 | ) | - | - | - | - | (1,170,791 | ) |
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F - 6
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
for the years from December 1, 2001 to November 30, 2008 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||
Deficit | |||||||||||||||||||||
Number of | Common | Common | Additional | during | |||||||||||||||||
Common | Shares - | Stock to be | Paid in | Deferred | Exploration | ||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Issued | Capital | Compensation | Stage | Total | |||||||||||||||
# | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
For warrants exercised | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
December 2005 @ $0.0225 per share | 1,400,000 | 31,500 | (31,500 | ) | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||
July 2006 @ $0.04 per share | 18,888,888 | 755,556 | - | - | - | - | 755,556 | ||||||||||||||
July 2006 @ $0.069 per share | 11,081,832 | 767,000 | - | - | - | - | 767,000 | ||||||||||||||
For consulting fees | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
March 2006 to November 2006 @ | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
$0.13 per share | 6,075,000 | 767,250 | - | - | - | - | 767,250 | ||||||||||||||
Subscriptions received | - | - | 273,600 | - | - | - | 273,600 | ||||||||||||||
Net loss for the year | - | - | - | - | (7,171,319 | ) | (7,171,319 | ) | |||||||||||||
Balance, November 30, 2006 | 630,785,052 | 82,538,598 | 273,600 | 466,314 | - | (79,518,946 | ) | 3,759,566 | |||||||||||||
Shares issued | |||||||||||||||||||||
For private placements | |||||||||||||||||||||
September 2007 @ $0.0321 per share | 59,166,669 | 1,900,000 | - | - | - | - | 1,900,000 | ||||||||||||||
November 2007 @ $0.035 per share | 4,700,000 | 164,500 | - | - | - | - | 164,500 | ||||||||||||||
Commissions Paid | (408,458 | ) | - | - | - | - | (408,458 | ) | |||||||||||||
For warrants exercised | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
January 2007 @ $0.06 per share | 2,500,000 | 150,000 | - | - | - | - | 150,000 | ||||||||||||||
February 2007 @ $0.03 per share | 11,500,000 | 345,000 | - | - | - | - | 345,000 | ||||||||||||||
March 2007 @ $0.07 per share | 17,343,359 | 1,214,035 | - | - | - | - | 1,214,035 | ||||||||||||||
May 2007 @ $0.05 per share | 34,411,028 | 1,720,551 | - | - | - | - | 1,720,551 | ||||||||||||||
For Options exercised | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
December 2006 @ $0.05 per share | 500,000 | 25,000 | - | - | - | - | 25,000 | ||||||||||||||
March 2007 @ $0.05 per share | 1,300,000 | 65,000 | - | - | - | - | 65,000 | ||||||||||||||
April 2007 @ $0.0505 per share | 8,500,000 | 429,000 | - | - | - | - | 429,000 | ||||||||||||||
May 2007 @ $0.05 per share | 1,280,000 | 64,000 | - | - | - | - | 64,000 | ||||||||||||||
September 2007 @ $0.058 per share | 500,000 | 29,000 | - | - | - | - | 29,000 | ||||||||||||||
October 2007 @ $0.05 per share | 600,000 | 30,000 | - | - | - | - | 30,000 | ||||||||||||||
For Consulting fees | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
December 2006 @ $0.13 per share | 200,000 | 26,000 | - | - | - | - | 26,000 | ||||||||||||||
January 2007 @ $0.0814 per share | 4,375,000 | 356,250 | (273,600 | ) | - | - | - | 82,650 | |||||||||||||
February 2007 @ $0.13 per share | 200,000 | 26,000 | - | - | - | - | 26,000 | ||||||||||||||
March 2007 @ $0.0959 per share | 1,370,067 | 131,401 | - | - | - | - | 131,401 | ||||||||||||||
April 2007 @ $0.1435 per share | 575,000 | 82,500 | - | - | - | - | 82,500 | ||||||||||||||
May 2007 @ $0.1009 per share | 834,251 | 84,154 | - | - | - | - | 84,154 | ||||||||||||||
June 2007 @ $0.1 per share | 200,000 | 20,000 | - | - | - | - | 20,000 | ||||||||||||||
July 2007 @ $0.09 per share | 975,000 | 87,750 | - | - | - | - | 87,750 | ||||||||||||||
August 2007 @ $0.09 per share | 600,000 | 54,000 | - | - | - | - | 54,000 | ||||||||||||||
September 2007 @ $0.07 per share | 1,492,291 | 104,460 | - | - | - | - | 104,460 | ||||||||||||||
November 2007 @ $0.0799 per share | 1,700,000 | 135,900 | - | - | - | - | 135,900 | ||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | - | - | - | 734,094 | - | - | 734,094 | ||||||||||||||
Subscriptions received | - | - | 275,136 | - | - | - | 275,136 | ||||||||||||||
Net Loss for the year | - | - | - | - | - | (7,308,157 | ) | (7,308,157 | ) | ||||||||||||
Balance, November 30, 2007 | 785,607,717 | 89,374,641 | 275,136 | 1,200,408 | - | (86,827,103 | ) | 4,023,082 |
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F - 7
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
for the years from December 1, 2001 to November 30, 2008 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||
Deficit | |||||||||||||||||||||
Number of | Common | Common | Additional | during | |||||||||||||||||
Common | Shares - | Stock to be | Paid in | Deferred | Exploration | ||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Issued | Capital | Compensation | Stage | Total | |||||||||||||||
# | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Shares Issued | |||||||||||||||||||||
For Private Placements | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2007 @ $0.03 per share | 13,000,000 | 390,000 | - | - | - | - | 390,000 | ||||||||||||||
January 11, 2008 @ $0.03 per share | 22,000,000 | 660,000 | - | - | - | - | 660,000 | ||||||||||||||
January 22, 2008 @ $0.0325 per share | 461,538 | 15,000 | - | - | - | - | 15,000 | ||||||||||||||
January 23, 2008 @ $0.0325 per share | 21,538,461 | 700,000 | - | - | - | - | 700,000 | ||||||||||||||
February 8, 2008 @ $0.0325 per share | 461,538 | 15,000 | - | - | - | - | 15,000 | ||||||||||||||
February 12, 2008 @ $0.0325 per share | 23,076,923 | 750,000 | - | - | - | - | 750,000 | ||||||||||||||
February 13, 2008 @ $0.0325 per share | 22,852,307 | 742,700 | - | - | - | - | 742,700 | ||||||||||||||
February 14, 2008 @ $0.0325 per share | 12,307,692 | 400,000 | - | - | - | - | 400,000 | ||||||||||||||
For Consulting Services | |||||||||||||||||||||
January 17, 2008 @ $0.06 per share | 500,000 | 30,000 | - | - | - | - | 30,000 | ||||||||||||||
February 1, 2008 @ $0.01 per share | 1,800,000 | 180,000 | - | - | - | - | 180,000 | ||||||||||||||
February 21, 2008 @ $0.06 per share | 500,000 | 30,000 | - | - | - | - | 30,000 | ||||||||||||||
August 11, 2008 @ $0.03 per share | 4,000,000 | 120,000 | - | - | - | - | 120,000 | ||||||||||||||
August 18, 2008 @ $0.03 per share | 4,000,000 | 120,000 | - | - | - | - | 120,000 | ||||||||||||||
September 16, 2008 @ $0.03 per share | 4,000,000 | 120,000 | - | - | - | - | 120,000 | ||||||||||||||
October 21, 2008 @ $0.03 per share | 13,000,000 | 390,000 | - | - | - | - | 390,000 | ||||||||||||||
November 20, 2008 @ $0.01 per share | 5,000,000 | 50,000 | - | - | - | - | 50,000 | ||||||||||||||
For Warrants Exercised | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 17, 2007 @ $0.035 per share | 16,513,024 | 577,956 | (223,176 | ) | - | - | - | 354,780 | |||||||||||||
January 21, 2008 @ $0.035 per share | 1,484,563 | 51,960 | (51,960 | ) | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||
February 1, 2008 @ $0.035 per share | 4,166,667 | 145,833 | - | - | - | - | 145,833 | ||||||||||||||
October 10, 2008 @ $0.0125 per share | 6,500,004 | 81,250 | - | - | - | - | 81,250 | ||||||||||||||
October 14, 2008 @ $0.0125 per share | 14,666,667 | 183,333 | - | - | - | - | 183,333 | ||||||||||||||
Share issue costs | - | (409,601 | ) | - | - | - | - | (409,601 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net loss for the year | - | - | - | - | - | (8,483,106 | ) | (8,483,106 | ) | ||||||||||||
Balance November 30, 2008 | 977,437,101 | 94,718,072 | - | 1,200,408 | - | (95,310,209 | ) | 608,271 |
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F - 8
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
for the years ended November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Period Since | |||||||||
Recommencement | |||||||||
of Exploration | |||||||||
Stage from | |||||||||
December 1, 2001 | |||||||||
Years ended November 30, | to November 30, | ||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2008 | |||||||
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR): | |||||||||
Operating activities: | |||||||||
Net comprehensive loss for the period | $ | (8,483,106 | ) | $ | (7,308,157 | ) | $ | (46,405,265 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile loss to net cash used in operating activities: | |||||||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change | - | - | 99,481 | ||||||
Depreciation, amortization, accretion and impairment | 334,221 | 255,264 | 2,559,732 | ||||||
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment | 111,383 | - | 111,383 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation included in management fees | - | 734,094 | 3,375,644 | ||||||
Stock issued for debenture | - | - | 217,687 | ||||||
Non-cash consulting and legal expenses | 706,500 | 1,108,416 | 3,444,206 | ||||||
Non-cash prepaid consulting fees | 333,500 | - | 333,500 | ||||||
Non-cash financing expense | - | - | 252,003 | ||||||
Interest accrued | 11,200 | 11,200 | 497,570 | ||||||
Write-off of mineral claim expenditures | - | - | 1,159,529 | ||||||
Write-down of property, plant and equipment | 31,550 | - | 317,425 | ||||||
Changes in non-cash operating working capital: | |||||||||
Gold inventory | 1,919,764 | (1,476,682 | ) | (41,473 | ) | ||||
Prepaid and other receivables | (88,853 | ) | (284,533 | ) | (380,483 | ) | |||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 339,856 | (124,772 | ) | (56,273 | ) | ||||
Asset retirement obligation | 7,947 | - | 7,947 | ||||||
Net cash used in operating activities | (4,776,038 | ) | (7,085,170 | ) | (34,507,387 | ) | |||
Investing activities: | |||||||||
Investment in mineral properties | (155,275 | ) | (229,325 | ) | (1,124,091 | ) | |||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment | (332,099 | ) | (1,360,110 | ) | (3,076,518 | ) | |||
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment, net | 381,500 | - | 588,789 | ||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (105,874 | ) | (1,589,435 | ) | (3,611,820 | ) | |||
Financing activities: | |||||||||
Advances (to) / from related party | (137,836 | ) | 854,883 | 785,569 | |||||
Repayment of loans payable | - | - | (35,729 | ) | |||||
Repayment of capital lease obligation | (31,013 | ) | (345,402 | ) | (1,131,607 | ) | |||
Repayment of convertible debentures | - | - | (74,999 | ) | |||||
Share subscriptions received | - | 1,536 | 1,536 | ||||||
Common stock issued for cash (net of share issue costs) | 4,028,295 | 5,727,627 | 38,608,335 | ||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 3,859,446 | 6,238,644 | 38,153,105 | ||||||
(Decrease) Increase in cash and cash equivalents | (1,022,466 | ) | (2,435,961 | ) | 33,898 | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of the period | 1,073,457 | 3,509,418 | 17,093 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, at end of the period | $ | 50,991 | $ | 1,073,457 | $ | 50,991 |
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F - 9
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 1 – Nature and Continuance of Operations
Silverado Gold Mines Ltd. (“Silverado” or the “Company”) is an exploration stage company in the process of exploring its resource properties and has not yet determined whether these properties contain reserves that are economically recoverable. The Company is also engaged in the research and development of low-rank coal-water fuel as a replacement fuel for oil fired boilers and utility generators.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern, which implies the Company will continue to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company lacks sufficient working capital, has receiving losses and its operations continue to be funded primarily from sales of its stock and the sale of gold extracted during exploration activities. The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern, including completion of the acquisition, exploration and development of its mineral properties and completion of the research and development of its low-rank coal-water fuel project is dependent on the Company’s ability to obtain the necessary financing from sales of its stock. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
Note 2 – Changes in Significant Accounting Policies
Following the conclusion of a review of certain of the Company’s filings by the Securities and Exchange Commission, in January 2009, the Company determined to make certain accounting policies changes for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2007 and filed Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Form 10-KSB for the year ended November 30, 2007 on January 23, 2009 (the “Form 10-KSB/A”). A description of the changes appearing in the Form 10-KSB/A follows.
a) Gold Inventory
The Company’s test production in past years has yielded gold dust and gold nuggets. Gold dust has yielded sales prices equivalent to the spot gold price. Gold nuggets, however, are considered to be gem or jewelry items, which in the industry sell at a higher price than the spot price. They are valued according to weight, purity, character, and relative flatness (wearing quality). Historically, the Company’s gold nuggets have sold at prices above the spot gold price.
Since December 1, 2001, recommencement of exploration stage, the Company had valued its gold inventory using the spot gold price at the end of the reporting period and directly applied the gold extraction and the revaluation difference to exploration costs. In addition, proceeds from sales of gold extracted during exploration and test mining had been recorded as a reduction of exploration costs during the exploration stage period.
Retroactively effective from the period since recommencement of exploration stage from December 1, 2001, the Company has modified the accounting policy for gold inventory to measure the gold inventories at the lower of cost or market. The Company is still in the exploration stage. By definition, the Company’s direct and absorbed costs would exceed the market value of any gold recovery. Therefore, the Company has retroactively set up inventory groups from December 1, 2001, valued each group at the spot price as of the date of the addition to the gold inventory, and recorded the costs of gold inventory sold on a first-in first-out basis. Gold sale proceeds and cost of gold sold are now recorded as other income earned during the exploration stage.
b) Revenue Recognition
Proceeds from the sale of gold recoveries from test mining were recorded as a reduction of exploration costs during the period the Company is in the exploration stage. This accounting policy has been changed and now proceeds from the sale of gold recoveries from test mining are recorded as other income earned during the exploration stage, retroactively effective from the period since recommencement of exploration stage from December 1, 2001.
F - 10
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 2 – Changes in Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
c) Mineral Rights Payments and Exploration Costs
Since December 1, 2001, recommencement of exploration stage, the Company had expensed all costs related to the acquisition, maintenance and exploration of mineral claims in which it had secured exploration rights prior to establishment of proven and probable reserves.
Pursuant to EITF 04-02, “Whether Mineral Rights are Tangible or Intangible Assets and Related Issues”, the Company has modified its accounting policy with respect to mineral claim payments, retroactively effective to June 1, 2004, to capitalize the direct costs to acquire or lease mineral properties and mineral rights as tangible assets. The direct costs include the costs of signature (lease) bonuses, options to purchase or lease properties, and brokers’ and legal fees. If the acquired mineral rights relate to unproven properties, the Company does not amortize the capitalized mineral costs, but evaluates the capitalized mineral costs periodically for impairment. The Company expenses all costs related to the exploration of mineral claims in which it had secured exploration rights prior to establishment of proven and probable reserves.
Note 3 – Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
These consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with United States of America generally accepted accounting principles. The application of Canadian generally accepted accounting principles to these financial statements would not result in material measurement or disclosure differences.
The financial statements have, in management’s opinion, been properly prepared within the framework of the significant accounting policies summarized below:
a) Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Silverado Gold Mines Ltd. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Silverado Gold Mines Inc. and Silverado Green Fuel Inc. All significant inter-company transactions have been eliminated.
The Company considers its functional currency to be the U.S. dollar for its U.S. and Canadian operations. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the U.S. dollar at the rates of exchange in effect at the period-end. Non-monetary assets and revenue and expense transactions are translated at the rate in effect at the time at which the transactions took place. Foreign exchange gains and losses are included in the determination of results from operations for the periods as other comprehensive gains and losses.
b) Environmental Costs
Environmental expenditures that relate to current operations are expensed or capitalized as appropriate. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations and which do not contribute to current or future revenue generation, are expensed. Liabilities are recorded when environmental assessments and/or remedial efforts are probable, and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Generally, the timing of these accruals coincides with the earlier of completion of a feasibility study or the Company’s commitment to a plan of action based on the then known facts.
c) Basic and Diluted Loss Per Share
Basic loss per share is computed by dividing the loss for the year by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if potentially dilutive securities were exercised or converted to common stock. The dilutive effect of options and warrants and their equivalent is computed by application of the treasury stock method and the effect of convertible securities by the “if converted” method. Fully diluted amounts are not presented when the effects of the computations are anti-dilutive due to the losses incurred. Accordingly, there is no difference in the amounts presented for basic and diluted loss per share.
F - 11
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 3 – Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
d) Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, gold inventory, receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, mineral claims royalty payable and payable to related party approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheets for convertible debentures approximate their fair values as they bear interest at rates which approximate market rates. Unless otherwise noted, it is management’s opinion that the Company is not exposed to significant interest, currency or credit risks arising from these financial instruments.
e) Income Taxes
The Company uses the assets and liability method of accounting for income taxes pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 109 “Accounting for Income Taxes”. Under the assets and liability method of SFAS No. 109, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.
Effective December 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of the FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. FIN 48 contains a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We consider many factors when evaluating and estimating its tax positions and tax benefits, which may require periodic adjustments and which may not accurately anticipate actual outcomes. Based on our review, there was no impact of FIN 48 on our financial position.
f) Exploration Stage Company
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Industry Guide 7, “Description of Property by Issuers Engaged or to be Engaged in Significant Mining Operations” requires that mining companies in the exploration stage should not refer to themselves as development stage companies in the financial statements, even though such companies should comply with Financial Accounting Standard Board Statement No. 7, if applicable. Accordingly, the Company has not been referred to as a development stage company. Accumulated results of operations are presented from December 1, 2001, the date the Company re-entered the exploration stage.
g) Gold Inventory
The Company values its gold inventories at the lower of cost or market. The Company is still in the exploration stage. By definition, the Company’s direct and absorbed costs would exceed the market value of any gold recovery. Therefore, the Company values gold inventory additions from gold extraction at the spot price as of the date of the addition to the gold inventory, and records the costs of gold inventory sold on a first-in first-out basis. Gold sale proceeds and cost of gold sold are recorded as other income earned during the exploration stage.
h) Mineral Rights Payments and Exploration Costs
Pursuant to EITF 04-02, “Whether Mineral Rights are Tangible or Intangible Assets and Related Issues”, the Company has modified its accounting policy with respect to mineral claim payments, retroactively effective to June 1, 2004, to capitalize the direct costs to acquire or lease mineral properties and mineral rights as tangible assets. The direct costs include the costs of signature (lease) bonuses, options to purchase or lease properties, and brokers’ and legal fees. If the acquired mineral rights relate to unproven properties, the Company does not amortize the capitalized mineral costs, but evaluates the capitalized mineral costs periodically for impairment. The Company expenses all costs related to the exploration of mineral claims in which it had secured exploration rights prior to establishment of proven and probable reserves.
F - 12
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 3 – Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
h) Mineral Rights Payments and Exploration Costs (Continued)
When it has been determined that a mineral property can be economically developed as a result of establishing proven and probable reserves, the costs then incurred to develop such property are capitalized. Capitalized costs related to such property will be amortized using the units-of-production method over the estimated life of the probable reserve.
i) Asset Retirement Obligation
Effective December 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations”, which addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated retirement costs. The standard applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and normal use of the asset.
SFAS No. 143 requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The fair value of the liability is added to the carrying amount of the associated asset and this additional carrying amount is depreciated over the life of the asset. The liability is accreted at the end of each period through charges to operating expense. If the obligation is settled for other than the carrying amount of the liability, the Company will recognize a gain or loss on settlement.
j) Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
k) Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided on a straight line basis as follows:
Mining equipment | 10 years |
Auto and trucks | 5 years |
Computer equipment | 3 years |
Computer software | 1 year |
Leasehold improvements | 5 – 7 years |
Furniture and fittings | 10 years |
l) Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost and they comprise cash on hand, deposits held with banks and other highly liquid investments. Highly liquid investments are readily convertible to cash and generally have maturities of three months or less from the time acquired. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with high quality financial institutions which the Company believes limits credit risks.
m) Concentration of Credit Risk and Foreign Exchange Rate Risk
Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk and foreign exchange rate risk consist principally of cash in banks. At times during the year, the Company maintained deposits in excess of insured limits provided by FDIC and CDIC. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with high credit quality financial institutions which the Company believes reduces these risks.
F - 13
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 3 – Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
n) Foreign Currency Translation
The Company considers its functional currency to be the U.S. dollar for its U.S. and Canadian operations. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the rate in effect at the time at which the transactions took place. Revenue and expense transactions are translated at the average rate of exchange for the year. Foreign exchange gains and losses are included in the determination of results from operations for the year as other comprehensive gain or loss.
o) Revenue Recognition
During the period the Company is in the exploration stage, proceeds on gold recoveries from test mining are recorded as other income earned during the exploration stage.
p) Research Expenditures
Research expenditures are expensed in the year incurred.
q) Accounting for Stock-based Compensation
Effective December 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 123(R) (Share-based Compensation) requiring equity awards granted under its stock option plan to be accounted for under the fair value method. Accordingly, share-based compensation is measured at grant date, based on the fair value of the award. Prior to December 1, 2006, the Company accounted for awards granted under its stock option plans utilizing the intrinsic value method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (APB 25), and related interpretations, and provided the required pro forma disclosures prescribed by SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (SFAS 123), as amended. Under the existing stock option plans, all options vest entirely on the grant date. Therefore, there were no partially vested options outstanding as of the SFAS 123(R) adoption date.
r) Long Lived Asset Impairment
In accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”, long-lived assets held and used by the Company are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company recognizes impairment when the sum of the expected undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset. Impairment losses, if any, are measured as the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its estimated fair value.
s) Reclassifications
Certain prior periods’ comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the financial statement presentation adopted for this period.
t) Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement No. 160 “Non controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of ARB No. 51”. This statement requires that the ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent be clearly identified, labeled, and presented in the consolidated statement of financial position within equity, but separate from the parent’s equity. This Statement is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Earlier adoption is prohibited. The Company will adopt this statement on December 1, 2009.
F - 14
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 3 – Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
t) Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Continued)
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), which provides expanded guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. SFAS 157 establishes a hierarchy for data used to value assets and liabilities, and requires additional disclosures about the extent to which a company measures assets and liabilities at fair value, the information used to measure fair value, and the effect of fair value measurements on earnings. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and all interim periods within those fiscal years. However, in February 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position 157-2 which delays the effective date of SFAS 157 for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. For items within its scope, this Staff Position defers the effective date of SFAS 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. The Company does not expect that SFAS No. 157 will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Note 4 – Gold Inventory
During the year ended November 30, 2008, the Company sold 2,920 troy ounces of gold (2007: 1,573 troy ounces) at an average price of $753.61 (2007: $743.49) per troy ounce for proceeds of $2,200,547 (2007: $1,169,509), which was recorded as other income earned during the exploration stage. Gold inventory consists of the following at November 30, 2008 and 2007.
Troy | Weighted | ||||||||
Ounces | Average price | Value | |||||||
Balance as of November 30, 2006 | 791 | $ | 623.50 | $ | 493,188 | ||||
Additions from gold extraction |
3,778 | 656.12 | 2,489,125 | ||||||
Cost of gold sold | (1,573 | ) | 619.61 | (1,012,443 | ) | ||||
Balance as of November 30, 2007 | 2,996 | 657.50 | 1,969,870 | ||||||
Cost of gold sold | (2,920 | ) | 657.50 | (1,919,764 | ) | ||||
Balance as of November 30, 2008 | 76 | $ | 657.50 | $ | 50,106 |
Note 5 – Mineral Properties and Mineral Rights
The Company holds interests in four groups of mineral properties in Alaska, U.S.A. All of these properties are in the exploration stage and have no proven reserves as of November 30, 2008. Pursuant to EITF 04-02, “Whether Mineral Rights are Tangible or Intangible Assets and Related Issues”, the Company, retroactively effective to June 1, 2004, capitalizes the direct costs to acquire or lease mineral properties and mineral rights as tangible assets. The direct costs include the costs of signature (lease) bonuses, options to purchase or lease properties, and brokers’ and legal fees. The Company evaluated the capitalized mineral costs as of November 30, 2008 in accordance with EITF 04-02 and recorded zero of impairment. A summary of such capitalized direct costs for the years ended 2008 and 2007 is as follows:
Capitalized Mineral Rights: | Nolan (a) | Ester Dome (b) | Hammond (c) | Eagle Creek (d) | Total | ||||||||||
Balance as of November 30, 2006 | $ | 487,509 | $ | 17,952 | $ | 262,500 | $ | 35,030 | $ | 802,991 | |||||
Additions during the year: | |||||||||||||||
Claim fees paid during the year | 94,930 | 6,885 | 7,500 | 10,010 | 119,325 | ||||||||||
Royalty payments | - | - | 80,000 | 10,000 | 90,000 | ||||||||||
Balance as of November 30, 2007 | 582,439 | 24,837 | 350,000 | 55,040 | 1,012,316 | ||||||||||
Additions during the year: | |||||||||||||||
Claim fees paid during the year | 75,880 | 6,885 | 7,500 | 10,010 | 100,275 | ||||||||||
Royalty payments | - | - | 50,000 | 5,000 | 55,000 | ||||||||||
Accrued mineral rights | - | - | 30,000 | - | 30,000 | ||||||||||
Balance as of November 30, 2008 | $ | 658,319 | $ | 31,722 | $ | 437,500 | $ | 70,050 | $ | 1,197,591 |
F - 15
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 5 – Mineral Properties and Mineral Rights (Continued)
a) Nolan Gold Project, Wiseman Mining District, Alaska
The Nolan Gold Project consists of 5 contiguous claim groups covering approximately 6 square miles, 8 miles west of Wiseman and 175 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska. In addition, The Clara Creek and Marion Creek claim groups are located approximately 1.5 and 3 miles north of Coldfoot, Alaska, and are situated near the Dalton Highway. Both Clara Creek and Marion Creeks are left limit tributaries to the Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River.
In total, the Company owns 100% interest in 204 federal placer mining claims and 407 federal lode claims in the Nolan Gold Project. The specific claim groups at this site are as follows:
i) | Nolan Placer: This claim group consists of 148 unpatented federal placer claims. |
|
ii) | Thompson’s Pup: This claim group consists of 6 unpatented federal placer claims and is subject to a royalty of 3% of net profits on 80% of production. |
|
iii) | Dionne (Mary’s Bench): This claim group consists of 15 unpatented federal placer claims. |
|
iv) | Smith Creek: This claim group consists of 28 unpatented federal placer claims. |
|
v) | Marion Creek and Clara Creek: This claim group consists of 2 unpatented federal placer mining claims located on Marion Creek and 5 unpatented federal placer mining claims located on Clara Creek. |
|
vi) | Nolan Lode: this claim group consists of 407 unpatented federal lode claims. The lode claims overlie much of the placer properties extend beyond them. |
During the year ended November 30, 2008, the Company paid claim maintenance and holding fees of $76,375 to the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) and received a refund of $495 from BLM for a 2007 overpayment. During the year ended November 30, 2007, the Company paid claim maintenance and holding fees of $94,930 to BLM, including $18,805 of claim fees paid to BLM for staking new claims.
b) Ester Dome Gold Project, Fairbanks Mining District, Alaska
The Ester Dome Gold Project encompasses all of the Company’s properties on Ester Dome, which is accessible by road 10 miles northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska. The specific properties at this site are as follows:
i) | Grant Mine: This property consists of 26 state mineral claims subject to payments of 15% of net profits until $2,000,000 has been paid and 3% of net profits thereafter. The mill has remained inactive since February 1989 and the plant and equipment cost was written down to zero on our accounting records. During fiscal 2008, the work on Grant Mine was limited to assessment work. The Company maintains claim rental payments for the current fiscal year and to continue with assessment work. |
|
ii) | May (St. Paul)/Barelka: This gold property consists of 22 state mineral claims subject to payments of 15% of net profits until $2,000,000 (inflation indexed from 1979) has been paid and 3% of net profits thereafter. |
|
iii) | Dobb’s: This property consists of 1 unpatented Federal mineral claim and 4 State mineral claims subject to payments of 15% of net profits until $1,500,000 has been paid and 3% of net profits thereafter. |
During the year ended November 30, 2008, the Company paid state mining claim fees of $6,760 (2007: $6,760) to the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources and federal mining claim fees of $125 (2007: $125) to BLM.
F - 16
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 5 – Mineral Properties and Mineral Rights (Continued)
c) Hammond Property, Wiseman Mining District, Alaska
This property consists of 24 Federal placer claims and 36 Federal lode claims covering one and one- half square miles and adjoining the Nolan Gold Properties. The Company is obligated to pay a royalty equal to 10% of gross production and is subject to a minimum royalty of $80,000 per year. At November 30, 2008, the capitalized mineral rights of $437,500 (2007: $350,000) for Hammond property includes royalty accruals totaling $390,000 (2007: $360,000) that are unpaid, in arrears, and included in mineral claims payable on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. During the year ended November 30, 2008, the Company paid $50,000 (2007: $100,000) minimum royalty and paid $7,500 (2007: $7,500) federal claim fees to BLM.
d) Eagle Creek Property, Fairbanks Mining District, Alaska
This property consists of 77 state mineral claims. The Company owns 50% interest and has an option agreement to purchase a 100% interest in the property for $400,000, of which $48,000 remains to be paid. The amount of $5,000 per year, until the remaining $48,000 is paid, is required to be paid to keep the agreement in good standing. During the year ended November 30, 2008, the Company paid $10,010 (2007: $10,010) state mining claim fees and $5,000 (2007: $10,000) option payment.
Note 6 – Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment primarily include capital expenditure associated with the Company’s Vancouver office, and mining equipment and camp facilities at the Nolan Gold Project in Alaska.
During the year ended November 30, 2008, the Company sold some Nolan mining equipment that the Company would not use in the near future for net proceeds of $381,500 (2007: $Nil). The net book value of the sold equipment was $492,883.
In accordance with FAS 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”, the Company recorded an impairment of $31,550 against Nolan mining equipment. Depreciation expenses for the year ended November 30, 2008 was $334,221 (2007: $255,264).
A summary of the Company’s property, plant and equipment for the year ended November 30, 2008 is as follows:
2008 | |||||||||
Accumulated | |||||||||
Depreciation | |||||||||
Cost | Amortization | Value | |||||||
Offices | |||||||||
Office leasehold improvements | $ | 597,557 | $ | 107,627 | $ | 489,930 | |||
Computer equipment and software | 134,167 | 102,819 | 31,348 | ||||||
Furniture and fittings | 394,358 | 389,518 | 4,840 | ||||||
Mining Project | |||||||||
Nolan gold project buildings | 63,000 | 63,000 | - | ||||||
Leasehold improvements | 48,123 | 12,031 | 36,092 | ||||||
Nolan mining equipment | 1,869,301 | 864,164 | 1,005,137 | ||||||
Auto and trucks | 63,009 | 22,777 | 40,232 | ||||||
Capital assets in construction | 24,245 | - | 24,245 | ||||||
$ | 3,193,760 | $ | 1,561,936 | $ | 1,631,824 |
F - 17
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 6 – Property, Plant and Equipment (Continued)
A summary of the Company’s property, plant and equipment for the year ended November 30, 2007 is as follows:
2007 | |||||||||
Accumulated | |||||||||
Depreciation | |||||||||
and | Net Book | ||||||||
Cost | Amortization | Value | |||||||
Offices | |||||||||
Office leasehold improvements | $ | 612,117 | $ | 21,861 | $ | 590,256 | |||
Computer Equipment | 105,797 | 73,022 | 32,775 | ||||||
Furniture and Fittings | 394,358 | 389,006 | 5,352 | ||||||
Mining Project | |||||||||
Nolan Gold Project buildings | 63,000 | 63,000 | - | ||||||
Leasehold improvements | 48,123 | 2,406 | 45,717 | ||||||
Nolan mining equipment | 1,489,962 | 632,029 | 857,933 | ||||||
Nolan mining equipment under capital lease | 819,842 | 216,923 | 602,919 | ||||||
Other equipment | 27,200 | 3,773 | 23,427 | ||||||
$ | 3,560,399 | $ | 1,402,020 | $ | 2,158,379 |
Note 7 – Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consist of:
2008 | 2007 | |||||
Accounts payable and accrued payables | $ | 440,633 | $ | 100,777 | ||
Accrued interest | 120,827 | 109,627 | ||||
$ | 561,460 | $ | 210,404 |
The accrued interest payable of $120,827 and $109,627 as of November 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, relates to the convertible debentures (see Note 9 – Convertible Debentures, below.)
Note 8 – Asset Retirement Obligations
Asset retirement obligations relate to the closure and reclamation of the Grant Mine Tailing Pond, and to the reclamation work associated with the Nolan Gold Project consisting of dismantling and removal of site structures and equipment, and reshaping and revegetating the disturbed areas. The Company has no assets legally restricted for purposes of settling asset retirement obligations.
Grant Mine
The Grant Mine is not an active mine and related assets were written off as impaired effective December 1, 2001. The retirement obligations associated with the Grant Mine involves the decommissioning of the Grant Mill Tailings Pond that was built in the early 1980s and no longer used after 1989. The Company has retained a geotechnical and environmental consultants firm to assist with a preliminary report for the closure of the tailings pond. The preliminary report is part of the closure plan, and further reclamation work involves another closure phase that needs permits and/or approval by the State of Alaska regulatory agencies. Thus, the fair value of the cost of reclamation at this holding time is the original $347,287 as of November 30, 2007 plus 5% accretion expense.
F - 18
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 8 – Asset Retirement Obligations (Continued)
Nolan Gold Project
The retirement obligations associated with the Nolan mineral properties are associated with the reclamation of disturbed land resulting from normal operations and are not the result of improper operations of an asset such as environmental remediation liabilities and thus are within the scope of SFAS 143. The Nolan mineral properties are on Federal mining claims and thus are under the active supervision of the Bureau of Land Management.
The Company was bonded for 48.5 acres before the start of 2008 and 27.5 acres were reclaimed at Nolan Creek in 2008. As of November 30, 2008, the Company is obligated to reclaim 21 acres at Nolan Creek. These 21 acres that the Company will need bonding for at Nolan Creek going into 2009, are areas essential for the Company’s operations. These essential areas consist of the camp area, equipment storage area, processing area, explosives storage area, and the portal area, as well as the roads and core storage area.
During the year ended November 30, 2008, the Company spent $18,518 (2007: $17,801) on reclamation at Nolan properties. The Company decides to keep remaining accrued obligations plus 5% accretion expense to reclaim the remaining 21 acres for a potential third party remediation clean-up.
A summary of assets retirement obligation for the years ended November 30, 2008 and 2007 is as follows:
Grant | Nolan | ||||||||
Mine | Project | Total | |||||||
Balance, December 1, 2006 | $ | 347,287 | $ | 173,771 | $ | 521,058 | |||
Accretion expense | - | 26,053 | 26,053 | ||||||
Liabilities settled | - | (17,800 | ) | (17,800 | ) | ||||
Balance, November 30, 2007 | $ | 347,287 | $ | 182,024 | $ | 529,311 | |||
Accretion expense | 17,364 | 9,101 | 26,465 | ||||||
Liabilities settled | - | (18,518 | ) | (18,518 | ) | ||||
Balance, November 30, 2008 | $ | 364,651 | $ | 172,607 | $ | 537,258 |
Note 9 – Convertible Debentures
Convertible debentures outstanding at November 30, 2008 and 2007 consisted of the following:
2008 | 2007 | |||||
Issued in 1994 | $ | 140,000 | $ | 140,000 | ||
Less: current portion | (140,000 | ) | (140,000 | ) | ||
$ | - | $ | - |
On March 1, 2001, the Company completed negotiations to restructure its $1,860,000 convertible debentures. The replacement debentures aggregated $2,384,892 and consisted of the original $1,860,000 principal amount plus all accrued interest to March 1, 2001. The debentures bear interest of 8.0% per annum. Interest is due and payable on a quarterly basis on February 28, May 31, August 31 and November 30. If the Company fails to make any payment of principal or interest, the Company must issue shares equivalent in value to the unpaid amounts of 20% below the average market price.
Remaining debentures of $140,000 plus accrued interest of $120,827 are in default; however, it is unclear whether they will be exchanged for replacement debentures as the bond holders could not be identified or did not respond to the Company’s restructuring proposal.
F - 19
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 10 – Related Party Transactions
The Company has had related party transactions with Tri-Con Mining Ltd., Tri-Con Mining Inc. and Tri- Con Mining Alaska Inc. (collectively the “Tri-Con Group”), all of which are controlled by a director and officer of the Company.
The Tri-Con Group are operations, exploration and development contractors and have been employed by the Company under contract since 1972 to carry out all the Company’s fieldwork and to provide field administrative and management services. Under the current contracts dated January 1, 1997, work is charged at cost plus 25% for exploration and cost plus 15% for development and mining. Cost includes out-of- pocket or actual cost plus 15% charge for office overhead including stand-by and contingencies. There is no mark-up on capital purchases. The Tri-Con Group does not charge the Company for the services of its directors who are also directors of the Company. In addition, by agreements the Company paid a base administration fee of $10,000 CDN per month to Tri-Con Mining Ltd. and $10,000 US per month to Tri-Con Mining Inc., respectively.
For the year ended November 30, 2008, the Tri-Con Group’s services focused mainly on corporate planning, mining, drilling, engineering and preparation for year round production on the Company’s Nolan property; mining administration services at both the field and corporate offices, and administration services connected with the Low-Rank Coal-Water fuel project.
As of November 30, 2008, Silverado owed $1,076,881 (2007: $1,214,717) to the Tri-Con Group for exploration and administration services performed on behalf of Silverado. The amounts are non-interest bearing and due on demand. During the years ended November 30, 2008 and 2007, the aggregate amounts billed by the Tri-Con Group for disbursements and for services rendered by the Tri-Con Group personnel are as follows:
2008 | 2007 | |||||
Exploration, development and field services | $ | 3,878,670 | $ | 5,557,108 | ||
Office, Administrative and Management services | 1,192,353 | 1,355,619 | ||||
$ | 5,071,023 | $ | 6,912,727 | |||
Amount of total charges in excess of Tri-Con costs incurred | $ | 1,176,926 | $ | 1,243,430 | ||
Excess amount charged as a percentage of total amount billed | 23.21% | 17.99% |
Note 11 – Common Stock
Authorized common stock of the Company is unlimited, without par value. During the year ended November 30, 2008, the Company completed private placements resulting in the issuance of an aggregate of 35,000,000 units at $0.03 per unit and 80,698,459 units at $0.0325 per unit. Each unit consists of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one half-warrant, with a full warrant (consisting of two half-warrants) being exercisable for a period of one year at a per share exercise price of $0.07. The Company received gross proceeds of $3,672,700 from such private placements, of which $275,136 cash was received before the fiscal year ended November 30, 2007. In addition, the Company received $1,040,332 from the issuance of 43,330,925 restricted common stocks through warrant exercises during fiscal 2008. The Company paid commission fees of $409,601, which was recorded as a reduction of common stock.
During the year ended November 30, 2008, the Company issued an aggregate of 32,800,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for consulting fees, valued at the fair market price at the dates of consulting agreements, for total consideration of $1,040,000, of which $706,500 was recorded as consulting fees and $333,500 was recorded as prepaid expenses based on the terms of the consulting agreements. The following is a summary of the change in common stock for the years ended November 30, 2008 and 2007:
F - 20
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 11 – Common Stock (Continued)
Common Stock | ||||||
Number of Shares | Amount | |||||
Balance as of November 30, 2006 |
630,785,052 | $ | 82,538,598 | |||
Shares issued for: | ||||||
Private placement at $0.0321 per share | 59,166,669 | 1,900,000 | ||||
Private placement at $0.035 per share | 4,700,000 | 164,500 | ||||
Common stock purchase warrants exercised at $0.03 - $0.07 | 65,754,387 | 3,429,586 | ||||
Stock options exercised at $0.05 - $0.058 | 12,680,000 | 642,000 | ||||
Commissions paid | - | (408,458 | ) | |||
Shares issued for consulting fees at $0.07 - $0.1435 | 12,521,609 | 1,108,415 | ||||
Balance as of November 30, 2007 |
785,607,717 | 89,374,641 | ||||
Shares issued for cash: | ||||||
Private placement at $0.03 per share | 35,000,000 | 1,050,000 | ||||
Private placement at $0.0325 per share | 80,698,459 | 2,622,700 | ||||
Common stock purchase warrants exercised at $0.035, December 2007 | 16,513,024 | 577,956 | ||||
Common stock purchase warrants exercised at $0.035, January 2008 | 1,484,563 | 51,960 | ||||
Common stock purchase warrants exercised at $0.035, February 2008 | 4,166,667 | 145,833 | ||||
Common stock purchase warrants exercised at $0.0125, October 2008 | 21,166,671 | 264,583 | ||||
Commissions paid | - | (409,601 | ) | |||
Total shares issued for cash | 159,029,384 | 4,303,431 | ||||
Shares issued for consulting fees: | ||||||
Shares issued at $0.06, January 2008 | 500,000 | 30,000 | ||||
Shares issued at $0.10, February 2008 | 1,800,000 | 180,000 | ||||
Shares issued at $0.06, February 2008 | 500,000 | 30,000 | ||||
Shares issued at $0.03, August 2008 | 8,000,000 | 240,000 | ||||
Shares issued at $0.03, September 2008 | 4,000,000 | 120,000 | ||||
Shares issued at $0.03, October 2008 | 13,000,000 | 390,000 | ||||
Shares issued at $0.01, November 2008 | 5,000,000 | 50,000 | ||||
Total shares issued for consulting fees | 32,800,000 | 1,040,000 | ||||
Balance as of November 30, 2008 |
977,437,101 | $ | 94,718,072 |
Note 12 – Stock Options and Common Stock Purchase Warrants
a) Stock Options
There was no stock option plan adopted for fiscal year 2008 and no options granted during the year ended November 30, 2008. There were 2,100,000 options cancelled and expired during the year ended November 30, 2008.
On January 11, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the 2007 Stock Option Plan (the “2007 Plan”). The 2007 Plan authorizes the issuance of options to purchase the Company’s common stock to directors, officers, employees, and eligible consultants. The Company reserved 25,000,000 shares of its common stock for awards to be made under the 2007 Plan. The 2007 Plan is to be administered by a committee of two or more members of the Board of Directors. The 2007 Plan allows for the issuance of incentive stock options (which can only be granted to employees) and non-qualified stock options. The committee shall determine the type of option granted, the exercise price, the option term (which may be no more than ten years), and terms and conditions of exercisability.
On January 11, 2007, 21,500,000 stock options were granted to directors as well as to employees of the Tri-Con Group at an exercise price of $0.07 with a six year term expiring January 11, 2013. The prevailing market price of the Company’s shares on the date of grant was $0.067. The Company recognized stock compensation expense of $734,094 based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model. 1,000,000 of such granted stock options were cancelled during the year ended November 30, 2008 and 600,000 of such granted stock options were exercised during the year ended November 30, 2007.
F - 21
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 12 – Stock Options and Common Stock Purchase Warrants (Continued)
a) Stock Options (Continued)
A summary of the change in stock options for the years ended November 30, 2008 and 2007 is as follows:
Weighted | |||||||||
Outstanding and | Weighted | Average | |||||||
Exercisable | Average | Remaining | |||||||
Options | Excercise Price | Contractual Life | |||||||
Balance, November 30, 2006 | 63,180,000 | $ | 0.07 | 4.80 years | |||||
Options granted | 21,500,000 | 0.07 | |||||||
Options exercised | (12,180,000 | ) | 0.05 | ||||||
Balance, November 30, 2007 | 72,500,000 | 0.06 | 4.43 years | ||||||
Options cancelled and expired | (2,100,000 | ) | 0.11 | ||||||
Balance, November 30, 2008 | 70,400,000 | $ | 0.06 | 3.47 years |
The balance of outstanding and exercisable common stock options as at November 30, 2008 is as follows:
Number of Options | Remaining | ||||||
Outstanding and | Contractual Life | ||||||
Exercisable | Exercise Price | (Years) | |||||
500,000 | $ | 0.060 | 0.01 | ||||
50,000,000 | 0.050 | 0.01 - 4.10 | |||||
19,900,000 | 0.070 | 4.12 | |||||
70,400,000 |
b) Fair Value Determination
The fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model was calculated using the following weighted average assumptions:
Years Ended November 30, | ||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||
Risk free interest rate | - | 5.10% | ||||
Expected volatility | - | 74.50% | ||||
Expected term of stock option in years | - | 3 years | ||||
Expected dividend yield | - | 0% | ||||
Weighted average value per option | - | $ | 0.034 |
Expected volatility is based on historical volatility. Because trading tends to be thin, in relation to the total shares outstanding, average weekly stock prices were used to calculate volatility. Management believes that the annualized weekly average of volatility is the best measure of expected volatility.
U.S. Treasury constant maturity rates were utilized with maturities most closely approximating the expected term of the option.
The expected term of the options was calculated using the alternative simplified method permitted by SAB 107, which defines the expected life as the average of the contractual term of the options and the weighted average vesting period for all option tranches.
F - 22
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 12 – Stock Options and Common Stock Purchase Warrants (Continued)
b) Fair Value Determination (Continued)
For the year ended November 30, 2008, there were no stock options granted. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2007, 21,500,000 stock options were granted to directors and officers as well as to employees of Tri-Con Group at an exercise price of $0.07 with a six year term expiring January 11, 2013. Based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model, $734,094 of stock based compensation was recognized and included in the statement of operations and other comprehensive income as management fees in 2007. The details are as follows:
Years Ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||||||
Number of | Stock-based | Number of | Stock-based | |||||||||
Options | Compensation | options | Compensation | |||||||||
Management fees: | ||||||||||||
Directors and Officers fees | - | $ | - | 18,100,000 | $ | 617,934 | ||||||
Tri-Con Employees management fees | - | - | 3,400,000 | 116,160 | ||||||||
Total | - | $ | - | 21,500,000 | $ | 734,094 |
c) Common Stock Purchase Warrants
In September 2008, the Company reduced the exercise price of 3,666,667 of its common stock purchase warrants from $0.10 to $0.0125 per common share and 17,500,004 of its common stock purchase warrants from $0.07 to $0.0125 per common share, and all of such warrants were exercised in October 2008.
In November 2007, the Company reduced the exercise price of 16,513,024 of its common stock purchase warrants from $0.12 to $0.035 per common share, and such warrants were exercised in December 2007. In December 2007, the Company reduced the exercise price of 990,001 of its common stock purchase warrants from $0.12 to $0.035 per common share and 495,001 of its common stock purchase warrants from $0.06 to $0.035 per common share, of which a total of 1,484,563 warrants were exercised in January 2008, and the remaining 439 warrants expired. In December 2007, the Company reduced the exercise price of 4,166,667 of its common stock purchase warrants from $0.10 to $0.035 per common share, and such warrants were exercised in February 2008.
During fiscal years from 2006 to 2008, the Company completed private placements resulting in the issuance of units consisting of one share of Company restricted common stock and one half-warrant (with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Company restricted common stock). The warrants referenced above were issued during such private placements. There was no value assigned to these warrants when they were granted. The exercise price reduction incentivized the holders to exercise the warrants, which assisted the Company in meeting its working capital requirements. The Company received less proceeds from these exercised warrants due to the price reductions, but the Company believes these warrants would have been left to expire had the Company not effected the exercise price reductions.
A summary of the change in common stock purchase warrants for the years ended November 30, 2008 and 2007 is as follows:
Weighted | Weighted Average | ||||||||
Outstanding | Average | Remaining | |||||||
Warrants | Excercise Price | Contractual Life | |||||||
Balance, November 30, 2006 | 138,579,724 | $ | 0.098 | 0.83 years | |||||
Warrants issued | 29,583,335 | 0.100 | |||||||
Warrants exercised | (65,754,387 | ) | 0.085 | ||||||
Warrants expired | (40,395,669 | ) | 0.100 | ||||||
Balance, November 30, 2007 | 62,013,003 | 0.110 | 0.32 years | ||||||
Warrants issued | 57,849,234 | 0.070 | |||||||
Warrants exercised | (43,330,925 | ) | 0.024 | ||||||
Warrants expired | (36,182,082 | ) | 0.108 | ||||||
Balance, November 30, 2008 | 40,349,230 | $ | 0.070 | 0.17 years |
F - 23
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 12 – Stock Options and Common Stock Purchase Warrants (Continued)
c) Common Stock Purchase Warrants (Continued)
The balance of outstanding and exercisable common stock warrants as at November 30, 2008 is as follows:
Number of | Remaining | ||||||
Warrants | Exercise | Contractual Life | |||||
Outstanding | Price | (Years) | |||||
40,349,230 | $ | 0.07 | 0.15 - 0.21 |
d) Convertible Debentures (See Note 9, above)
Note 13 – Equity Compensation Plan
There was no stock option plan adopted for fiscal year 2008.
On August 31, 2007, our Board of Directors adopted the 2007-1 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2007-I Plan”). The 2007-I Plan was established to encourage certain officers, employees, directors and consultants to acquire and hold stock in the Company as an added incentive to remain with the Company and to increase their efforts in promoting the interests of the Company, as well as to attract and retain capable individuals. A maximum of twenty-five million (25,000,000) shares of the common stock can be issued under the 2007-I Plan for the grant of Stock Awards or Stock Options. During the year ended November 30, 2008, all 25,000,000 shares under the 2007-I Plan were issued to certain of the Company’s consultants as consulting fees.
In January 2007, the Company adopted the 2007 Stock Option Plan (the “2007 Plan”) to encourage certain directors, officers, employees, employees of affiliated companies and consultants to acquire and hold stock in the Company as an added incentive to remain with the Company, and to enable the Company to attract and retain capable individuals. The number of shares issued under the Plan may not exceed 25,000,000 in aggregate. Options granted under the Plan may include non-qualified stock options as well as incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. Each stock option plan agreement specifies when all or any installment of the option becomes exercisable.
On January 11, 2007, 21,500,000 stock options were granted under the 2007 Plan to directors as well as to employees of the Tri-Con Group at an exercise price of $0.07 with a six year term expiring January 11, 2013, of which 1,000,000 granted stock options were cancelled during the year ended November 30, 2008 and 600,000 granted stock options were exercised during the year ended November 30, 2007. The remaining numbers of shares under the 2007 Plan were issued to consultants as consulting fees during the year ended November 30, 2008.
Note 14 – Income Taxes
The Company’s loss from operations before income tax consisted of:
2008 | 2007 | |||||
United States | $ | 4,685,128 | $ | 3,323,153 | ||
Canada | 3,797,978 | 3,985,004 | ||||
Total | $ | 8,483,106 | $ | 7,308,157 |
The Company’s income tax expense differed from the amounts computed by applying the United States statutory corporate income tax rate for the following reasons:
F - 24
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 14 – Income Taxes (Continued)
2008 | 2007 | |||||
Loss from operations before income tax | $ | 8,483,106 | $ | 7,308,157 | ||
US statutory corporate income tax rate | 34% | 34% | ||||
Income tax benefit computed at US statutory | ||||||
corporate income tax rate |
$ | 2,884,256 | $ | 2,484,773 | ||
Reconciling items: | ||||||
State taxes | 247,756 | 174,430 | ||||
Tax loss expired during the year | (569,467 | ) | (549,927 | ) | ||
Difference in foreign tax | (141,561 | ) | 4,782 | |||
Change in valuation allowance on deferred tax assets | (2,420,984 | ) | (2,114,058 | ) | ||
Income tax expense | $ | - | $ | - |
Components of the Company’s deferred assets at November 30, 2008 and 2007 are as follows:
2008 | 2007 | |||||
Net deferred income tax assets, non current: | ||||||
Remediation and reclamation costs | $ | 215,999 | $ | 211,407 | ||
Net operating loss carry forwards | 20,347,609 | 18,461,942 | ||||
Temporary differences arising from mineral | ||||||
properties and building, plant and equipment | 2,749,873 | 2,654,622 | ||||
Other adjustments | 435,474 | - | ||||
Valuation Allowance | (23,748,955 | ) | (21,327,971 | ) | ||
$ | - | $ | - |
The Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”) effective December 1, 2007. The purpose of FIN 48 is to clarify and set forth consistent rules for accounting for uncertain tax positions in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”. The cumulative effect of applying the provisions of this interpretation are required to be reported separately as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the year of adoption. The adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the financial condition or the results of the Company’s operations.
Deferred income tax assets are determined based on differences between the financial statement reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The measurement of deferred income tax assets is reduced, if necessary, by a valuation allowance for any tax benefits, which are, on a more likely than not basis, not expected to be realized. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that such tax rate changes are enacted.
At November 30, 2008, the Company had losses carried forward totaling $36,324,000 available to reduce future years’ income for U.S. income tax purposes which expire in various years to 2028. In addition, we had losses carried forward in Canada totaling CDN$23,500,000 which expire in various years to 2028.
Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies
a) Severance Agreements with Directors
The Company has entered into compensation agreements with two officers and directors of the Company. The agreements provide for severance arrangements where a change of control of the Company occurs, as defined, and the directors are terminated. The compensation payable to the two directors aggregates $4,100,000 (2007: $4,100,000) plus the amount of annual bonuses and other benefits that they would have received in the eighteen months following termination.
F - 25
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)
b) Indemnity Agreements with Directors
On October 27, 2008, the Company entered into Indemnity Agreements (“Agreements”) with each of its directors, Garry L. Anselmo, James F. Dixon and Stuart McCulloch, a related party, (collectively, the “Directors”). Pursuant to the terms of the Agreements, the Company granted a general indemnification to the Directors against all claims and costs that arise out of the scope or performance of duties as a director or officer of the Company.
c) Office Lease
The Company entered into a seven year office lease agreement expiring in July 2014 for its Vancouver office when obliged to vacate its previous lease location at the expiry of the lease. The Company’s future minimum lease payments under this lease are as follows:
Years ending November 30, 2009 - 2011 | $ | 371,046 | |
Year ending November 30, 2012 | 125,268 | ||
Year ending November 30, 2013 | 128,439 | ||
Year ending November 30, 2014 | 85,626 | ||
$ | 710,379 |
Note 16 – Segment Disclosures
a) Reportable Segments
The Company operates in one reportable segment being the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. The Company’s development of low-rank coal-water fuel is in its initial stages and is not a reportable segment.
b) Geographical Information
The following presents financial information about geographical areas:
2008 | 2007 | |||||
Comprehensive loss for the year | ||||||
Canada | $ | 3,797,978 | $ | 3,985,004 | ||
United States | 4,685,128 | 3,323,153 | ||||
Total | $ | 8,483,106 | $ | 7,308,157 | ||
Long Lived Assets | ||||||
Canada | $ | 526,118 | $ | 628,383 | ||
United States | 2,303,297 | 2,542,312 | ||||
Total | $ | 2,829,415 | $ | 3,170,695 |
F - 26
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 17 – Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Investing and financing activities that do not have a direct impact on current cash flows are excluded from the cash flow statements. A summary of non-cash transactions and other cash information for the years ended November 30, 2008 and 2007 is as follow:
Years ended November 30, | ||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||
Changes in non-cash financing and investing activities: | ||||||
Common stock issued for consulting services | $ | 1,040,000 | $ | 1,108,416 | ||
Common stock issued for subscriptions received | 275,136 | - | ||||
Mineral claims royalty payable changes at period-end for mineral rights | 30,000 | (20,000 | ) | |||
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment | 111,383 | - | ||||
Write-down of property, plant and equipment | 31,550 | - | ||||
Other cash flow information: | ||||||
Interest paid | $ | 18,651 | $ | 27,718 |
Note 18 – Legal Proceedings
On July 24, 2008, Smith Canciglia Consulting, Inc. (“SCC”) filed a complaint against the Company and Garry L. Anselmo in Circuit Court, Loudoun County, Virginia following a dispute concerning the terms of a Consulting Agreement to which SCC and the Company were parties. The complaint sought compensatory damages in the amount of $1,535,366 (plus prejudgment interest), $3,000,000 in punitive damages, $3,450,000 as part of a trebling of damages on a state unfair business act claim, and attorneys’ fees. The Company and Mr. Anselmo thereafter caused the case to be successfully removed to the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, and filed a motion to dismiss with the court. On September 30, 2008, SCC voluntarily dismissed the case against the Company and Mr. Anselmo.
On February 20, 2009, the Company and SCC entered into a Release and Settlement Agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company has paid US $25,000 to reimburse SCC for its claimed expenses and has issued 18,109,800 unrestricted shares of the Company’s common stock.
The Company is not a party to any pending legal proceeding, nor is the Company’s property the subject of any pending legal proceeding. The Company also is not aware of any other proceedings.
Note 19 – Subsequent Events
Subsequent to November 30, 2008, the Company:
a) | issued 18,260,870 shares at a price of $0.00383 per share for the aggregate proceeds of $70,000 in December 2008 and issued 19,250,000 shares at a price of $0.004 for the aggregate proceeds of $77,000 in February 2009. |
b) | received $135,000 for 16,875,000 restricted common shares at a price of $0.008 per share issued in accordance with subscription agreements. |
c) | adopted the 2009 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) on January 29, 2009 to encourage certain directors, officers, employees, and consultants of the Company to acquire and hold stock in the Company as an added incentive to remain with the Company and to increase their efforts in promoting the interests of the Company and to enable the Company to attract and retain capable individuals. The number of shares issued under the Plan may not exceed 130,000,000 in aggregate. On January 29, 2009, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-8 to register all 130,000,000 of such shares. |
F - 27
SILVERADO GOLD MINES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES |
(An Exploration Stage Company) |
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
November 30, 2008 and 2007 |
(Stated in United States Dollars) |
Note 19 – Subsequent Events (Continued)
d) | entered into five consulting agreements and amended two consulting agreements during 2009 with seven individuals for various corporate planning and business development services to the Company. Pursuant to these consulting agreements, the Company issued an aggregate of 25,000,000 shares at a price of $0.03 per share totaling $750,000 and 26,000,000 shares at a price of $0.0125 per share totaling $325,000 respectively as consulting service fees in January 2009; and issued 6,000,000 shares at a price of $ 0.0085 totaling $51,000 and 6,555,000 shares at a price of $0.0087 totaling $57,000 respectively as consulting service fees in February 2009. |
e) | entered into a Release and Settlement Agreement with SCC (Refer to Note 18, above) on February 20, 2009. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company paid US $25,000 to reimburse SCC for its claimed expenses and issued 18,109,800 unrestricted shares of the Company’s common stock to SCC as settled consulting fees. |
f) | suspended an amended Retainer Agreement originally signed September 2, 2005 and issued 2,000,000 unrestricted shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of US $0.01 per share totaling $20,000 as a final payment. |
g) | sold 29.83 troy ounces of gold for net proceeds of $24,095 in January 2009 and sold 25.15 troy ounces of gold for net proceeds of $28,357 in February 2009. |
h) | had 40,349,230 of common stock purchase warrants expire: 21,538,461 of the Company’s common stock purchase warrants expired in January 2009 and 18,810,769 of the Company’s common stock purchase warrants expired in February 2009. |
i) | had 8,400,000 of granted stock options with a weighted average price of $0.051 expire. |
j) | disposed of some equipment for net proceeds of $97,510. |
k) | On March 1, 2009, the Company signed a Corporate Finance Advisors and Consulting Agreement with a UK registered company (the “Facilitator”) to provide consulting and financial management, restructuring and introduction or development of a financeable structure, in order to raise capital, debt or equity in the range of US $25,000,000 to $50,000,000, while providing other consulting services to the Company. The financing amount relates to the requirements of the development plan for the Nolan Mine in Alaska. In accordance with the consulting agreement, on March 1, 2009, the Company signed a Corporate Facilitator Finders Fee Agreement wherein the Facilitator is entitled to receive a cash finders’ fee equal to 10% for an investment amount of up to $300,000, 7.5% for an amount up to $1,000,000, and 5% for amounts greater than $1,000,000 of the financing transaction proceeds received by the Company. |
F - 28
ITEM 8. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
We have not had any disagreements with our former accountants on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure.
ITEM 8A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting as of November 30, 2008, being the date of our most recently completed fiscal year end. This evaluation was carried out with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Garry L. Anselmo. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting are effective to ensure, among other things, that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated, recorded, processed, communicated, and reported within the time periods specified by the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The term “internal control over financial reporting” is defined as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:
(1) |
Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect our transactions and dispositions of assets; | |
(2) |
Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and | |
(3) |
Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements. |
During our most recently completed fiscal year ended November 30, 2008, there were no changes that had a material effect on, or are reasonably likely to affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 8B. OTHER INFORMATION.
Not applicable.
ITEM 9. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS, CONTROL PERSONS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE; COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT.
Our current executive officers and directors are:
Name | Age | Position |
Garry L. Anselmo | 65 | Chairman of the Board of Directors; President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer |
James F. Dixon (1) | 61 | Director |
Stuart C. McCulloch (1) | 73 | Director |
John R. Mackay | 76 | Secretary |
(1) Member of Silverado's Audit Committee and Compensation Committee.
Set forth below is a brief description of the background and business experience of each of our executive officers and directors for the past five years:
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Mr. Anselmo is presently the chairman of our board of directors and is our president, chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Mr. Anselmo is also the chairman of the board of directors and the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of our wholly owned subsidiary, Silverado Green Fuel Inc. Mr. Anselmo has been the chairman of our board of directors and our chief operating officer since 1973. Mr. Anselmo has been our president, chief executive officer and chief financial officer from 1973 to 1994 and from 1997 to present. Mr. Anselmo founded Tri-Con Mining Ltd., a private exploration service company, in 1968, and is currently a shareholder, director, and president of Tri-Con Ltd. He is also the chairman and director of Tri-Con Ltd.’s United States operating subsidiaries, Tri-Con Mining Inc. and Tri-Con Mining Alaska Inc. Mr. Anselmo obtained his bachelor of arts degree from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada.
Mr. Dixon has been one of our directors since May 6, 1988. Mr. Dixon practices as a lawyer in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Law degree.
Stuart C. McCulloch
Mr. McCulloch has been one of our directors since December 14, 1998. Mr. McCulloch is also a director of our subsidiary, Silverado Green Fuel Inc. Mr. McCulloch retired as district manager from Canada Safeway in January, 1991.
John R. Mackay
Mr. Mackay has served as our corporate secretary since June 1998. Mr. Mackay is a lawyer who practiced as a sole practitioner from March 1993 to June 1998 prior to joining Silverado. Prior to 1993, Mr. Mackay was a lawyer and partner in the law firm Davis and Company, Barristers and Solicitors, of Vancouver, British Columbia where he practiced for 35 years.
Family Relationships
Mr. Anselmo and Mr. McCulloch, each of whom is one of our directors, are cousins.
There are no other family relationships among any of our directors, executive officers, or persons nominated or chosen as our directors or executive officers.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
None.
Terms of Office
Our directors are elected to hold office until the next annual meeting of our shareholders and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified. Our executive officers are appointed by our board of directors to hold office until their successors are appointed. The last annual meeting of our shareholders was held on December 9, 2008.
Audit Committee
Our audit committee is comprised of James Dixon and Stuart McCulloch. Our board of directors has determined that each member of our audit committee is independent as that term is defined in Rule 121 of the American Stock Exchange listing standards. Our board of directors has determined none of the directors on our audit committee presently meets the definition of a “financial expert” based on their respective experience and qualification. Our audit committee presently does not include a member who has been determined by our board of directors to qualify as a “financial expert”. Our board of directors is presently looking for a suitable candidate to join as a member of our board of directors and who would meet the definition of “financial expert”. We were unable to identify such a candidate during our most recent fiscal year.
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Code of Ethics
We adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Controller and certain other finance executives, which is a "code of ethics" as defined by applicable rules of the SEC. If we make any amendments to our Code of Ethics other than technical, administrative, or other non-substantive amendments, or grant any waivers, including implicit waivers, from a provision of our Code of Ethics to our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or certain other finance executives, we will disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver, its effective date and to whom it applies on our website at www.silverado.com or in a report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.
Compliance With Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
Based on its review of any copies of Forms 3, 4, and 5 (and any amendments thereto) received by the Company with respect to its most recent fiscal year, the Company believes that all applicable filing requirements were complied with by reporting persons.
ITEM 10. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
Executive Compensation
The following summary compensation table sets forth certain compensation information for Mr. Garry L. Anselmo, our principal executive officer, and for certain other officers of the Company who received compensation in excess of $100,000 during our last completed fiscal year.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE | |||||||||
Name and principal position (a) |
Year (b) |
Salary ($) (c) |
Bonus ($) (d) |
Stock Awards ($) (e) |
Option Awards ($) (f) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) (g) |
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) (h) |
All Other Compensation ($) (i) |
Total ($) (j) |
Garry L Anselmo, (1) Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer, President, Director |
2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2007 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
341,439 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
341,439 |
|
Irma Mungal, (2) Vice-President, Administration |
2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 150,000 | 150,000 |
2007 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
73,059 |
73,059 |
|
Karsten Eden, (3) Vice President, Exploration of Silverado Gold Mines Inc. |
2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 181,154 | 181,154 |
2007 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
23,901 |
0 |
0 |
180,000 |
203,901 |
|
Daniel L. Basketfield, (4) Vice President, Silverado Gold Mines Inc. and Silverado Green Fuel Inc. |
2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 139,936 | 139,936 |
2007 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
23,901 |
0 |
0 |
95,564 |
119,465 |
|
John R. Mackay, (5) Secretary |
2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 116,500 | 116,500 |
2007 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23,901 | 0 | 0 | 120,000 | 143,901 |
(1) |
Mr. Anselmo was granted 10,000,000 options on January 11, 2007. The options have an exercise price of $0.07, vested immediately, and expire on January 11, 2013. The value of the option award was computed in accordance with the provisions of FAS 123R. |
(2) |
Effective September 1, 2008, Ms. Mungal is no longer an officer of the Company. Ms. Mungal’s service fees were paid through Tri-Con payroll, and the Company reimbursed her service fees to Tri-Con based on the service agreements with Tri-Con. |
(3) |
Effective December 26, 2008, Mr. Eden is no longer an officer of the Company. Mr. Eden was granted 700,000 options on January 11, 2007. The options have an exercise price of $0.07, vested immediately, and expire on January 11, 2013. The value of the option award was computed in accordance with the provisions of FAS 123R. Mr. Eden’s service fees were paid through Tri-Con payroll, and the Company reimbursed his service fees to Tri-Con based on the service agreements with Tri-Con. |
(4) |
Effective December 26, 2008, Mr. Basketfield is no longer an officer of the Company. Mr. Basketfield was granted 700,000 options on January 11, 2007. The options have an exercise price of $0.07, vested immediately, and expire on January 11, 2013. The value of the option award was computed in accordance with the provisions of FAS 123R. Mr. Basketfield’s service fees were paid through Tri-Con payroll, and the Company reimbursed his service fees to Tri-Con based on the service agreements with Tri-Con. |
63
(5) |
Mr. Mackay was granted 700,000 options on January 11, 2007. The options have an exercise price of $0.07, vested immediately, and expire on January 11, 2013. The value of the option award was computed in accordance with the provisions of FAS 123R. Mr. Mackay’s service fees were paid through Tri-Con payroll, and the Company reimbursed his service fees to Tri-Con based on the service agreements with Tri- Con. |
We are party to a compensation agreement with Mr. Anselmo. The agreement provides for severance arrangements if a change of control of the Company occurs, as defined, and he is terminated. The compensation payable to Mr. Anselmo would include a lump sum payment of $4,000,000 plus the amount of annual bonuses that Mr. Anselmo would be entitled to receive for the eighteen month period following termination, plus benefits for the eighteen month period following termination.
Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding equity awards of Mr. Anselmo at our fiscal year ended November 30, 2008 and other executive officer of the Company received compensation from the Company in excess of $100,000 during our last completed fiscal year ended November 30, 2008.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END | |||||||||
OPTION AWARDS | STOCK AWARDS | ||||||||
Name (a) |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable (b) |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable (c) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) (d) |
Option Exercise Price ($) (e) |
Option Expiration Date (f) |
Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) (g) |
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) (h) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) (i) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) (j) |
Garry L. Anselmo, Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer, President |
10,000,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.07 | January 11, 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
15,000,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | January 4, 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
6,000,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | July 8, 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2,500,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | January 8, 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
3,000,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | December 4, 2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 36,500,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Karsten Eden, Vice President, Exploration of Silverado Gold Mines Inc. |
700,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.07 | January 11, 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1,000,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | January 4, 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 1,700,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Daniel L. Basketfield, Vice President, Silverado Gold Mines Inc. and Silverado Green Fuel Inc. |
700,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.07 | January 11, 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 700,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Warrack G. Willson, Vice President, Silverado Green Fuel Inc. |
2,000,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.07 | January 11, 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3,000,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | January 4, 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
64
1,500,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | July 8, 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
500,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | January 8, 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
500,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | December 4, 2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 7,500,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
John R. Mackay, Secretary |
700,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.07 | January 11, 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2,000,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | January 4, 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
1,500,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | June 30, 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
500,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | December 4, 2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 4,700,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Compensation of Directors
Except as disclosed under Executive Compensation above with respect to Mr. Anselmo’s compensation, our directors were not compensated during the Company’s last completed fiscal year.
With the exception of periodic grants of stock incentive options, we do not compensate our directors for serving in such capacities. Our 2007 Stock Option Plan and our 2007-1 Equity Compensation Plan each permit the grant of incentive stock options to our directors.
We have entered into a compensation agreement with Mr. James F. Dixon, one of our directors. The agreement provides for severance arrangements if a change of control of Silverado occurs and Mr. Dixon is terminated. The compensation payable to Mr. Dixon would include a lump sum payment of $100,000 plus the amount of annual bonuses that Mr. Dixon would be entitled to receive for the eighteen month period following termination, plus benefits for the eighteen month period following termination. The compensation that would be payable to the directors (including the compensation provided for in the agreement with Mr. Anselmo detailed above) aggregates to $4,100,000 plus the amount of annual bonuses and other benefits that they would have received in the eighteen months following termination.
ITEM 11. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
The following table sets forth certain information concerning the Company’s common shares owned beneficially as of March 6, 2009 by: (i) each person (including any “group”) known by the Company to own beneficially more than five percent (5%) of any class of the Company’s voting securities, (ii) each director of the Company, (iii) each executive officer of the Company, and (iv) all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. As of March 6, 2009 no person is known to us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding common shares. Unless otherwise indicated, the shareholders listed possess sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares listed.
Title of Class |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Number of Common Shares |
Percentage of Common Shares(1) |
Common Shares |
Garry L. Anselmo, Director, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
37,550,007(2) |
3.42% |
Common Shares |
James F. Dixon, Director |
8,014,484(3) |
0.73% |
Common Shares |
Stuart McCulloch, Director |
6,633,400(4) |
0.60% |
Common Shares |
John R. Mackay, Secretary |
4,300,000(5) |
0.39% |
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Common Shares |
All Directors and
Executive Officers as a Group (4 persons) |
56,497,891(6) |
5.14% |
(1) |
Under Rule 13d-3, a beneficial owner of a security includes any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise has or shares: (i) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of shares; and (ii) investment power, which includes the power to dispose or direct the disposition of shares. Certain shares may be deemed to be beneficially owned by more than one person (if, for example, persons share the power to vote or the power to dispose of the shares). In addition, shares are deemed to be beneficially owned by a person if the person has the right to acquire the shares (for example, upon exercise of an option) within 60 days of the date as of which the information is provided. In computing the percentage ownership of any person, the amount of shares outstanding is deemed to include the amount of shares beneficially owned by such person (and only such person) by reason of these acquisition rights. As a result, the percentage of outstanding shares of any person as shown in this table does not necessarily reflect the person’s actual ownership or voting power with respect to the number of shares of common stock actually outstanding on February 10, 2009. As of March 6, 2009, there were 1,098,612,771 common shares of the Company issued and outstanding. |
(2) |
Consists of 4,050,000 shares held by Garry L. Anselmo, 7 shares owned by Tri-Con Mining Ltd, and 33,500,000 shares that can be acquired by Mr. Anselmo upon exercise of options to purchase shares held by Mr. Anselmo within 60 days of the date hereof. |
(3) |
Consists of 214,484 shares held directly and indirectly by James F. Dixon and 7,800,000 shares that can be acquired by Mr. Dixon upon exercise of options to purchase shares held by Mr. Dixon within 60 days of the date hereof. |
(4) |
Consists of 33,400 shares held by Stuart McCulloch and 6,600,000 shares that can be acquired by Mr. McCulloch upon exercise of options to purchase shares held by Mr. McCulloch within 60 days of the date hereof. |
(5) |
Consists of 100,000 shares held by Mr. Mackay and 4,200,000 shares that can be acquired by Mr. Mackay upon exercise of options to purchase shares held by Mr. Mackay within 60 days of the date hereof. |
(6) |
Consists of 4,397,891 shares held by our directors and executive officers and 52,100,000 shares that can be acquired by our directors and executive officers upon exercise of options to purchase shares held by our directors and executive officers within 60 days of the date hereof. |
Changes in Control
We are not aware of any arrangement that may result in a change in control.
Securities Authorized For Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
Set forth in the table below is information regarding outstanding equity awards made under equity compensation plans through November 30, 2008, the end of the most recently completed fiscal year.
Number of | Weighted | Number of | |
securities to be | average exercise | securities | |
issued upon | price of | available for | |
exercise of | outstanding | future plan | |
outstanding | options, | issuance | |
options, | warrants, and | ||
warrants, and | rights | ||
rights | |||
Plan Category | |||
Equity compensation plans | N/A | N/A | N/A |
approved by security holders | |||
Equity compensation plans not | |||
approved by security holders | |||
2007-1 Equity Compensation Plan | N/A | N/A | 2,300,000 |
2007 Stock Option Plan | 19,900,000 | $0.07 | N/A |
Equity Compensation Plans Prior to 2007 | 50,500,000 | $0.05 | N/A |
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There was no stock option plan adopted for fiscal year 2008.
On August 31, 2007, our Board of Directors adopted the 2007-1 Equity Compensation Plan (the "Incentive Stock Option Plan"). The Incentive Stock Option Plan was established to encourage certain of our officers, employees, directors and consultants to acquire and hold stock in the Company as an added incentive to remain with the Company and to increase their efforts in promoting the interests of the Company, as well as to attract and retain capable individuals. A maximum of twenty-five million (25,000,000) shares of our common stock can be issued under the Incentive Stock Option Plan. The aggregate fair market value of the our common shares issued to an employee in exchange for stock options under the Incentive Stock Option Plan cannot exceed $100,000 during any calendar year. The Incentive Stock Option Plan may be terminated at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company.
On January 11, 2007, our Board of Directors adopted the 2007 Stock Option Plan (the "2007 Plan"). The 2007 Plan authorizes the issuance of options to purchase our common stock to directors, officers, employees, and eligible consultants. We reserved 25,000,000 shares of our Common Stock for awards to be made under the 2007 Plan. On February 20, 2007, we filed a registration statement on Form S-8 to register all 25,000,000 of such shares. The 2007 Plan is to be administered by a committee of two or more members of the Board of Directors. The 2007 Plan allows for the issuance of incentive stock options (which can only be granted to employees) and non-qualified stock options. The committee shall determine the type of option granted, the exercise price, the option term (which may be no more than ten years), and terms and conditions of exercisability.
ITEM 12. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
Tri-Con Mining Group
We have had related party transactions with Tri-Con Mining Ltd., Tri-Con Mining Inc., and Tri-Con Mining Alaska Inc. (collectively, the "“Tri-Con Mining Group"”). Each of Tri-Con Mining Ltd., Tri-Con Mining Inc. and Tri-Con Mining Alaska Inc. are owned and controlled by Mr. Garry Anselmo, our chief executive officer, chief financial officer and, the chairman of our board of directors. We are party to three separate contracts dated January 1, 1997 with the Tri-Con Mining Group, one with each of Tri-Con Mining Ltd., Tri-Con Mining Inc. and Tri-Con Mining Alaska Inc.
The Tri-Con Mining Group are operations, exploration and development contractors, and have been employed by us under contract since 1972 to carry out all of our fieldwork and to provide administrative and management services. Under the current contracts dated January 1, 1997, work is charged at cost plus 25% for property acquisition, exploration and development and cost plus 15% for mining operations and reclamation. Cost includes out of pocket or actual cost plus 15% charge for office overhead including stand by and contingencies. Capital purchases are exempt from any support charges. Services of the directors of the Tri-Con Mining Group are charged at a rate of $75 CDN per hour. Services of the directors of the Tri-Con Mining Group who are also our directors, namely Mr. Anselmo, are not charged. In addition, by agreements the Company paid a base administration fee of $10,000 CDN per month to Tri-Con Mining Ltd. and $10,000 US per month to Tri-Con Mining Inc., respectively. We are in arrears in the amount of $1,076,881 to the Tri-Con Group as of November 30, 2008 in connection with corporate planning, mining, drilling, engineering and preparation for year round production on the Company’s Nolan property; mining administration services at both the field and corporate offices, and administration services connected with the Low-Rank Coal-Water fuel project. At November 30, 2007, we were in arrears $1,214,717 to the Tri-Con Mining Group for exploration, development and administration services. For the years 2007 and 2008, the Tri-Con Mining Group’s services focused mainly on test mining activities on the Nolan property, the low-rank coal-water fuel program as well as corporate planning, exploration, engineering, and, and administration services at both our field and corporate offices.
The aggregate amounts billed by the Tri-Con Group for disbursements and for services rendered by the Tri-Con Group personnel are as follows:
2008 | 2007 | |||||
Exploration, development and field services | $ | 3,878,670 | $ | 5,557,108 | ||
Office, Administrative and Management services | 1,192,353 | 1,355,619 | ||||
$ | 5,071,023 | $ | 6,912,727 | |||
Amount of total charges in excess of Tri-Con costs incurred | $ | 1,176,926 | $ | 1,243,430 | ||
Excess amount charged as a percentage of total amount billed | 23.21% | 17.99% |
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Stock Option Grants
No stock options were granted to directors or executive officers during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2008.
Director Independence
As our common stock is currently traded on the OTC Bulletin Board, we are not subject to the rules of any national securities exchange which require that a majority of a listed company’s directors and specified committees of the board of directors meet independence standards prescribed by such rules. For the purpose of preparing the disclosures in this Report on Form 10-KSB regarding director independence, we have used the definition of “independent director” set forth in the Marketplace Rules of The NASDAQ, which defines an “independent director” generally as a person other than an executive officer or employee of the Company or any other individual having a relationship which, in the opinion of the Company’s board of directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Consistent with these standards, we believe that James Dixon and Stuart McCulloch are independent directors.
ITEM 13. EXHIBITS
Number | Description of Exhibit |
3.1 | Articles of Incorporation of the Company (1) |
3.2 | Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of the Company (2) |
3.3 | Altered Memorandum of the Company (3) |
3.4 | Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of the Company (7) |
4.1 | Share certificate representing common shares of the capital of the Company (1) |
10.1 | Agreement for Conditional Purchase and Sale of Mining Property between the Company and Roger C. Burggraf dated October 6, 1978 – Grant Mine Property (1) |
10.2 | Agreement for Conditional Purchase and Sale of Mining Property between the Company and Paul Barelka, Donald May and Mark Thoennes dated May 12, 1979 – St. Paul Property (1) |
10.3 | Lease of Mining Claims with Option to Purchase between the Company and Alaska Mining Company, Inc. dated February 3, 1995 – Hammond Property (4) |
10.4 | Change of Control Agreement between the Company and Garry L. Anselmo dated May, 1995(6) |
10.5 | Change of Control Agreement between the Company and James Dixon dated May, 1995 (6) |
10.6 | Amendment to Change of Control Agreement between the Company and Garry L. Anselmo (6) |
10.7 | Operating Agreement between the Company and Tri-Con Mining Ltd. Dated January 1, 1997 (5) |
10.8 | Operating Agreement between the Company and Tri-Con Mining Inc. dated January 1, 1997 (6) |
10.9 | Operating Agreement between the Company and Tri-Con Mining Alaska Inc. dated January 1, 1997 (6) |
10.10 | Contract between the Company and Dr. Warrack Willson dated March 19, 2001 (6) |
10.11 | Equipment Lease Agreement between the Company and Airport Equipment Rentals Inc. dated October 11, 2002 (6) |
10.12 | Form of Warrant Exercise Agreement between the Company and certain of the selling security holders (8) |
10.13 | Form of Delay Agreement between the Company and certain of the Selling Shareholders (8) |
10.14 | 2006 Stock Option Plan (10) |
10.15 | 2006-II Stock Option Plan (11) |
10.16 | 2007 Stock Option Plan (12) |
10.17 | Shared Well Agreement between the Company and Sukakpak, Inc., dated May 17, 2007 (14) |
10.18 | 2007-1 Equity Compensation Plan (13) |
10.19 | Lease Agreement between the Company and TA Properties (Canada) Ltd., dated March 30, 2007 (15) |
10.20 | Indemnity Agreements between the Company and Garry L. Anselmo, Stuart C. McCulloch, and James F. Dixon, each dated October 27, 2008 (16) |
10.21 | 2009 Equity Compensation Plan (17) |
14.1 | Code of Ethics (9) |
31.1 * | |
31.2 * | |
32.1 * | |
32.2 * |
(1) |
Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed initially on May 11, 1984, as amended. |
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(2) | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 15, 1997. |
(3) | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 11, 2002. |
(4) | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 1995. |
(5) | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 1996. |
(6) | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended November 30, 2002 |
(7) | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 13, 2003. |
(8) | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 filed on May 19, 2004. |
(9) | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB filed on July 15, 2004. |
(10) | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on April 11, 2006. |
(11) | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on March 31, 2006. |
(12) | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on February 20, 2007. |
(13) | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on September 7, 2007. |
(14) | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended November 30, 2007. |
(15) | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB filed on July 15, 2008. |
(16) | Filed as exhibits to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 29, 2008. |
(17) | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on January 29, 2009. |
* | Filed herewith. |
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The following table sets forth information regarding the amount billed to us by our independent auditor, Berkovits & Company, LLP for each of our last two fiscal years:
Fiscal years ended | ||||||
November 30 | ||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||
Audit Fees: | $ | 87,443 | $ | 62,419 | ||
Audit Related Fees: | $ | 48,708 | $ | 46,262 | ||
Tax Fees: | 28,340 | NIL | ||||
All Other Fees: | 16,500 | NIL | ||||
Total: | $ | 180,991 | $ | 108,681 |
Audit Fees
Audit Fees are the aggregate fees billed by our independent auditor for the audit of our consolidated annual financial statements, reviews of interim financial statements and attestation services that are provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
Audit-Related Fees
Audit-Related Fees are fees charged by our independent auditor for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our interim financial statements and are not reported under "Audit Fees." This category comprises fees billed for independent accountant review of our interim financial statements and management discussion and analysis, as well as advisory services associated with our financial reporting.
Policy on Pre-Approval by Audit Committee of Services Performed by Independent Auditors
Our Audit Committee pre-approves all audit services to be provided to us by our independent auditors. Our Audit Committee’s policy regarding the pre-approval of non-audit services to be provided to us by our independent auditors is that all such services shall be pre-approved by the Audit Committee. Non-audit services that are prohibited to be provided by our independent auditors may not be pre-approved. In addition, prior to the granting of any pre-approval, our Audit Committee must be satisfied that the performance of the services in question will not compromise the independence of the independent auditors.
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SIGNATURES
In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Silverado Gold Mines Ltd. | |
Date: March 13, 2009 | By: /s/ Garry L. Anselmo |
Garry L. Anselmo, | |
President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal | |
Executive Officer), and Chief Financial | |
Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) |
In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Date: March 13, 2009 | By: /s/ Garry L. Anselmo |
Garry L. Anselmo, | |
President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal | |
Executive Officer), and Chief Financial | |
Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | |
Date: March 13, 2009 | By: /s/ James F. Dixon |
James F. Dixon, | |
Director | |
Date: March 13, 2009 | By: /s/ Stuart McCulloch |
Stuart McCulloch, | |
Director |
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This ‘10KSB’ Filing | Date | Other Filings | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
11/30/14 | ||||
11/30/13 | ||||
1/11/13 | ||||
1/4/13 | ||||
11/30/12 | ||||
7/8/11 | ||||
6/30/11 | ||||
1/8/11 | ||||
12/1/09 | ||||
11/30/09 | 10-K, NT 10-K | |||
Filed as of: | 3/16/09 | |||
Filed on: | 3/13/09 | |||
3/6/09 | ||||
3/1/09 | ||||
2/20/09 | ||||
2/10/09 | ||||
1/29/09 | S-8 | |||
1/23/09 | 10-Q/A, 10KSB/A | |||
1/5/09 | ||||
1/1/09 | ||||
12/26/08 | ||||
12/15/08 | ||||
12/9/08 | DEF 14A | |||
12/4/08 | ||||
For Period End: | 11/30/08 | NT 10-K | ||
11/20/08 | ||||
11/17/08 | 8-K, 8-K/A | |||
11/15/08 | ||||
10/29/08 | 8-K | |||
10/27/08 | ||||
10/21/08 | ||||
10/15/08 | NT 10-Q | |||
10/14/08 | ||||
10/10/08 | ||||
9/30/08 | ||||
9/16/08 | ||||
9/1/08 | ||||
8/31/08 | 10-Q/A, 10QSB, NT 10-Q | |||
8/18/08 | 8-K | |||
8/11/08 | ||||
8/6/08 | 8-K | |||
7/31/08 | 4/A | |||
7/29/08 | ||||
7/24/08 | ||||
7/15/08 | 10QSB | |||
7/11/08 | ||||
7/2/08 | ||||
5/31/08 | 10-Q/A, 10QSB | |||
2/29/08 | 10-Q/A, 10QSB | |||
2/21/08 | ||||
2/14/08 | ||||
2/13/08 | ||||
2/12/08 | ||||
2/8/08 | ||||
2/2/08 | ||||
2/1/08 | ||||
1/23/08 | ||||
1/22/08 | ||||
1/21/08 | ||||
1/17/08 | ||||
1/11/08 | ||||
12/31/07 | ||||
12/17/07 | ||||
12/1/07 | ||||
11/30/07 | 10KSB, 10KSB/A | |||
11/16/07 | ||||
11/15/07 | ||||
10/23/07 | 10QSB | |||
9/7/07 | S-8 | |||
8/31/07 | 10QSB, NT 10-Q | |||
5/31/07 | 10QSB | |||
5/17/07 | ||||
3/30/07 | 4 | |||
2/28/07 | 10QSB, NT 10-K, NT 10-Q | |||
2/20/07 | S-8 | |||
1/11/07 | 4 | |||
12/18/06 | ||||
12/1/06 | ||||
11/30/06 | 10KSB, NT 10-K | |||
8/14/06 | ||||
4/11/06 | S-8 | |||
3/31/06 | S-8 | |||
11/30/05 | 10KSB, 10KSB/A | |||
9/2/05 | ||||
11/30/04 | 10KSB, 10KSB/A, NT 10-K | |||
7/15/04 | 10QSB | |||
6/1/04 | ||||
5/19/04 | SB-2 | |||
4/20/04 | DEF 14A | |||
3/29/04 | ||||
11/30/03 | 10KSB, 10KSB/A, NT 10-K | |||
6/13/03 | 8-K | |||
12/1/02 | ||||
11/30/02 | 10-K, 10KSB | |||
10/11/02 | 10QSB | |||
9/11/02 | ||||
12/1/01 | ||||
11/30/01 | 10KSB, NT 10-K | |||
3/19/01 | ||||
3/1/01 | ||||
11/6/99 | ||||
12/14/98 | ||||
7/15/97 | 10-Q | |||
1/1/97 | ||||
11/30/96 | 10-K, 10-K/A | |||
8/21/96 | ||||
8/4/96 | ||||
7/5/96 | ||||
11/30/95 | ||||
2/3/95 | ||||
12/14/94 | ||||
List all Filings |