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GOLD RESOURCE CORP - Quarter Report: 2010 September (Form 10-Q)

grc_10q.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)

x
QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010
 
o
 TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
 
For the transition period from _____ to _______

Commission File Number:  001-34857

GOLD RESOURCE CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Colorado
 
84-1473173
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

2886 Carriage Manor Point, Colorado Springs, Colorado  80906
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)  (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number including area code:  (303) 320-7708

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the past 12 months (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 o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to post such files).    Yes o    No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See definition of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Larger accelerated filer    o
Accelerated filer  x
Non-accelerated filer   o
Smaller reporting company  o
 
Indicate by check mark whether registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  o    No  x
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:  52,998,303 shares of common stock outstanding as of November 8, 2010.
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
GOLD RESOURCE CORPORATION

Index

 
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15
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24
  25

References in this report to agreements to which Gold Resource Corporation is a party and the definition of certain terms from those agreements are not necessarily complete and are qualified by reference to the agreements.  Readers should refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 and the exhibits listed therein.

 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  Financial Statements
GOLD RESOURCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(An Exploration Stage Company)
 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
             
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 54,861,743     $ 6,752,325  
Restricted cash
    5,995,333       11,436,074  
Accounts receivable
    2,857,170       -  
Inventories
    1,897,588       224,853  
Prepaid and refundable taxes
    3,677,760       2,132,495  
Other current assets
    9,392       155,658  
Total current assets
    69,298,986       20,701,405  
                 
                 
Land and mineral rights
    226,610       226,610  
Property and equipment - net
    4,044,521       1,726,278  
Other assets
    38,930       10,465  
Total assets
  $ 73,609,047     $ 22,664,758  
                 
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
                 
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  $ 2,653,480     $ 724,439  
Dividends payable
    1,589,949       -  
Total current liabilities
    4,243,429       724,439  
                 
Asset retirement obligation
    2,136,793       1,991,987  
                 
Shareholders' equity:
               
Preferred stock - $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized:
               
no shares issued and outstanding
    -       -  
Common stock - $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized:
               
52,998,303 and 48,100,284 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
    52,997       48,100  
Additional paid-in capital
    156,237,520       95,692,273  
(Deficit) accumulated during the exploration stage
    (88,770,680 )     (74,817,721 )
Other comprehensive income:
               
Currency translation adjustment
    (291,012 )     (974,320 )
Total shareholders' equity
    67,228,825       19,948,332  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $ 73,609,047     $ 22,664,758  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
1
 
 

 
 
GOLD RESOURCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009
(unaudited)
             
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Sales of metals concentrate
  $ 9,609,326     $ -  
                 
Mine Cost of Sales
               
Production costs applicable to sales
    2,836,851       -  
Depreciation, depletion, amortization
    36,596       -  
Accretion
    16,779       -  
Total mine cost of sales
    2,890,226       -  
                 
Mine Gross Profit
    6,719,100       -  
                 
                 
Costs and Expenses:
               
General and administrative (includes $1,521,225 in
         
       2010 and $59,677 in 2009 of non-cash
               
         stock based compensation)
    2,827,352       620,470  
Exploration expenses
    1,652,542       1,888,828  
Construction and development
    3,741,090       7,132,056  
Total costs and expenses
    8,220,984       9,641,354  
                 
Operating (loss)
    (1,501,884 )     (9,641,354 )
                 
Other income (expense):
               
Other income
    6,789       -  
Currency exchange (loss)
    (88,956 )     -  
Change in fair value of derivative contract
    358,777       -  
Interest income
    42,744       16,221  
Total other income
    319,354       16,221  
                 
(Loss) before income taxes
    (1,182,530 )     (9,625,133 )
                 
Provision for income taxes
    -       -  
                 
Net (loss)
    (1,182,530 )     (9,625,133 )
                 
Other comprehensive income:
               
Currency translation gain
    645,695       342,569  
                 
Net comprehensive (loss)
  $ (536,835 )   $ (9,282,564 )
                 
                 
Net (loss) per common share:
               
Basic and Diluted
  $ (0.02 )   $ (0.21 )
                 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
               
Basic and Diluted
    49,851,542       45,280,272  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
2
 
 

 
 
GOLD RESOURCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009
and for the period from Inception (August 24, 1998) to September 30, 2010
(Unaudited)
                   
   
2010
   
2009
   
Inception
(August 24, 1998) to
September 30,
2010
 
                   
Sales of metals concentrate
  $ 9,609,326     $ -     $ 9,609,326  
                         
Mine Cost of Sales
                       
Production costs applicable to sales
    2,836,851       -       2,836,851  
Depreciation, depletion, amortization
    63,497       -       63,497  
Accretion
    50,530       -       50,530  
Total mine cost of sales
    2,950,878       -       2,950,878  
                         
Mine Gross Profit
    6,658,448       -       6,658,448  
                         
Costs and Expenses:
                       
General and administrative (includes $1,717,705 in
                 
       2010 and $2,754,031 in 2009 of non-cash
                       
         stock based compensation)
    4,677,724       4,327,873       19,457,814  
Exploration expenses
    3,966,450       3,871,821       28,451,660  
Construction and development
    12,111,226       18,889,528       47,607,123  
Production start up expense, net
    209,082       -       209,082  
Management contract - U S Gold, related party
    -       -       752,191  
Total costs and expenses
    20,964,482       27,089,222       96,477,870  
                         
Operating (loss)
    (14,306,034 )     (27,089,222 )     (89,819,422 )
                         
Other income (expense):
                       
Other income
    6,789       -       6,789  
Currency exchange (loss)
    (88,956 )     -       (88,956 )
Change in fair value of derivative contract
    358,777       -       358,777  
Interest income
    76,465       25,140       772,132  
Total other income
    353,075       25,140       1,048,742  
                         
(Loss) before income taxes
    (13,952,959 )     (27,064,082 )     (88,770,680 )
                         
Provision for income taxes
    -       -       -  
                         
Net (loss)
    (13,952,959 )     (27,064,082 )     (88,770,680 )
                         
Other comprehensive income:
                       
Currency translation gain (loss)
    683,308       415,535       (291,012 )
                         
Net comprehensive (loss)
  $ (13,269,651 )   $ (26,648,547 )   $ (89,061,692 )
                         
                         
Net (loss) per common share:
                       
Basic and Diluted
  $ (0.28 )   $ (0.65 )        
                         
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                       
Basic and Diluted
    49,060,466       41,529,857          
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
3
 
 

 
GOLD RESOURCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009
and for the period from Inception (August 24, 1998) to September 30, 2010
(Unaudited)
                   
   
2010
   
2009
   
Inception
(August 24, 1998) to
September 30,
2010
 
 Cash flows from operating activities:
                 
 Net (loss)
  $ (13,952,959 )   $ (27,064,082 )   $ (88,770,680 )
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) to net cash
                 
 (used in) operating activities:
                       
 Depreciation
    240,921       112,862       604,629  
 Accretion expense
    50,530       -       2,042,517  
 Stock compensation
    1,717,705       2,754,031       8,505,337  
 Management fee paid in stock
    -       -       392,191  
 Related party payable paid in stock
    -       -       320,000  
 Foreign currency translation adjustment
    683,308       415,535       (291,012 )
 Issuance cost forgiven
    -       -       25,327  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                 
 Accounts receivable
    (2,857,170 )     -       (2,857,170 )
 Prepaid and refundable taxes
    (1,545,265 )     -       (3,677,760 )
 Other current assets
    146,266       161,195       (9,392 )
 Inventories
    (1,672,735 )     -       (1,897,588 )
 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    1,929,041       (1,163,539 )     2,653,480  
 Other
    (28,465 )     -       (42,040 )
 Total adjustments
    (1,335,864 )     2,280,084       5,768,519  
Net cash (used in) operating activities
    (15,288,823 )     (24,783,998 )     (83,002,161 )
                         
Cash flows from investing activities:
                       
 Capital expenditures
    (2,542,074 )     (504,731 )     (4,981,861 )
 Restricted cash
    5,440,741       (4,005,479 )     (5,995,333 )
 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    2,898,667       (4,510,210 )     (10,977,194 )
                         
Cash flows from financing activities:
                       
Proceeds from sales of stock
    63,392,500       32,990,000       150,633,323  
Proceeds from exercise of options
    -       -       427,500  
Proceeds from debentures - founders
    -       -       50,000  
Dividends paid
    (2,970,112 )     -       (2,970,112 )
Proceeds from exploration
       funding agreement - Canyon Resources
    -       -       500,000  
Net cash provided by financing activities
    60,422,388       32,990,000       148,640,711  
                         
Effect of exchange rates on cash and equivalents
    77,186       -       200,387  
                         
Net increase in cash and equivalents
    48,109,418       3,695,792       54,861,743  
                         
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period
    6,752,325       3,534,578       -  
                         
Cash and equivalents at end of period
  $ 54,861,743     $ 7,230,370     $ 54,861,743  
                         
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
                       
Interest paid
  $ -     $ -     $ -  
Income taxes paid
  $ -     $ -     $ -  
                         
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
                       
    Conversion of Canyon Resources funding into
                 
common stock
  $ -     $ -     $ 500,000  
Conversion of founders debentures into
                       
common stock
  $ -     $ -     $ 50,000  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
4
 
 

 
 
GOLD RESOURCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2010
(Unaudited)


1. 
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Gold Resource Corporation (the “Company”) was organized under the laws of the State of Colorado on August 24, 1998.  The Company has been engaged in the exploration for precious and base metals, primarily in Mexico, as an exploration stage company.  It has emerged as a producer of gold and silver metals concentrates and it plans to continue to develop mineral properties as well as become a producer of base metals concentrates.   The consolidated financial statements included herein are expressed in United States dollars, the Company’s reporting currency.

Basis of Presentation.  The interim consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company, without audit, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") pursuant to Item 210 of Regulation S-X.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("US GAAP") have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such SEC rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures included are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.

In management’s opinion, the unaudited consolidated financial statements contained herein reflect all adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring items, which are necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows on a basis consistent with that of its prior audited consolidated financial statements.  However, the results of operations for interim periods may not be indicative of results to be expected for the full fiscal year.  Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto and summary of significant accounting policies included in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Basis of Consolidation.    The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned Mexican corporation subsidiaries.  The significant subsidiaries are Don David Gold S.A. de C.V. and Golden Trump Resources S.A. de C.V.  The expenditures of Don David Gold and Golden Trump Resources are generally incurred in Mexican pesos.  Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Reclassifications.  Certain amounts previously presented for prior periods have been reclassified to conform with the current presentation.  The reclassifications had no effect on net loss, total assets, or total shareholders’ equity.

Restricted Cash:    Pursuant to the terms of two subscription agreements that were completed during 2009, the Company agreed to reserve cash proceeds of $12,000,000 for specific purposes.  Under the first agreement, $4,000,000 was restricted for the purpose of additional exploration at the El Aguila Project.  Under the second agreement, $8,000,000 was restricted for the purpose of constructing a decline ramp, drifts and crosscuts, and associated surface facilities to support underground development and mining of the La Arista Vein.

The restricted cash balances were placed in separate interest bearing bank accounts.  Transfer of funds from the restricted bank accounts requires the approval of Hochschild Mining Holdings Limited (“Hochschild”), the other party to the subscription agreements. The approval process includes the presentation of documentation that demonstrates use of the funds for the intended purpose.  As of September 30, 2010, $5,995,333 of restricted cash remained for the intended purposes.
 
5
 
 

 
Ore Stockpile Inventories.  Ore stockpile inventories are carried at the lower of average cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value represents the estimated future sales price of the product based on current and long-term metals prices, less the estimated costs to complete production and bring the product to sale. Write-downs of ore stockpiles and concentrate inventories, resulting from net realizable value impairments, are reported as a component of production costs applicable to sales.  The current portion of ore stockpiles is determined based on the expected amounts to be processed within the next 12 months. Ore stockpile inventories not expected to be processed within the next 12 months are classified as long-term.

Ore stockpile inventories represent ore that has been mined and is available for further processing. Ore stockpiles are measured by estimating the number of tonnes added and removed from the stockpile, the contained metals (based on assay data) and the estimated metallurgical recovery rates. Costs are allocated to ore stockpile inventories based on relative values of material stockpiled and processed using current mining costs incurred up to the point of stockpiling the ore, including applicable overhead, depreciation, depletion and amortization relating to mining operations. Material is removed from the stockpile at an average cost per tonne.

Materials and Supplies Inventories. Materials and supplies inventories are valued at the lower of average cost or net realizable value. Cost includes applicable taxes and freight.

Estimates.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and 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.  Management routinely makes judgments and estimates about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain.  Estimates that are critical to the accompanying consolidated financial statements include the identification and valuation of proven and probable reserves, obligations for environmental, reclamation, and closure matters, estimates related to asset impairments of long lived assets and investments, classification of expenditures as either an asset or an expense, valuation of deferred tax assets, and the likelihood of loss contingencies.  Management bases its estimates and judgements on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.  Estimates and assumptions are revised periodically and the effects of revisions are reflected in the financial statements in the period it is determined to be necessary.  Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share.    Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period.  Diluted earnings (loss) per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if potentially dilutive securities are converted into common shares.  Potentially dilutive securities, such as stock options and warrants, are excluded from the calculation when their inclusion would be anti-dilutive, such as periods when a net loss is reported or when the exercise price of the instrument exceeds the fair market value.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the calculation excluded potential dilution of 4,080,000 and 3,795,000 shares of underlying exercisable stock options, respectively, because the effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Proven and Probable Reserves.    The definition of proven and probable reserves is set forth in SEC Industry Guide 7.  Proven reserves are 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.  Probable reserves are reserves for which quantity and grade and/or quality are computed from information similar to that used for proven reserves, but the sites for inspection, sampling, and measurement are farther apart or are otherwise less adequately spaced.  The degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observation.  In addition, reserves cannot be considered proven and probable until they are supported by a feasibility study, indicating that the reserves have had the requisite geologic, technical and economic work performed and are economically and legally extractable at the time of the reserve determination.
 
 
6
 
 

 
As of September 30, 2010, none of the mineralized material at the Company’s properties met the SEC’s definition of proven or probable reserves.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments.    ASC 825, “Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments.  ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements” defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  Fair value estimates discussed herein are based upon certain market assumptions and pertinent information available to management as of September 30, 2010.

The respective carrying value of certain on-balance-sheet financial instruments approximates their fair values.  These financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, prepaid and refundable taxes, accounts payable and accrued liabilities.  Fair values were assumed to approximate carrying values for these financial instruments since they are short term in nature and their carrying amounts approximate fair value, or they are receivable or payable on demand.

Prepaid and Refundable Taxes.    In Mexico, value added taxes (IVA) are assessed on purchases of materials and services.  Businesses are generally entitled to recover the taxes they have paid, either as a refund or as a credit against future taxes payable.  For the period from inception through 2008, substantially all of the Company’s refund claims were initially denied by the tax authorities.  Accordingly, the Company provided a full valuation allowance for potentially refundable IVA.  During 2009, the Company was successful in establishing the validity of its claims and received IVA refunds.  Furthermore, it appears that the tax authorities will honor the Company’s claims for substantially all of the IVA paid during 2009 and any future years.  Amounts recorded as prepaid and refundable taxes in the consolidated financial statements represent the estimated recoverable payments made during 2009 and  through September 30, 2010.  Although the taxing authorities may reconsider claims filed for previous years, significant uncertainties regarding ultimate recovery preclude recognition of an asset for taxes paid prior to 2009.
 
       Revenue Recognition.  Sales of all metals products sold directly to the Company’s metals concentrate buyer, including by-product metals, are recorded as revenues when title and risk of loss transfer to the buyer (generally at the time of shipment is delivered at buyer’s port) at estimated forward prices for the anticipated month of settlement.  Due to the time elapsed from shipment to the customer and the final settlement with the buyer, we must estimate the prices at which sales of our metals will be settled. Previously recorded sales are adjusted to estimated settlement metals prices until final settlement by the buyer.

Sales to the Company’s buyer are recorded net of charges by the buyer for treatment, refining, smelting losses, and other charges negotiated by the Company with the buyer. Charges are estimated upon shipment of concentrates based on contractual terms, and actual charges do not vary materially from estimates. Costs charged by smelters include a metals payable fee, fixed treatment and refining costs per ton of concentrate.

Changes in metals prices between shipment and final settlement will result in adjustments to revenues related to sales of concentrate previously recorded upon shipment.  Concentrate sales are based on a provisional sales price containing an embedded derivative that is required to be separated from the host contract for accounting purposes. The host contract is the receivable from the sale of the concentrates at the forward price at the time of the sale. The embedded derivative, which does not qualify for hedge accounting, is adjusted to market through earnings each period prior to final settlement.
 
7
 
 

 
Changes in the market price of metals significantly affect our revenues, profitability, and cash flow. Metals prices can and often do fluctuate widely and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control, such as political and economic conditions, demand, forward selling by producers, expectations for inflation, custom smelter activities, the relative exchange rate of the U.S. dollar, investor sentiment, and global mine production levels. The aggregate effect of these factors is impossible to predict. Because our revenue is derived from the sale of gold and silver, our earnings are directly related to the prices of these metals.

Concentration of Credit Risk.  As of September 30, 2010, 100% of our total sales of metals concentrate and 100% of our mine gross profits were generated from sales to Consorcio Minero de Mexico Cormin Mex, S.A. de C.V., a Trafigura Group Company (“Consorcio”).  Our El Aguila Project which is located in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico accounted for 100% of our total sales of metals concentrate during the three months ended September 30, 2010.
 
The Company has carefully considered and assessed the credit risk resulting from its concentrate sales arrangement with Consorcio , and believes it is not exposed to significant credit risk in relations to the counterparty meeting its contractual obligations as it pertains to its trade receivables during its ordinary course of business.
 
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards.  The Company evaluates the pronouncements of various authoritative accounting organizations, primarily the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), the SEC, and the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”), to determine the impact of new pronouncements on US GAAP and the impact on the Company.

The Company has recently adopted the following new accounting standards:

Subsequent Events - In May 2009, the ASC guidance for subsequent events was updated to establish accounting and reporting standards for events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued.  The guidance was amended in February 2010 via ASU No. 2010-09.  The standard sets forth: (i) the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, (ii) the circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet in its financial statements, and (iii) the disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements.  The amended ASU was effective immediately and its adoption had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Fair Value Measurements - In January 2010, ASU No. 2010-06 amended existing disclosure requirements about fair value measurements by adding required disclosures about items transferring into and out of levels 1 and 2 in the fair value hierarchy; adding separate disclosures about purchase, sales, issuances, and settlements relative to level 3 measurements; and clarifying, among other things, the existing fair value disclosures about the level of disaggregation.  The ASU was adopted during the period ended March 31, 2010, and its adoption had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
8
 
 

 
Consolidations - ASU No. 2009-17 revises the consolidation guidance for variable-interest entities. The modifications include the elimination of the exemption for qualifying special purpose entities, a new approach for determining who should consolidate a variable-interest entity, and changes to when it is necessary to reassess who should consolidate a variable-interest entity. The ASU was adopted during the period ended March 31, 2010 and its adoption had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Updates.     The following accounting standards updates were recently issued and have not yet been adopted by the Company.  These standards are currently under review to determine their impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

ASU No. 2010-11 was issued in March 2010, and clarifies that the transfer of credit risk that is only in the form of subordination of one financial instrument to another is an embedded derivative feature that should not be subject to potential bifurcation and separate accounting.  This ASU will be effective for the first fiscal quarter beginning after June 15, 2010, with early adoption permitted.

ASU No. 2010-13 was issued in April 2010, and will clarify the classification of an employee share based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which the underlying security trades.  This ASU will be effective for the first fiscal quarter beginning after December 15, 2010, with early adoption permitted.

There were various other updates recently issued, most of which represented technical corrections to the accounting literature or application to specific industries and are not expected to a have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

2. 
Inventory

Inventories at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 consist of the following:

   
September 30,
2010
   
December 31, 
2009
 
             
Ore stockpiles
  $ 1,722,756     $ --  
Concentrate
    2,988       --  
Materials and supplies
    171,844       224,853  
                 
    Total current inventories
  $ 1,897,588     $ 224,853  

As of September 30, 2010, the ore stockpiles inventories consist of approximately 136,652 tonnes of ore and are carried at cost.

3. 
Mineral Properties

The Company currently has an interest in five properties, the El Aguila Project, the El Rey property, the Las Margaritas property, the Solaga property and the Alta Gracia property.

The El Aguila Project.  Effective October 14, 2002, the Company leased three mining concessions, El Aguila, El Aire, and La Tehuana.  The lease agreement is subject to a 4% net smelter return royalty where production is sold in the form of gold/silver dore and 5% for production sold in concentrate form.  The Company has made periodic advance royalty payments under the lease totaling $260,000 and no further advance royalty payments are due.  Subject to minimum exploration requirements, there is no expiration term for the lease.  The Company may terminate it at any time upon written notice to the lessor and the lessor may terminate it if the Company fails to fulfill any of its obligations.  The El Aguila and El Aire concessions make up the El Aguila Project and the La Tehuana concession makes up the Las Margaritas property.
 
 
9
 
 

 
The Company has filed for and received additional concessions for the El Aguila project that total an additional 8,492 hectares.  These additional concessions bring the Company’s interest in the El Aguila project to an aggregate of 9,463 hectares.  The mineral concessions making up the El Aguila project are located within the Mexican State of Oaxaca.

The El Rey Property.  The Company has acquired claims in another area in the state of Oaxaca by filing concessions under the Mexican mining laws, referred to by the Company as the El Rey property.  These concessions total 892 hectares and are subject to a 2% royalty on production.  The Company has conducted minimal exploration and drilling on this property to date.

The El Rey property is an exploration stage property with no known reserves.  It is approximately 64.4 kilometers (40 miles) from the El Aguila Project.  There is no plant or equipment on the El Rey property.  If exploration is successful, any mining would probably require an underground mine but any mineralized material could be processed at the El Aguila Project mill.

The Las Margaritas Property.  The Las Margaritas property is made up of the La Tehuana concession.  The Company leased this property in October 2002.  It is comprised of approximately 925 hectares located adjacent to the El Aguila Project.  To date, the Company has conducted limited surface sampling, but no other significant exploration activities at the property.

The Solaga Property.  In February 2007, the Company leased a 100% interest in a property known as the Solaga property.  The property totals 618 hectares, and is located approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the El Aguila Project.  A dormant silver mine is located on the Solaga property which was in production as recently as the 1980’s, however the Company cannot estimate if or when the mine will reopen.  The lease requires the Company to perform $25,000 in additional work and is subject to a 4% net smelter return royalty on any production.  The Company has not conducted any exploration activities at the property.

The Alta Gracia Property.  In August 2009, the Company acquired claims adjacent to the Las Margaritas property in the Alta Gracia mining district by filing concessions under the Mexican mining laws.  The Company refers to this property as the Alta Gracia property. These concessions are comprised of three mining claims, the David 1, the David 2 and La Hurradura. The concessions total 5,175 hectares, and the acquisition of these claims extended the Company’s land position along what is known as the San Jose structural corridor to just over 16 kilometers. To date, the Company has not conducted significant exploration activities at the property.
 
10
 
 

 
4. 
Property and Equipment

At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, property and equipment consisted of the following:

   
September 30,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
Trucks and autos
  $ 654,183     $ 424,527  
Office building
    1,728,945       --  
Furniture and equipment
    1,287,919       719,557  
Exploration equipment
    876,904       916,879  
     Subtotal
    4,547,951       2,060,963  
Accumulated depreciation
    (503,430 )     (334,685 )
       Totals
  $ 4,044,521     $ 1,726,278  

Depreciation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $240,921 and $112,862, respectively.  The Company evaluates the recoverability of property and equipment when events and circumstances indicate that such assets might be impaired.

5. 
Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company’s asset retirement obligations (“ARO”) relate to the reclamation, remediation, and closure costs for its El Aguila project.  The following table presents the changes in ARO for the period ended September 30, 2010.

   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2010
 
Beginning Balance
  $ 1,991,987  
Foreign Currency Translation
    94,276  
Accretion Expense
    50,530  
Ending Balance
  $ 2,136,793  
         


6. 
Shareholders’ Equity

On September 30, 2010, the Company declared a special cash dividend of $0.03 per common share to its shareholders of record October 15, 2010 which was paid on October 27, 2010 in the aggregate amount of $1,589,949.

On August 31, 2010, the Company declared a special cash dividend of $0.03 per common share to its shareholders of record September 17, 2010 which was paid on September 29, 2010 in the aggregate amount of $1,485,699.

On July 29, 2010, the Company declared a special cash dividend of $0.03 per common share to its shareholders of record August16, 2010 which was paid on August 26, 2010 in the aggregate amount of $1,484,412.
 
11
 
 

 
On September 23, 2010, the Company completed a financing transaction whereby it sold 3,475,000 shares of restricted common stock at $16.00 per share for net proceeds of $51,989,000 to various institutional investors.  Jefferies & Company Inc. acted as our placement agent in connection with the transaction.

On August 17, 2010, the Company issued 92,899 shares of common stock pursuant to the exercise of stock options. Two option-holders exercised 70,000 and 60,000 options using the “cashless exercise” method for payment, whereby the option-holders immediately surrendered shares of common stock that they would have otherwise been entitled to receive.  In the aggregate, the option-holders exercised 70,000 and 60,000 options and immediately surrendered 18,244 and 18,857 shares of common stock, resulting in a net issuance of 92,899 shares of common stock.  The Company received no cash proceeds in the transactions.

On May 26, 2010, the Company issued 631,579 restricted shares of common stock at $9.50 per share to Hochschild pursuant to a subscription agreement in connection with the parties’ strategic alliance.  The Company received cash proceeds of $ 6,000,000.

On May 7, 2010, the Company sold 50,000 shares of common stock at $4.63 per share to an individual investor for cash proceeds of $231,500. As a result of the shares having been sold at a discount pursuant to an investor agreement, an expense of $307,000 was recorded to reflect the difference between the cash proceeds and the quoted market price of the common stock.

On April 19, 2010, the Company issued 48,541 shares of common stock pursuant to the exercise of stock options. An option-holder exercised 70,000 options using the “cashless exercise” method for payment, whereby the option-holder immediately surrendered shares of common stock that he would have otherwise been entitled to receive.   The option-holder exercised 70,000 options and immediately surrendered 21,459 shares of common stock, resulting in a net issuance of 48,541 shares of common stock.  The Company received no cash proceeds in the transactions.

On March 8, 2010, the Company issued 600,000 restricted shares of common stock at $8.62 per share to Hochschild pursuant to a strategic alliance agreement dated December 8, 2008.  The Company received cash proceeds of $5,172,000.

7. 
Stock Options

The Company has a non-qualified stock option and stock grant plan under which equity awards may be granted to key employees, directors and others (the “Plan”).  The Plan is administered by the Board of Directors which determines the terms pursuant to which any option is granted.  The maximum number of common shares subject to grant under the Plan is 6,000,000.

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model.  The option pricing model requires the input of subjective assumptions which are based on several different criteria.  Expected volatility is based on the historical price volatility of the Company’s common stock.  The Company paid dividends on August 26, 2010 and September 29, 2010 which resulted in an expected dividend yield rate of 2%.  Based on historical experience, forfeitures and cancellations are not significant.  The expected life of the options represents the estimated period of time until exercise and is based on historical experience of similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms and vesting schedules.  Risk free interest rates are based on US government obligations with a term approximating the expected life of the option.

The fair value of stock option grants is amortized over the respective vesting period. Total non-cash compensation expense related to stock options expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $1,717,705 and $2,754,031, respectively.  The estimated unrecognized compensation cost from unvested options as of September 30, 2010, was approximately $4,432,597 which is expected to be recognized over the remaining vesting periods, which range from 0.33 to 3.0 years.
 
12
 
 

 
Effective March 2, 2010, grants covering 60,000 shares of common stock were issued to an employee at an exercise price of $10.10 and a term of ten years.  The options vest over a three year period.  The grant date fair value was calculated as $486,764 ($8.113 per option) using the following assumptions:  expected life of 10 years, stock price of $10.10 at date of grant, dividend yield of 0%, interest rate 3.63%, and volatility of 75%.

Effective July 1, 2010, grants covering 450,000 shares of common stock were issued to employees at an exercise price of $11.90 and a term of ten years.  The options vest over a three year period. The grant date fair value was calculated as $4,262,100 ($9.471 per option) using the following assumptions:  expected life of 10 years, stock price of $11.90 at date of grant, dividend yield of 0%, interest rate 2.96%, and volatility of 72%.

Effective August 17, 2010, grants covering 100,000 shares of common stock were issued to a member of the Board of Director at an exercise price of $14.35 and a term of ten years.  The stock options vest and are exercisable on the date of grant. The grant date fair value was calculated as $1,065,811 ($10.658 per option) using the following assumptions:  expected life of 10 years, stock price of $14.35 at date of grant, dividend yield of 0.56%, interest rate 2.64%, and volatility of 71%.

The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted was $9.53 per option during 2010 and $4.16 for the comparable period ended 2009. The weighted average grant date fair value of options vested was $1.00 per option during 2010 and $2.43 per option during 2009.

The following table summarizes activity for compensatory stock options during the nine months ended September 30, 2010:

   
Number of Shares
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
 
Number of Shares Exercisable
Outstanding, January 1, 2010
 
3,745,000
 
$2.48
 
$32,850,250
 
3,500,000
Granted
 
610,000
 
$12.12
 
-
 
-
Exercised
 
(200,000)
 
 $3.97
 
-
 
-
Cancelled
 
    (75,000)
 
 $7.00
 
-
 
-
Outstanding, September 30, 2010
 
     4,080,000
 
 $3.76
 
$60,775,000
 
3,500,000
                 
 
 
The following table summarizes information about outstanding compensatory stock options as of September 30, 2010:
                                                                                                    
    Options Outstanding    Options Exercisable
 
 
 
Exercise Prices
 
 
 
 
Number of Shares
 
 
Remaining
Contractual Life
(in years)
 
 
Weighted
Average Exercise
Price
 
 
 
 
Number Exercisable
 
 
Weighted  
Average Exercise
Price
 
 
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
$0.25
 
1,400,000
 
3.3
 
$0.25
 
1,400,000
 
$0.25
 
$25,774,000
$3.40
 
1,000,000
 
7.4
 
$3.40
 
1,000,000
 
$3.40
 
$15,260,000
$3.74
 
70,000
 
7.9
 
$3.74
 
    -
 
-
 
            -
$3.95
 
1,000,000
 
8.6
 
$3.95
 
1,000,000
 
$3.95
 
$14,710,000
$10.10-$14.35
 
610,000
 
9.8
 
$12.12
 
      100,000
 
$14.35
 
      $431,000
   
4,080,000
     
$3.76
 
3,500,000
 
$2.61
 
$56,175,000
 

13
 
 

 
8. 
Subsequent Events

On October 29, 2010, the Company declared a special cash dividend of $0.03 per common share to shareholders of record on November 12, 2010, and payable on or about November 24, 2010.

At a meeting held on November 4, 2010, the shareholders of the Company approved an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation to increase the authorized amount of common stock to 100,000,000 shares and the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under its Non-Qualified Stock Option and Stock Grant Plan to 10,000,000 shares.


 
14
 
 

 
ITEM 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation
 
 The following discussion summarizes the results of our operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and compares those results to the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009.  It also analyzes our financial condition at September 30, 2010 and compares it to our financial condition at December 31, 2009.  This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Management’s Discussion and Analysis, including the audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 and footnotes, in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
Overview
 
We are considered an exploration stage company under the SEC criteria since we have not yet demonstrated the existence of proven or probable reserves at our El Aguila Project in Oaxaca, Mexico or any of our properties.  As a result, and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for exploration stage companies, all expenditures for exploration and evaluation of our properties are expensed as incurred.  Furthermore, unless mineralized material is classified as proven or probable reserves, substantially all expenditures for mine and mill construction have been or will be expensed as incurred.  Certain expenditures, such as for rolling stock or other general purpose equipment, may be capitalized, subject to our evaluation of the possible impairment of the asset.   As required by the SEC guidelines, substantially all of our expenditures to date, including construction of the mill, have been expensed and we expect to expense additional construction expenditures during the remainder of 2010  related to the Phase II tailings dam construction and the underground mine development at the La Arista vein system.  Therefore, most of our investment in mining properties and equipment does not appear as an asset on our balance sheet.  Due to the absence of any proven or probable reserves as defined under the SEC guidelines, we expect to remain as an exploration stage company for the foreseeable future, even though we have reached commercial production. 
 
Our accounting treatment as an exploration stage company regarding the classification of construction expenditures as an operating expense rather than as a capital expenditure, has caused us to report large losses during the last two years instead of building assets on the balance sheet.  Although the majority of expenditures for the El Aguila Project were completed during the last two years, we expect underground mine construction and tailings dam construction to continue in future years.  In comparison to other mining companies that capitalize development expenditures because they have exited the exploration stage, we will report larger losses or lesser profits as a result of this ongoing construction which will be expensed instead of capitalized for accounting purposes.

 In accordance with this policy, from inception to September 30, 2010, we expensed approximately $47,607,123 in construction and development costs, all of which apply to the El Aguila Project.

Results of Operations

Commercial Production and Mine Gross Profit.  We commenced commercial production July 1, 2010 at our El Aguila Project, part of our Oaxaca Mining Unit, in Oaxaca, Mexico and completed our first quarter of commercial production during the quarter ending September 30, 2010.  We produced 7,351 ounces of gold during that quarter at a cash cost of $249 per ounce net of by-product credits. (See Non-GAAP Measures below)  The mine had operating earnings (gross profit) of $6,719,100 for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The Project has not yet reached its designed targets as optimization and ramp-up are still underway. For the quarter,  daily mill throughput averaged 638 tonnes/day compared to the 800 tonnes/day we are targeting; mill recovery averaged 81% compared to the 90% we are targeting; and mill head grade averaged 4.8 grams/tonne compared to our targeted 7.3 grams/tonne as we ran lower grade ore in this startup mode.  Also, extensive and unusually heavy rains during this period complicated production.
 
15
 
 

 
However, even with these limitations on our operations, the Project performed well given the circumstances and demonstrated a low cost of operation resulting in a mine gross profit of $6,719,100 for the quarter.  The unit cash cost of production could further decrease if we run a higher ore grade.  We expect improvement of operations in the fourth quarter of 2010 as we anticipate improved mill operation, processing of higher ore grade and better weather conditions.
 
Net Loss.  For the three months ended September 30, 2010, we reported a net loss of $1,182,530, or $0.02 per share, compared to a net loss of $9,625,133 or $0.21 per share for the three months ended September 30, 2009.   For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we reported a net loss of $13,952,959, or $0.28 per share, compared to a net loss of $27,064,082, or $0.65 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.   The net loss per share in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 decreased as a result of generating revenue from sales of our metals concentrate for the first time.

Total costs and expenses during the three months ended September 30, 2010 were $8,220,984, compared to $9,641,354 during the comparable period of 2009, a decrease of $1,420,370, or 17%.  Total costs and expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $20,964,483, compared to $27,089,222 during the comparable period of 2009, a decrease of $6,124,740, or 23%.   The decrease in costs and expenses in each period is primarily due to operations shifting from construction activities to production activities consistent with our plan of commercial production during 2010. However, we expect to incur losses until such time as we begin to reach optimal performance in the production of our metals concentrates and until such time, if ever, as we can exit the exploration stage and capitalize our construction and development expenditures or until our revenue is sufficient to cover all expenses, including construction and development.
 
The following are the results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to three and nine months ended September 30, 2009:
 
   
Three Months 
Ended September 30,
   
Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Sales of metals concentrate
 
$
9,609,326
    $
-
   
$
9,609,326
    $
-
 
Mine cost of sales
   
2,890,226
     
-
     
2,950,878
     
-
 
Mine gross profit
   
6,719,100
     
-
     
6,658,448
     
-
 
General & administrative expenses (1)
   
1,306,127
     
560,793
     
2,960,019
     
1,573,842
 
Exploration expenses
   
1,652,542
     
1,888,828
     
3,966,450
     
3,871,821
 
Construction & development
   
3,741,090
     
7,132,056
     
12,111,226
     
18,889,528
 
Production start up expense, net
   
-
     
-
     
209,082
     
-
 
Stock based compensation (non-cash)
   
1,521,225
     
59,677
     
1,717,705
     
2,754,031
 
Total costs and expenses
   
8,220,984
   
 
9,641,354
     
20,964,482
     
27,089,222
 
Other income
   
6,789
     
-
     
6,789
     
-
 
Currency exchange (loss)
   
(88,956)
     
-
     
(88,956)
     
-
 
Change in fair value of derivative contract
   
358,777
     
-
     
358,777
     
-
 
Interest income
   
42,744
     
16,221
     
76,465
     
25,140
 
     Net (loss)
 
$
(1,182,530
)
 
$
(9,625,133
)
 
$
(13,952,959
)
 
$
(27,064,082
)
 
(1) Stock based compensation expense has been reclassified to a separate line item.
 
             Costs and Expenses.  The property exploration expense component for the three months ended September 30, 2010 decreased $236,286, or 13%, from the comparable period ended September 30, 2009, from $1,888,828 to $1,652,542, as we focused more on production than exploration during the 2010 period.  Exploration costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 increased $94,629 or 2%, from the nine months ended September 30, 2009, from $3,871,821 to $3,966,450.  We currently have two drill rigs on site and we are in the process of adding up to three more rigs to accelerate the exploration of our properties.
 
 
16
 
 

 
 
    The construction and development cost component decreased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, to $3,741,090 and $12,111,226 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, from $7,132,056 and $18,889,528 for the comparable periods in 2009. We have substantially completed engineering and construction of the open pit mine and mill and are shifting our construction emphasis to the underground mine.
 
    General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2010, which includes $1,521,225 of non-cash stock based compensation expense, increased $2,206,882, or 356%, from the same period of 2009.  General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, which includes $1,717,705 of non-cash stock based compensation expense, increased by $349,851, or 8%, from the comparable period of 2009.  General and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 included $59,677 and $2,754,031 of non-cash stock based compensation, respectively.
 
 The cash components of general and administrative expense, including salaries and benefits, professional fees, investor relations, and travel, increased to $927,039 during the three months ended September 30, 2010 from $518,867 during the comparable period in 2009, an increase of $408,172, or 79%.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the same components increased to $1,954,455 from $1,277,343 during the comparable period in 2009, an increase of $677,112, or 53%.  There was an increase in the legal and accounting professional fees attributed to our September 2010 financing transaction, application for listing on the NYSE Amex and annual meeting preparations, travel expenses and salaries and benefits. We anticipate that some of these costs such as the legal and accounting fees will decrease but that travel and salaries and benefits will increase or remain the same now that we have commenced commercial production.  

            Stock option compensation expense (a non-cash expense) increased to $1,521,225 for the three months ended September 30, 2010, from $59,677 in the comparable period of 2009.  We issued no options during the three months ended September 30, 2009.  Conversely, the expense amount decreased to $1,717,705 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from $2,754,031 for the comparable period in 2009, as more options were issued or vested in the 2009 period.  We use the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model to estimate the value of stock options granted to officers, directors, employees and consultants.  We record the estimated fair value of options granted as an expense on a pro-rata basis over the vesting period of the options.

            Interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2010 increased to $42,744 compared to $16,221 for the comparable period of 2009, an increase of $26,523, or 164%, and interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 increased to $76,465 from $25,140 for the comparable period of 2009, an increase of $51,325, or 204%.  The increase in each period represents increased deposits in short term interest bearing accounts for both periods.
 
 Our mining operations are located in Mexico and we primarily transact business in Mexican pesos.  Our reporting currency for financial statement purposes is the U.S. dollar.  Changes in the rate of currency exchange between the Mexican peso and the U.S. dollar therefore create translation gains and losses, which are reported as a component of other comprehensive income in our statements of operations.  For the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, we recorded currency translation gains of $645,695 and $342,569, respectively, as the value of the Mexican peso rose against the U.S. dollar.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, we recorded currency translation gains of $683,308 and $415,535, respectively.
 
17
 
 

 
Non-GAAP Measures

Throughout this report, we have provided information prepared or calculated according to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), as well as some non-GAAP performance measures. Because the non-GAAP performance measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP, they may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. We use cash operating cost per ounce as one indicator for comparative monitoring of our mining operations from period to period and believe that investors also find this information helpful when evaluating our performance.   Accordingly, these measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We have defined the non-GAAP measures below and reconciled them to reported U.S. GAAP measures.

Our cash operating cost is a non-GAAP measure calculated in accordance with the Gold Institute’s standards. The cash operating cost is arrived at by taking our mine cost of sales and adding treatment charges paid to the buyer of the metals concentrate, subtracting by-product credits earned from all metals other than the primary metal produced, and adding back depreciation expense, accretion expense, and royalty payments.

The most comparable financial measures to our cash operating cost calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP are cost of sales. Mine cost of sales are derived from amounts included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Unit costs.  The following  summary of our cash operating costs for the three months ended September 30, 2010 was calculated in accordance with the Gold Institute Production Cost Standard and begins with our mine cost of sales in accordance with U.S. GAAP as noted below:

   
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
 
Gold ounces produced
    7,351  
         
Cost of sales - production costs
  $ 2,890,226  
Treatment charges
    386,457  
By-product credits
    (1,386,717 )
Depreciation costs
    (36,596 )
Accretion costs
    (16,779 )
Other
    (5,459 )
         
Cash operating cost
  $ 1,831,132  
         
    Cash operating cost per ounce
  $ 249  


Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
As of September 30, 2010, we had working capital of $65,055,557, consisting of current assets of $69,298,986 and current liabilities of $4,243,429. This represents an increase of $45,078,591 from the working capital balance of $19,976,966 as of December 31, 2009 and represents cash received from a recent financing, revenue from operations and proceeds from restricted cash, partially offset by cash spent on operations.  Consistent with our plans, our working capital balance fluctuates as we use cash to fund our production, exploration and construction activities and other operating expenses.

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We have historically relied on equity financings to fund our operations.  From inception through September 30, 2010, we received $156,290,517 in cash, services, and other consideration through issuance of our common stock.  As of September 30, 2010, we did not have any outstanding debt.  We believe that we will continue to fund our future working capital requirements through operations and the sale of equity if warranted, and we have not made arrangements to borrow funds for working capital requirements.  However, we may consider debt financing if our working capital needs require and market conditions allow.

Effective September 23, 2010, we completed a equity financing transaction with several institutional investors in which we sold 3,475,000 shares of restricted common stock for a price of $16.00 per share for net proceeds of $51,989,000.  Jefferies & Company, Inc. acted as our placement agent in connection with the transaction.  We believe that the proceeds from this financing, together with revenue from operations, should be sufficient to fund our working capital requirements for the foreseeable future.
 
Our most significant expenditures for the remainder of 2010 are expected to be costs associated with the second phase of our tailings facility, optimization of commercial production at our mill facility, the continued construction of the underground mine and further exploration of our properties.  We also continue to incur operating expenses approximating $300,000 per month for salaries and other overhead expenses at our Colorado executive offices and Oaxaca mining locations.  We expect to continue depleting our working capital until such time as we generate sufficient cash flow from the production and sale of our gold and silver metals concentrate to offset exploration, construction and development expenditures.
 
As we continue production of our gold and silver concentrate, it is uncertain if we will be successful in producing minerals in quantities needed to sustain our entire operations.  Furthermore, the amount of revenue generated during these early stages of a mining operation is difficult to predict and tends to be highly variable.  We have obtained additional capital resources from our recent private placement which we plan to use to sustain our existing plans, expand our mill production efforts, and increase our exploration programs.  Now that we have commenced commercial production, we expect to generate adequate cash flow from our sales of metals concentrate to support our production activities.
 
Net cash used in operating activities was $15,288,823 during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $24,783,998 during the comparable period in 2009, a decrease of $9,495,175. Our use of operating cash during the 2010 period has shifted from construction activities to production activities consistent with our plan to continue commercial production during 2010.

Net cash provided by investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $2,898,667, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $4,510,210 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  Much of the cash provided by our investing activities came from restricted cash, the use of which is specifically designated for exploration, construction and development activities.  Although most of our exploration stage expenditures are recorded as an expense rather than an investment, we capitalize the acquisition cost of land and mineral rights and certain equipment that has alternative future uses or significant salvage value, including rolling stock, furniture, and electronics, and the cost of these capitalized assets is reflected in our investing activities.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we invested in an office building, office furniture and equipment.
 
Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $60,422,388, consisting of net proceeds in the amount of $51,989,000 from our September 2010 private placement as well as proceeds of $11,172,000 from the sale of shares to Hochschild and $231,500 from an individual investor, less dividends paid in the amount of $2,970,112.  This represents an increase of $27,432,388 in cash generated from the financing during the nine months ended September 30, 2009, where financing activities provided cash of $32,990,000 from the sale of shares to Hochschild.
 
 
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The balance of cash and equivalents as of September 30, 2010 increased to $54,861,743 from $6,752,325 as of December 31, 2009, a net increase in cash of $48,109,418.  The increase is the result of our net proceeds received from our September 2010 private placement and in addition, we have started receiving revenue from the sale of our metals concentrates.
 
Other Corporate Matters
 
               During our first quarter of commercial production, we declared and paid special cash dividends of a total of $0.09 per common share in three dividend payments to our shareholders of record as follows:
 
Date Declared
 
Date of Record
 
Date Paid
 
Aggregate
Amounts Paid
 
July 29, 2010
 
August 16, 2010
 
August 26, 2010
  $ 1,484,412  
August 31, 2010
 
September 17, 2010
 
September 29, 2010
  $ 1,485,699  
September 30, 2010
 
October 15, 2010
 
October 27, 2010
  $ 1,589,949  
       
                    Total
  $ 4,560,060  

 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
There have been no material changes in our critical accounting policies since December 31, 2009.
 
Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains or incorporates by reference “forward-looking statements,” as that term is used in federal securities laws, about our financial condition, results of operations and business.  These statements include, among others:

 
·
statements about our future drilling results and plans for development of our properties;
 
 
·
statements concerning the benefits that we expect will result from our business activities and certain transactions that we contemplate or have completed, such as receipt of proceeds, decreased expenses and avoided expenses and expenditures; and

 
·
statements of our expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, exploration activities, anticipated developments and other matters that are not historical facts.

These statements may be made expressly in this document or may be incorporated by reference to other documents that we will file with the SEC.  You can find many of these statements by looking for words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” or similar expressions used in this report or incorporated by reference in this report.

These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied in those statements.  Because the statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied.  We caution you not to put undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date of this report.  Further, the information contained in this document or incorporated herein by reference is a statement of our present intention and is based on present facts and assumptions, and may change at any time and without notice, based on changes in such facts or assumptions.
 
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Risk Factors Impacting Forward-Looking Statements

The important factors that could prevent us from achieving our stated goals and objectives include, but are not limited to, those set forth in other reports we have filed with the SEC and the following:
 
 
·
unexpected changes in business and economic conditions;

 
·
changes in interest rates and currency exchange rates;

 
·
timing and amount of production;

 
·
technological changes in the mining industry;

 
·
our costs;
 
 
·
changes in exploration and overhead costs;

 
·
access and availability of materials, equipment, supplies, labor and supervision, power and water;

 
·
results of current and future exploration activities;

 
·
our ability to secure permits needed to explore our mineral properties;

 
·
results of pending and future feasibility studies;
 
 
·
changes in our business strategy;
 
 
·
interpretation of drill hole results and the geology, grade and continuity of mineralization;
 
 
·
the uncertainty of timing of development expenditures;
 
 
·
commodity price fluctuations;
 
 
·
decisions of foreign countries and banks within those countries;
 
 
·
local and community impacts and issues including criminal activity and violent crimes; and
 
 
·
accidents and labor disputes.
 
We undertake no responsibility or obligation to update publicly these forward-looking statements, but may do so in the future in written or oral statements.  Investors should take note of any future statements made by or on our behalf.
 
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ITEM 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
Our exposure to market risks includes, but is not limited to, the following risks: changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates, changes in interest rates, equity price risks,, and country risk.  We do not use derivative financial instruments as part of an overall strategy to manage market risk; however, we may consider such arrangements in the future as we evaluate our business and financial strategy.
 
Foreign Currency Risk
 
We transact a significant amount of our business in Mexican pesos.  As a result, currency exchange fluctuations may impact our operating costs.  The appreciation of non-US dollar currencies such as the peso against the US dollar increases expenses and the cost of purchasing capital assets in US dollar terms in foreign countries like Mexico, which can adversely impact our operating results and cash flows.  Conversely, a depreciation of non-US dollar currencies usually decreases operating costs and capital asset purchases in US dollar terms in foreign countries.
 
The value of cash and cash equivalents denominated in foreign currencies also fluctuates with changes in currency exchange rates.  Appreciation of non-US dollar currencies results in a foreign currency gain on such investments and a decrease in non-US dollar currencies results in a loss.  We have not utilized market risk sensitive instruments to manage our exposure to foreign currency exchange rates but may in the future actively manage our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk.  We also hold a small portion of our cash reserves in non-US dollar currencies.
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
We have no debt outstanding nor do we have any investment in debt instruments other than highly liquid short-term investments. Accordingly, we consider our interest rate risk exposure to be insignificant at this time.
 
Equity Price Risk
 
We have in the past sought and likely will in the future seek to acquire additional funding by sale of common stock and other equity. Movements in the price of our common stock have been volatile in the past and may also be volatile in the future. As a result, there is a risk that we may not be able to sell our common stock at an acceptable price should the need for new equity funding arise.
 
Commodity Price Risk
 
The profitability of our operations will depend in part upon the market prices of gold and silver. Gold and silver prices fluctuate widely and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control. The level of interest rates, the rate of inflation, the world supply of gold and silver and the stability of exchange rates, among other factors, can all cause significant fluctuations in prices. Such external economic factors are in turn influenced by changes in international investment patterns, monetary systems and political developments.  The price of gold and silver has fluctuated widely in recent years, and future price declines could cause a mineral project to become uneconomic, thereby having a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.  We have not entered into derivative contracts to protect the selling price for gold or silver.  We may in the future more actively manage our exposure through derivative contracts or other commodity price risk management programs, although we have no intention of doing so in the near-term.
 
Our provisional concentrate sales contain an embedded derivative that is required to be separated from the host contract for accounting purposes.  The host contract is the receivable from the sale of the gold and silver concentrates at the prevailing indices’ prices at the time of sale.  The embedded derivative, which does not qualify for hedge accounting, is marked-to-market through earnings each period prior to final settlement.
 
In addition to adversely affecting our mineralized material estimates and our financial condition, declining gold and silver prices could require a reassessment of the feasibility of a particular project.  Even if the project is ultimately determined to be economically viable, the need to conduct such a reassessment may cause delays in the implementation of the project.
 
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Country Risk
 
All of our mineral properties are located in Mexico.  In the past, that country has been subject to political instability, changes and uncertainties which may cause changes to existing government regulations affecting mineral exploration and mining activities.  Civil or political unrest could disrupt our operations at any time.  Our exploration and mining activities may be adversely affected in varying degrees by changing government regulations relating to the mining industry or shifts in political conditions that could increase the costs related to our activities or maintaining our properties.  Finally, Mexico’s status as a developing country may make it more difficult for us to obtain required financing for our properties.

ITEM 4.  Controls and Procedures

(a)           During the fiscal period covered by this report, our management, with the participation of the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of the Company, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). Based on such evaluation, our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods and are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
(b)           There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 
 
 
 
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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 6.  Exhibits
 
 
     
 
     
 

 

 

 
 
 
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SIGNATURES

In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
GOLD RESOURCE CORPORATION
 
       
Dated: November 9, 2010
 
/s/ William W. Reid
 
 
By:
William W. Reid,
 
   
Principal Executive Officer
 
       
 
       
Dated: November 9, 2010
 
/s/ Frank L. Jennings
 
 
By: 
Frank L. Jennings,
 
   
Principal Financial Officer
 
       

 
 
 
 
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EXHIBIT INDEX


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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