McEwen Mining Inc. - Annual Report: 2010 (Form 10-K)

Use these links to rapidly review the document
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Table of Contents

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

FORM 10-K

Commission file number 001-33190

US GOLD CORPORATION
(Name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

         Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

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

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o    No ý

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or 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 ý    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 submit and post such files). Yes o    No o

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not 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-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ý

         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 the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o    No ý

         As of June 30, 2010 (the last business day of the registrant's second fiscal quarter), the aggregate market value of the registrant's voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $482,602,408 based on the closing price of $5.01 per share as reported on the NYSE Amex. There were 135,319,750 shares of common stock outstanding (and 4,166,060 exchangeable shares exchangeable into US Gold Corporation common stock on a one-for-one basis) on March 9, 2011.

         DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:    Portions of the Proxy Statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated into Part III, Items 10 through 14 of this report.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

        Descriptions of agreements or other documents in this report are intended as summaries and are not necessarily complete. Please refer to the agreements or other documents filed or incorporated herein by reference as exhibits. Please see the Exhibit Index at the end of this report for a complete list of those exhibits.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        Please see the note under "ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS," for a description of special factors potentially affecting forward-looking statements included in this report.

1

Table of Contents

CAUTIONARY NOTE TO UNITED STATES INVESTORS

        US Gold Corporation ("US Gold," "we," "us," or the "Company") is required to prepare reports under the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects" ("NI-43-101"), under the Canadian securities laws because we are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") and subject to Canadian securities laws. These standards are different from the standards generally permitted in reports filed with the Securities Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Under NI 43-101, we report measured, indicated and inferred resources, measurements which are generally not permitted in filings made with the SEC. The estimation of measured resources and indicated resources involve greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of measured or indicated resources will ever be converted into economically mineable reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of inferred resources will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Therefore, U.S. investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of inferred resources exist, or that they can be mined legally or economically. Canadian regulations permit the disclosure of resources in terms of "contained ounces" however, the SEC only permits issuers to report "mineralized material" in tonnage and average grade without reference to contained ounces. Under U.S. regulations, the tonnage and average grade described herein would be characterized as mineralized material. We provide such disclosure to allow a means of comparing our projects to those of other companies in the mining industry, many of which are Canadian and report pursuant to NI 43-101, and to comply with applicable disclosure requirements. U.S. investors should be aware that we have no "reserves" as defined by the SEC's Industry Guide 7 ("Guide 7") and are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the potential target mineralized material will ever be confirmed or converted into Guide 7 compliant "reserves".

        We also note that drilling results are not indicative of mineralized material in other areas where we have mining interests. Furthermore, mineralized material identified on our properties does not and may never have demonstrated economic or legal viability.

2

Table of Contents

PART I

ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

History and Organization

        We are a precious metals exploration stage company engaged in the business of acquiring, exploring, and developing mineral properties in North America. We were organized under the laws of the State of Colorado on July 24, 1979 under the name Silver State Mining Corporation. On June 21, 1988, we changed our name to U.S. Gold Corporation and on March 16, 2007, we changed our name to US Gold Corporation. We presently hold an interest in numerous properties in Nevada and Mexico, jurisdictions that have been historically favorable to mining. We are currently in the exploration stage and have not generated revenue from operations since 1990.

        In June 2007, we completed three simultaneous acquisitions, significantly increasing our land position. The assets of these three companies, Nevada Pacific, Tone and White Knight, (the "Acquired Companies"), included a portfolio of properties in Nevada and Mexico. As a result of these acquisitions, we now hold an interest in approximately 254 square miles in the United States (the "U.S."), and approximately 1,525 square miles in Mexico.

Segment Information

        Our operating segments include Nevada and Mexico. See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information relating to our operating segments.

Overview of Business and Properties

        Our objective is to increase the value of our shares through the exploration, development, and extraction of gold, silver and other valuable minerals. We generally conduct our business as sole operator, but we may enter into arrangements with other companies through joint venture or similar agreements in an effort to achieve our strategic objectives. We own or lease our mineral interests and properties, and operate our business through various subsidiary companies, each of which is owned entirely, directly or indirectly, by us.

        We hold an interest in approximately 1,525 square miles of mineral concessions in west central Mexico. Our primary property in Mexico is the El Gallo Project, located in Sinaloa state on the Sierra Madre Trend, a geological area of significant gold and silver mineralization. We acquired the property in 2007 and commenced a regional exploration program in 2008. As a result of this program, we made the El Gallo discovery, which has since become the primary focus of our exploration efforts in Mexico. In 2010, we completed two estimates of mineralized material on the El Gallo Project and in February 2011, we completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment. We intend to complete a feasibility study at the El Gallo Project by late 2011 and hope to move this property toward production. Over the next two years, we estimate we will spend approximately $30 million on exploration at the El Gallo Project, which will mainly consist of drilling, an airborne magnetic survey and further field prospecting work.

        The majority of our Nevada properties, including our interests in the Tonkin Complex and Gold Bar Project, are located along the Cortez Trend, in north central Nevada. We also own property, including our Limo Project, on the southern end of the Carlin Trend. Both the Cortez Trend and Carlin Trend are geological areas of significant gold discoveries. Our Tonkin property produced gold for a limited period of time from shallow deposits from 1988 to 1990. From early 1991 to early 2005, we had a series of joint venture partners that conducted exploration activities at the Tonkin property. In 2005, the last of these joint venture relationships was terminated, returning to us 100% of the Tonkin property. In 2006, we commenced comprehensive exploration of our Tonkin property in an effort to identify additional mineralized material. From 2008 through 2009, we drilled various targets on our Gold Bar and Limo Projects, as well as expanded the quantity of estimated mineralized material at the

3

Table of Contents

Gold Bar Project in updated technical reports. In 2010, we completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Gold Bar Project and we expect to complete a pre-feasibility study on the property during the third quarter of 2011. Over the next two years, we estimate we will spend approximately $20 million on exploration on the Gold Bar Project, Limo Project and at other targets in Nevada.

        Our principal executive office is located at 99 George Street, 3^rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5A 2N4 and our telephone number is (866) 441-0690. We also maintain offices in Elko and Reno, Nevada and in Guamuchil, Mexico. Our website is www.usgold.com. We make available our periodic reports and press releases on our website. Our common stock is listed on the NYSE and on the TSX, in each case under the symbol "UXG."

        In this report, opt represents troy ounces per short ton, gpt represents grams per metric tonne, ft. represents feet, m represents meters, km represents kilometer, and sq. represents square. All of our financial information is reported in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.

Recent Developments

2011 Financing

        In February 2011, we issued 17.25 million shares of common stock, including 2.25 million shares under an over-allotment option exercised by the underwriters, at a price of $6.50 per share (before the underwriters' commissions and expenses) in a public offering pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC and a prospectus filed with Canadian securities regulators. Robert R. McEwen, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, purchased 3.05 million shares in this offering. Gross proceeds from the 17.25 million shares sold in the offering totaled $112.1 million. Proceeds to us, net of commissions and expenses, totaled approximately $105.3 million.

        We intend to use the net proceeds to complete feasibility study work and acquire long lead-time capital items for the El Gallo Project, complete pre-feasibility and feasibility work at the Gold Bar Project, continue with the current extensive exploration programs in Mexico and Nevada and for general corporate purposes.

El Gallo Project

        In July 2010, we completed an initial estimate of the mineralized material at our El Gallo Project located in Sinaloa state, Mexico. The estimate was prepared by Pincock, Allen & Holt ("PAH") of Denver, Colorado, in accordance with NI 43-101. In November 2010, PAH updated the El Gallo Project estimate to approximately 7.5 million tonnes of mineralized material with an average grade of 110.6 gpt for silver and 0.09 gpt for gold using a higher grade milling of ore method and 5.1 million tons of mineralized material with an average grade of 28.5 gpt of silver and 0.03 gpt of gold using a lower grade heap leach recovery method. The updated estimate also included additional estimates on mineralized material from our nearby Magistral Mine and Palmarito Project. At the Magistral Mine, approximately 10.4 million tonnes of mineralized material with a grade of 1.50 gpt of gold was estimated and at the Palmarito Project, approximately 3.7 million tonnes of mineralized material with an average grade of 71 gpt of silver and 0.14 gpt of gold was estimated.

        PAH also completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment (the "El Gallo PEA") for the El Gallo Project in February 2011. The El Gallo PEA focused on a development plan involving surface mining from various locations and having the ore processed at a central facility, with an estimated total mill capacity of 6,000 tons per day. Lower grade ore would be processed at approximately 3,250 tons per day by crushing and heap leaching. The El Gallo PEA estimated average mine production of 5.0 million ounces of silver and 50,245 ounces of gold annually during a six year mine life. Based on an assumed gold price of $1,000 per ounce, the estimated cash cost net of by-product credit is $5.90 per silver ounce. Based on an assumed gold price of $1,350 per ounce, the estimated cash cost would fall to

4

Table of Contents

$2.44 per silver ounce. At an assumed silver price of $18.00 per ounce and a gold price of $1,000 per ounce, the El Gallo PEA calculates a pre-tax discounted (5%) net present value of $155 million, giving a pre-tax internal rate of return of 27%. These numbers increase to $521 million and 65% based on an assumed silver price of $28.50 per ounce and an assumed gold price of $1,350 per ounce. The total capital expenditures to construct the mine are estimated at $149.2 million.

Gold Bar Project

        In March 2010, we estimated the total mineralized material present at our Gold Bar Project, located in the south of the Cortez Trend in Eureka County, Nevada, was 33.3 million tons with an average grade of 0.027 opt of gold. The estimate for the Gold Bar Project was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 by Telesto Nevada Inc. ("Telesto") of Nevada.

        In April 2010, Telesto completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Gold Bar Project (the "Gold Bar PEA"). The Gold Bar PEA anticipated an open pit mining operation and conventional heap leach processing. Estimated mine production would be approximately 57,000 oz of gold annually at an estimated cash cost of approximately $557 per ounce during a six year mine life. At an assumed gold price of $1,150 per ounce, the Gold Bar PEA calculates a pre-tax discounted (6%) net present value of $105 million, giving a pre-tax internal rate of return of 60%. Total capital expenditures to construct and commission the mine are estimated at under $50 million.

        Between May and November 2010, we completed 43 exploration holes east and west of the existing exploration holes designed to expand the mineralization area already known. The most positive results from the drilling included: 0.133 opt gold over 90 feet; 0.033 opt gold over 240 feet including 0.066 opt gold over 65 feet; 0.058 opt gold over 120 feet; and 0.052 opt gold over 125 feet. Mineralization defined by these intercepts and others is not part of the current estimate, but will be included in the pre-feasibility study expected to be completed later in 2011.

Limo Project

        In December 2010 and January 2011, exploration drilling at the Limo Project located in east-central Nevada delivered encouraging results. Between July and November 2010, we completed 27 exploration holes designed to test for new mineralized areas at our Limo Project. Mineralization was discovered in two areas called Cadillac and Continental. The most positive results at Cadillac were 0.043 opt gold over 160 feet; 0.034 opt gold over 125 feet; 0.038 opt gold over 310 feet, including 0.144 opt gold over 15 feet. The most positive results at Continental were 24.9 opt silver and 0.052 opt gold over 21.1 feet; 16.4 opt silver and 0.047 opt gold over 15.5 feet; and 33.7 opt silver over 0.031 opt gold over 4.6 feet.

Tonkin Complex

        We hold mineral interests in various parts of the Tonkin Complex located on the Cortez Trend in Nevada. We held a leasehold interest in 478 claims covering an area of the Tonkin Complex known as Tonkin North and Cornerstone. On January 1, 2011, our leasehold interest in those claims expired. On February 10, 2011, we entered into a binding letter of intent with the owners of those claims for the purchase of those claims. Pursuant to the letter of intent, we have agreed to pay an aggregate of CDN$8.4 million for the claims and grant them a 2% net smelter return royalty interest on any gold produced from the claims in excess of 682,000 ounces of gold. The parties have not yet negotiated and entered into definitive documentation for the transaction. If the transaction is consummated, we will use cash on hand to pay the purchase price for the claims. If we do not consummate the transaction to purchase the claims covering Tonkin North, our total interest in the Tonkin Complex will be reduced, and, as a result, we estimate that our interest in the previously announced mineralized material identified at the Tonkin Complex will be reduced by approximately 38%. If the transaction is not

5

Table of Contents

consummated, we will file amended technical reports under NI 43-101 on the Tonkin Complex to reflect our reduced interests in the Tonkin Complex. For additional information on all of our properties, please see Item 2. Properties.

Competitive Business Conditions

        We compete with many companies in the mining industry, including large, established mining companies with substantial capabilities, personnel, and financial resources. There is a limited supply of desirable mineral lands available for claim-staking, lease, or acquisition in the U.S., Mexico, and other areas where we may conduct exploration activities. We may be at a competitive disadvantage in acquiring mineral properties, since we compete with these individuals and companies, many of which have greater financial resources and larger technical staffs than we do. From time to time, specific properties or areas which would otherwise be attractive to us for exploration or acquisition may be unavailable due to their previous acquisition by other companies or our lack of financial resources.

        Competition in the industry is not limited to the acquisition of mineral properties, but also extends to the technical expertise to find, advance, and operate such properties; the labor to operate the properties; and the capital for the purpose of funding such exploration and development. Many competitors not only explore for and mine precious metals, but conduct refining and marketing operations on a world-wide basis. Such competition may result in our company being unable not only to acquire desired properties, but to recruit or retain qualified employees or to acquire the capital necessary to fund our operation and advance our properties. Our inability to compete with other companies for these resources would have a material adverse effect on our results of operation, financial condition and cash flows.

General Government Regulations

United States

        Mining in the State of Nevada is subject to federal, state and local law. Three types of laws are of particular importance to our U.S. mineral properties: those affecting land ownership and mining rights; those regulating mining operations; and those dealing with the environment.

        Land Ownership and Mining Rights.    The Tonkin Springs property is situated on lands owned by the United States (Federal Lands). On Federal Lands, mining rights are governed by the General Mining Law of 1872 (General Mining Law) as amended, 30 U.S.C. §§ 21-161 (various sections), which allows the location of mining claims on certain Federal Lands upon the discovery of a valuable mineral deposit and proper compliance with claim location requirements. A valid mining claim provides the holder with the right to conduct mining operations for the removal of locatable minerals, subject to compliance with the General Mining Law and Nevada state law governing the staking and registration of mining claims, as well as compliance with various federal, state and local operating and environmental laws, regulations and ordinances. As the owner or lessee of the unpatented mining claims, we have the right to conduct mining operations on the lands subject to the prior procurement of required operating permits and approvals, compliance with the terms and conditions of any applicable mining lease, and compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and ordinances.

        Mining Operations.    The exploration of mining properties and development and operation of mines is governed by both federal and state laws. The Tonkin Springs property is administered by the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, which we refer to as the BLM. In general, the federal laws that govern mining claim location and maintenance and mining operations on Federal Lands, including the Tonkin Springs property, are administered by the BLM. Additional federal laws, such as those governing the purchase, transport or storage of explosives, and those governing mine safety and health, also apply.

6

Table of Contents

        The State of Nevada likewise requires various permits and approvals before mining operations can begin, although the state and federal regulatory agencies usually cooperate to minimize duplication of permitting efforts. Among other things, a detailed reclamation plan must be prepared and approved, with bonding in the amount of projected reclamation costs. The bond is used to ensure that proper reclamation takes place, and the bond will not be released until this is completed. The Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, which we refer to as the NDEP, is the state agency that administers the reclamation permits, mine permits and related closure plans on our Nevada property. Local jurisdictions (such as Eureka County) may also impose permitting requirements (such as conditional use permits or zoning approvals).

        Environmental Law:    The development, operation, closure, and reclamation of mining projects in the United States requires numerous notifications, permits, authorizations, and public agency decisions. Compliance with environmental and related laws and regulations requires us to obtain permits issued by regulatory agencies, and to file various reports and keep records of our operations. Certain of these permits require periodic renewal or review of their conditions and may be subject to a public review process during which opposition to our proposed operations may be encountered. We are currently operating under various permits for activities connected to mineral exploration, reclamation, and environmental considerations. Unless and until a mineral resource is proved, it is unlikely our operations will move beyond the exploration stage. If in the future we decide to proceed beyond exploration, there will be numerous notifications, permit applications, and other decisions to be addressed at that time.

Mexico

Mining Regulations

        Exploration and exploitation of minerals in Mexico may be carried out through Mexican companies incorporated under Mexican law by means of obtaining mining concessions. Mining concessions are granted by the Mexican government for a period of fifty years from the date of their recording in the Public Registry of Mining and are renewable for a further period of fifty years upon application within five years of the expiration of such concession in accordance with the Mining Law and its Regulations. Failure to do so prior to expiration of the term of the exploration concession will result in termination of the concession.

        Mining concessions are subject to annual work requirements and payment of annual surface taxes which are assessed and levied on a semi-annual basis. Such concessions may be transferred or assigned by their holders, but such transfers or assignments must be registered with the Public Registry of Mining in order to be valid against third parties.

        The holder of a concession must pay semi-annual duties in January and July of each year on a per hectare basis and in accordance with the amounts provided by the Federal Fees Law.

        During the month of May of each year, the concessionaire must file with the General Bureau of Mines, the work assessment reports made on each concession or group of concessions for the preceding calendar year. The Regulations of the Mining Law provides tables containing the minimum investment amounts that must be made on a concession. This amount is updated annually in accordance with the variation of the Consumer Price Index.

        Mexican mining law does not require payment of finder's fees or royalties to the government, except for a discovery premium in connection with national mineral reserves, concessions and claims or allotments contracted directly from the Mexican Geological Survey. Recently awarded claims in Nayarit are subject to the discovery premium as they were part of the national mineral reserves. No mineralized material currently exists on these claims.

7

Table of Contents

        The PRI, which is the main opposition party in Mexico, with the support of other opposition parties, has introduced in the Chamber of Deputies a 4% mining royalty on production. The opposition parties collectively have a majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, with the governing PAN a minority. The opposition numbers are sufficient (over ²/3) to override a Presidential veto in the Chamber but not in the Senate. To date, the Government has been silent on the royalty proposal.

        There are no limitations on the total amount of surface a company may have under control covered by mining concessions.

Environmental Law

        The Environmental Law in Mexico called the General Law of Ecological Balance and Protection to the Environment ("General Law"), provides for general environmental policies, with specific requirements for certain activities such as exploration set forth in regulations called "Mexican official norms". Responsibility for enforcement of the General Law, the regulations and the Mexican official norms is with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, which regulate all environmental matters with the assistance of Procuraduría Federal de Proteccion al Ambiente ("PROFEPA").

        The primary laws and regulations used by the State of Sinaloa in order to govern environmental protection for mining and exploration are: the General Law, Forestry Law, Residues Law, as well as their specific regulations on air, water and residues, and the Mexican official norms ("NOM-120"). In order to comply with the environmental regulations, a concessionaire must obtain a series of permits during the exploitation and exploration stage. The time required to obtain the required permits is dependent on a number of factors including the type of vegetation and trees impacted by proposed activities.

Employees

        As of March 9, 2011, we had 184 employees including 10 employees based in the U.S., 11 in Canada and 163 in Mexico. All of our employees based in Canada work in an executive or administrative position, while our employees in the U.S. and Mexico include geologists, environmentalists, information technologists, and office administrators. Some of our employees in Mexico are covered by union labor contracts and the Company believes we have good relations with our employees. We also engage independent contractors in connection with the exploration of our properties, such as drillers, geophysicists, geologists, and other technical disciplines.

8

Table of Contents

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS

        This report, including Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contains forward-looking statements that may be affected by several risk factors. The following information summarizes all material risks known to us as of the date of filing this report:

Risks Relating to Our Company

        We have incurred substantial losses since our inception in 1979 and may never be profitable.    Since our inception in 1979, we have never been profitable and we have not generated revenue from operations since 1990. As of December 31, 2010, our accumulated deficit was approximately $331 million (including a non-cash expense of approximately $52 million related to derivative instrument accounting in the year ended December 31, 2006, a non-cash expense of approximately $107 million related to impairment of the Company's goodwill, all of which was related to the Acquired Companies, in the year ended December 31, 2008, a non-cash expense of approximately $17 million related to the write-off of long-lived assets in the year ended December 31, 2009, and a non-cash expense of approximately $6 million related to the write-off of long-lived assets in the year ended December 31, 2010). To become profitable, we must identify additional mineralization and establish economic reserves on our properties, and then either develop our properties or locate and enter into agreements with third party operators. It could be years before we receive any revenues from production, if ever. We may suffer significant additional losses in the future and may never be profitable. We do not expect to receive revenue from operations in the foreseeable future, if at all. Even if we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. We expect to incur losses unless and until such time as one or more of our properties enter into commercial production and generate sufficient revenue to fund our continuing operations.

        The feasibility of mining any of our properties has not been established, meaning that we have not completed sufficient exploration or other work necessary to determine if it is commercially feasible to develop any of our properties.    We are currently an exploration stage company. We have no proven or probable reserves on our properties as defined by U.S. law. A "reserve," as defined by regulation of the SEC, is that part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. A reserve requires a feasibility study demonstrating with reasonable certainty that the deposit can be economically extracted and produced. We have not carried out any feasibility study with regard to any of our properties. As a result, we currently have no reserves and there are no assurances that we will be able to prove that there are reserves on our properties.

        The mineralized material identified on our properties does not and may never demonstrate economic viability. Substantial expenditures are required to establish reserves through drilling and additional study and there is no assurance that reserves will be established. The feasibility of mining on our El Gallo Project, Gold Bar Project, or any other property has not been, and may never be, established. Whether a mineral deposit can be commercially viable depends upon a number of factors, including the particular attributes of the deposit, including size, grade and proximity to infrastructure; metal prices, which can be highly variable; and government regulations, including environmental and reclamation obligations. If we are unable to establish some or all of our mineralized material as proven or probable reserves in sufficient quantities to justify commercial operations, we may not be able to raise sufficient capital to develop a mine, even if one is warranted. If we are unable to establish such reserves, the market value of our securities may suffer, and you may lose some or all of your investment.

        We note that we are required to prepare and file with the Canadian securities regulators estimates of mineralized material in accordance with NI 43-101. These standards are substantially different from the standards generally permitted to report reserve and other estimates in reports and other materials filed with the SEC. Under NI 43-101, we report measured, indicated and inferred resources,

9

Table of Contents

measurements which are generally not permitted in filings made with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of measured or indicated resources reporting in our Canadian filings will ever be converted into reserves.

        The figures for our estimated mineralized material are based on interpretation and assumptions and may yield less mineral production under actual conditions than is currently estimated.    Unless otherwise indicated, mineralization figures presented in our filings with securities regulatory authorities including the SEC, press releases and other public statements that may be made from time to time are based upon estimates made by independent geologists and our internal geologists. When making determinations about whether to advance any of our projects to development, we must rely upon such estimated calculations as to the mineralized material and grades of mineralization on our properties. Until ore is actually mined and processed, mineralized material and grades of mineralization must be considered as estimates only.

        These estimates are imprecise and depend upon geological interpretation and statistical inferences drawn from drilling and sampling analysis, which may prove to be unreliable. We cannot assure you that:

•

these estimates will be accurate;



•

mineralization estimates will be accurate; or



•

this mineralization can be mined or processed profitably.

        Any material changes in mineral estimates and grades of mineralization will affect the economic viability of placing a property into production and such property's return on capital. There can be no assurance that minerals recovered in small scale tests will be recovered in large-scale tests under on-site conditions or in production scale.

        The estimates contained in our public filings have been determined and valued based on assumed future prices, cut-off grades and operating costs that may prove to be inaccurate. Extended declines in market prices for gold and/or silver may render portions of our mineralization estimates uneconomic and result in reduced reported mineralization or adversely affect the commercial viability of one or more of our properties. Any material reductions in estimates of mineralization, or of our ability to extract this mineralization, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

        Our estimated timetables to achieve production at the El Gallo Project and the Gold Bar Project may not be accurate.    Based on technical work recently completed, including Preliminary Economic Assessments at the El Gallo Project and the Gold Bar Project, we believe we can achieve production in 2014. However, the Preliminary Economic Assessments we have prepared for the El Gallo Project and the Gold Bar Project are preliminary in nature and are subject to change due to factors within and outside of our control. We have not carried out a feasibility study with regard to these or any of our properties and the feasibility of mining at these properties may never be established. There is no certainty that the preliminary assessment and economics estimated in the El Gallo Project and Gold Bar Project Preliminary Economic Assessments will be realized or that we will be able to begin production in 2014 or at all.

        If we decide to put one or more of our properties into production, we will require significant amounts of capital, and our ability to obtain this necessary funding will depend on a number of factors, including the status of the national and worldwide economy and the price of gold, silver and other precious metals. Fluctuations in production costs, material changes in the mineral estimates and grades of mineralization or changes in the political conditions or regulations in Mexico or Nevada may make placing these properties into production uneconomic. Further, we may also be unable to obtain the necessary permits in a timely manner, on reasonable terms or on terms that provide us sufficient

10

Table of Contents

resources to develop our properties. These and other factors may cause us to delay production at the El Gallo Project and the Gold Bar Project beyond 2014, if at all.

        Historical production of gold at our Tonkin Complex or Magistral Mine may not be indicative of the potential for future development or revenue.    Historical production of gold from our Tonkin Complex came from relatively shallow deposits, in very limited quantities and for a very limited period of time. We commenced exploration of deeper zones of our Tonkin property in 2006 in an effort to identify additional mineralized material, and have identified priority exploration drilling targets on our Tonkin Complex, Gold Bar Project and Limo Project in Nevada. In Mexico, the Magistral Mine produced gold from 2002 through 2005, but it was shut down in 2006 and is currently held by us on a care and maintenance basis. The Magistral Mine is now considered a part of our El Gallo Project. However, due to uncertainties associated with exploration, including variations in geology and structure, there is no assurance that our efforts will be successful or that prior drilling results are reflective of additional or economically developable deposits. Investors in our securities should not rely on our historical operations as an indication that we will ever place any of our mining properties into commercial production again.

        We will require significant additional capital to continue our exploration activities, and, if warranted, to develop mining operations.    Substantial expenditures will be required to determine if proven and probable mineral reserves exist at any of our properties, to develop metallurgical processes to extract metal, to develop the mining and processing facilities and infrastructure at any of our properties or mine sites and, in certain circumstances, to acquire additional property rights. We have spent and will be required to continue to expend significant amounts of capital for drilling, geological and geochemical analysis, assaying, and, when warranted, feasibility studies with regard to the results of our exploration. We may not benefit from these investments if we are unable to identify commercially exploitable mineralized material. If we decide to put one or more of our properties into production, we will require significant amounts of capital to develop and construct the mining and processing facilities and infrastructure required for mining operations. Our ability to obtain necessary funding for these purposes, in turn, depends upon a number of factors, including the status of the national and worldwide economy and the price of gold, silver and other precious metals. We may not be successful in obtaining the required financing, or if we can obtain such financing, such financing may not be on terms that are favorable to us. Failure to obtain such additional financing could result in delay or indefinite postponement of further exploration or development and the possible, partial or total loss of our potential interest in certain properties. Any such delay could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

        We may acquire additional exploration stage properties and we may face negative reactions if reserves are not located on acquired properties.    We may acquire additional exploration stage properties. There can be no assurance that we will be able to identify and complete the acquisition of such properties at reasonable prices or on favorable terms and that reserves will be identified on any properties that we acquire. We may also experience negative reactions from the financial markets if we are unable to successfully complete acquisitions of additional properties or if reserves are not located on acquired properties. These factors may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock or our financial condition or results of operations.

        Our industry is highly competitive, attractive mineral lands are scarce, and we may not be able to obtain quality properties.    We compete with many companies in the mining industry, including large, established mining companies with substantial capabilities, personnel and financial resources. There is a limited supply of desirable mineral lands available for claim staking, lease or acquisition in the U.S., Mexico, and other areas where we may conduct exploration activities. We may be at a competitive disadvantage in acquiring mineral properties, since we compete with these individuals and companies, many of which have greater financial resources and larger technical staffs than we do. Competition in the industry is not limited to the acquisition of mineral properties but also extends to the technical

11

Table of Contents

expertise to find, advance, and operate such properties; the labor to operate the properties; and the capital for the purpose of funding such properties. Many competitors not only explore for and mine precious metals, but conduct refining and marketing operations on a world-wide basis. Such competition may result in our company being unable not only to acquire desired properties, but to recruit or retain qualified employees or to acquire the capital necessary to fund our operation and advance our properties. Our inability to compete with other companies for these resources would have a material adverse effect on our results of operation, financial condition and cash flows.

        Fluctuating gold and silver prices could negatively impact our business.    The potential for profitability of our gold and silver mining operations and the value of our mining properties are directly related to the market price of gold and silver. The price of gold and silver may also have a significant influence on the market price of our common stock. The market price of gold and silver historically has fluctuated significantly and is affected by numerous factors beyond the control. These factors include supply and demand fundamentals, expectations with respect to the rate of inflation, the relative strength of the U.S. dollar and other currencies, interest rates, gold and silver sales and loans by central banks, forward sales by metal producers, accumulation and divestiture by exchange traded funds, global or regional political, economic or banking crises, and a number of other factors. The market price of silver is also affected by industrial demand. The selection of a property for exploration or development, the determination to construct a mine and place it into production, and the dedication of funds necessary to achieve such purposes are decisions that must be made long before the first revenues, if any, from production will be received. Price fluctuations between the time that such decisions are made and the commencement of production can have a material adverse effect on the economics of a mine.

        The volatility in gold and silver prices is illustrated by the following table, which sets forth, for the periods indicated (calendar year), the average annual market prices in U.S. dollars per ounce of gold and silver, based on the daily London P.M. fix.

Average Annual Market Price of Gold and Silver (per oz.)

        The volatility of mineral prices represents a substantial risk which no amount of planning or technical expertise can fully eliminate. In the event gold and silver prices decline and remain low for prolonged periods of time, we might be unable to develop our properties, which may adversely affect our results of operations, financial performance and cash flows.

        Title to mineral properties can be uncertain, and we are at risk of loss of ownership of one or more of our properties.    Our ability to explore and operate our properties depends on the validity of our title to that property. Our U.S. mineral properties consist of leases of unpatented mining claims, as well as unpatented mining and millsite claims which we control directly. Unpatented mining claims provide only possessory title and their validity is often subject to contest by third parties or the federal government, which makes the validity of unpatented mining claims uncertain and generally more risky. These uncertainties relate to such things as the sufficiency of mineral discovery, proper posting and marking of boundaries, assessment work and possible conflicts with other claims not determinable from public record. Since a substantial portion of all mineral exploration, development and mining in the United States now occurs on unpatented mining claims, this uncertainty is inherent in the mining industry. We have not obtained title opinions covering our entire property, with the attendant risk that title to some claims, particularly title to undeveloped property, may be defective. There may be valid challenges to the title to our property which, if successful, could impair development and/or operations.

12

Table of Contents

        We remain at risk in that the mining claims may be forfeited either to the United States, or to rival private claimants due to failure to comply with statutory requirements as to location and maintenance of the claims or challenges to whether a discovery of a valuable mineral exists on every claim.

        We have entered into a binding letter of intent to acquire a significant portion of the lode claims comprising our total interests at the Tonkin Complex that we previously leased pursuant to a lease that expired in January 2011. If we are not successful in acquiring the lode claims, our interests at the Tonkin Complex will be significantly reduced.    We leased a total of 478 of our mining claims at the Tonkin Complex (Tonkin North and Cornerstone). Pursuant to the terms of the lease, the lease expired on January 1, 2011. We have entered into a binding letter of intent to acquire the claims that were subject to the lease. If we are not successful in acquiring the claims that were subject to the lease, we will lose our mineral rights associated with those claims and our interest in the Tonkin Complex will be significantly reduced. For example, if we are unable to acquire the claims, we estimate that our interest in the mineralized material that has been identified at the Tonkin Complex will be reduced by approximately 38%. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in acquiring the claims.

        Our continuing reclamation obligations at the Tonkin Complex, Magistral Mine and our other properties could require significant additional expenditures.    We are responsible for the reclamation obligations related to disturbances located on all of our properties, including the Tonkin Complex. We have posted a bond in the amount of the estimated reclamation obligation at the Tonkin Complex. We submitted a mine closure plan to the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") for the Tonkin Complex during the fourth quarter of 2010. Based on our estimate, the change in our bonding requirements was insignificant. Our closure plan is currently under review by the BLM. We have not posted a bond in Mexico relating to the Magistral Mine, as none is required. There is a risk that any cash bond, even if increased based on the analysis and work performed to update the reclamation obligations, could be inadequate to cover the actual costs of reclamation when carried out. The satisfaction of bonding requirements and continuing reclamation obligations will require a significant amount of capital. There is a risk that we will be unable to fund these additional bonding requirements, and further, that the regulatory authorities may increase reclamation and bonding requirements to such a degree that it would not be commercially reasonable to continue exploration activities, which may adversely affect our results of operations, financial performance and cash flows.

        Our ongoing operations and past mining activities are subject to environmental risks, which could expose us to significant liability and delay, suspension or termination of our operations.    All phases of our operations are subject to U.S. and Mexican federal, state and local environmental regulation. These regulations mandate, among other things, the maintenance of air and water quality standards and land reclamation. They also set forth limitations on the generation, transportation, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous waste. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner which will require stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects, and a heightened degree of responsibility for us and our officers, directors and employees. Future changes in environmental regulation, if any, may adversely affect our operations, make our operations prohibitively expensive, or prohibit them altogether. Environmental hazards may exist on our properties that are unknown to us at the present and that have been caused by us, or previous owners or operators, or that may have occurred naturally. Mining properties from the companies we have acquired may cause us to be liable for remediating any damage that those companies may have caused. The liability could include response costs for removing or remediating the release and damage to natural resources, including ground water, as well as the payment of fines and penalties.

        We have transferred our interest in several mining properties over past years, some of which are now being operated by third parties. Under applicable U.S. federal and state environmental laws, as prior owner of these properties, we may be liable for remediating any damage that we may have

13

Table of Contents

caused. The liability could include response costs for removing or remediating the release and damage to natural resources, including ground water, as well as the payment of fines and penalties.

        Failure to comply with applicable environmental laws, regulations and permitting requirements may result in enforcement actions thereunder, including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities, causing operations to cease or be curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures, installation of additional equipment, or remedial actions.

        Our operations are subject to permitting requirements which could require us to delay, suspend or terminate our operations on our mining properties.    Our operations, including ongoing exploration drilling programs, require permits from the state and federal governments, including permits for the use of water and for drilling wells for water. We may be unable to obtain these permits in a timely manner, on reasonable terms or on terms that provide us sufficient resources to develop our properties, or at all. Even if we are able to obtain such permits, the time required by the permitting process can be significant. If we cannot obtain or maintain the necessary permits, or if there is a delay in receiving these permits, our timetable and business plan for exploration of our properties will be adversely affected, which may in turn adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

        Legislation has been proposed that would significantly affect the mining industry.    Periodically, members of the U.S. Congress have introduced bills which would supplant or alter the provisions of the General Mining Law of 1872, which governs the unpatented claims that we control with respect to our U.S. properties. One such amendment has become law and has imposed a moratorium on the patenting of mining claims, which reduced the security of title provided by unpatented claims such as those on our U.S. properties. If additional legislation is enacted, it could substantially increase the cost of holding unpatented mining claims by requiring payment of royalties, and could significantly impair our ability to develop mineral estimates on unpatented mining claims. Such bills have proposed, among other things, to make permanent the patent moratorium, to impose a federal royalty on production from unpatented mining claims and to declare certain lands as unsuitable for mining. Although it is impossible to predict at this time what royalties may be imposed in the future, the imposition of such royalties could adversely affect the potential for development of such mining claims, and the economics of existing operating mines on federal unpatented mining claims. Passage of such legislation could adversely affect our business.

        In March 2010, the State of Nevada enacted Assembly Bill No. 6 ("AB6") which sought to balance the state budget by reducing expenditures and increasing certain fees. Among those fee increases was a one-time fee payable in conjunction with the annual filing of an affidavit of the intent to hold a mining claim, with a tiered fee structure applied for holders of 11 or more claims. The fee ranges from $70 per claim for holders of 11 to 199 claims up to $195 per mining claim for holders of 1,300 or more claims as of the date of filing. We filed our annual affidavits of our intent to hold a mining claim on November 1, 2010 and based on the number of claims held by our subsidiaries at that time, we estimate we will have to pay approximately $0.7 million due to this fee on or before June 1, 2011. We remain at risk that Nevada may impose additional fees or other levies affecting the mining industry in the future.

        In Mexico, the PRI, which is the main opposition political party, with the support of other opposition parties, has introduced in the Chamber of Deputies a 4% mining royalty on production. The opposition parties collectively have a majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, with the governing PAN party a minority. The opposition numbers are sufficient (over ²/3) to override a Presidential veto in the Chamber but not in the Senate. To date, the Government has been silent on the royalty proposal.

14

Table of Contents

        Our operations in Mexico are subject to changes in political conditions, regulations and crime in that country.    Our El Gallo Project, the Magistral Mine and the Palmarito Project as well as certain other concessions, are located in Mexico and are subject to laws and regulations applied by Mexican federal, state, and local governments. As a result, our mining investments are subject to the risks normally associated with the conduct of business in foreign countries. In the past, Mexico 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 or violence could disrupt our operations at any time. In 2010 and 2011, there has been an increase in the level of violence and crime relating to drug cartels in Sinaloa State, where we operate, and in other regions of Mexico. This may disrupt our ability to carry out exploration and mining activities and affect the safety and security of our employees and contractors. 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.

        Our lack of operating experience may cause us difficulty in managing our growth.    We are currently in the exploration stage and our management has limited experience in developing and operating a mine. We are currently working towards developing our El Gallo Project in Mexico and our Gold Bar Project in Nevada. Our ability to manage our growth, if any, will require us to improve and expand our management and our operational and financial systems and controls. If our management is unable to manage growth effectively, our business and financial condition would be materially harmed. In addition, if rapid growth occurs, it may strain our operational, managerial and financial resources.

        We are subject to litigation risks.    All industries, including the mining industry, are subject to legal claims, with and without merit. Defense and settlement costs can be substantial, even with respect to claims that have no merit. Due to the inherent uncertainty of the litigation process, the resolution of any particular legal proceeding could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.

         The nature of mineral exploration and production activities involves a high degree of risk and the possibility of uninsured losses that could materially and adversely affect our operations.

        Exploration for minerals is highly speculative and involves greater risk than many other businesses. Many exploration programs do not result in the discovery of mineralization, and any mineralization discovered may not be of sufficient quantity or quality to be profitably mined. Few properties that are explored are ultimately advanced to production. Our current exploration efforts are, and any future development or mining operations we may elect to conduct will be, subject to all of the operating hazards and risks normally incident to exploring for and developing mineral properties, such as, but not limited to:

•

economically insufficient mineralized material;



•

fluctuations in production costs that may make mining uneconomical;



•

availability of labor, power, transportation and infrastructure;



•

labor disputes;



•

potential delays related to social and community issues;



•

unanticipated variations in grade and other geologic problems;



•

environmental hazards;



•

water conditions;



•

difficult surface or underground conditions;

15

Table of Contents

•

industrial accidents;



•

metallurgical and other processing problems;



•

mechanical and equipment performance problems;



•

failure of pit walls or dams;



•

unusual or unexpected rock formations;



•

personal injury, fire, flooding, cave-ins and landslides;



•

decrease in reserves due to a lower silver price; and



•

decrease in reserves due to a lower gold price.

        Any of these risks can materially and adversely affect, among other things, the development of properties, production quantities and rates, costs and expenditures, potential revenues and production dates. We currently have no insurance to guard against any of these risks. If we determine that capitalized costs associated with any of our mineral interests are not likely to be recovered, we would incur a writedown of our investment in these interests. All of these factors may result in losses in relation to amounts spent which are not recoverable.

        We do not insure against all risks to which we may be subject in our planned operations.    While we currently maintain insurance to insure against general commercial liability claims and physical assets at the Tonkin Complex, we do not maintain insurance to cover all of the potential risks associated with our operations. Certain of our exploration projects such as Gold Bar and Limo have no existing infrastructure for which we insure, and we do not insure our limited physical assets at the Magistral Mine. For example, we do not have insurance on the mine assets associated with the Magistral Mine and we do not have business interruption insurance. We may also be unable to obtain insurance to cover other risks at economically feasible premiums or at all. Insurance coverage may not continue to be available, or may not be adequate to cover liabilities. We might also become subject to liability for environmental, pollution or other hazards associated with mineral exploration and production which may not be insured against, which may exceed the limits of our insurance coverage or which we may elect not to insure against because of premium costs or other reasons. Losses from these events may cause us to incur significant costs that could materially adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to fund activities on our property. A significant loss could force us to reduce or terminate our operations.

        We depend on a limited number of personnel and the loss of any of these individuals could adversely affect our business.    Our company is dependent on key management, namely our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, our Senior Vice President and Vice President, Projects. Robert R. McEwen, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for strategic direction and the oversight of our business. Perry Y. Ing, our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for our public reporting and administrative functions. Our Senior Vice President, Ian Ball, and Vice President, Projects, Stefan Spears, oversee corporate or project development in Mexico and Nevada, respectively. We rely heavily on these individuals for the conduct of our business. The loss of any of these officers would significantly and adversely affect our business. In that event, we would be forced to identify and retain an individual to replace the departed officer. We may not be able to replace one or more of these individuals on terms acceptable to us. We have no life insurance on the life of any officer.

        Some of our directors may have conflicts of interest as a result of their involvement with other natural resource companies.    Some of our directors are directors or officers of other natural resource or mining-related companies, or may be involved in related pursuits that could present conflicts of interest with their roles at US Gold. These associations may give rise to conflicts of interest from time to time.

16

Table of Contents

In the event that any such conflict of interest arises, a director who has such a conflict is required to disclose the conflict to a meeting of the directors of the company in question and to abstain from voting for or against approval of any matter in which such director may have a conflict. In appropriate cases, we will establish a special committee of independent directors to review a matter in which several directors, or management, may have a conflict.

        We are subject to foreign currency risk.    While we transact most of our business in U.S. dollars, some expenses, such as labor, operating supplies and capital assets are denominated in Canadian dollars or Mexican pesos. As a result, currency exchange fluctuations may impact our operating costs. The appreciation of non-U.S. dollar currencies against the U.S. dollar increases costs and the cost of purchasing capital assets in U.S. dollar terms in Canada and Mexico, which can adversely impact our operating results and cash flows. Conversely, a depreciation of non-U.S. dollar currencies usually decreases operating costs and capital asset purchases in U.S. 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-U.S. dollar currencies results in a foreign currency gain on such investments and a depreciation in non-U.S. 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 majority of our cash reserves in non-U.S. dollar currencies.

        Global climate change is an international concern, and could impact our ability to conduct future operations.    Global climate change is an international issue and receives an enormous amount of publicity. We would expect that the imposition of international treaties or U.S. or Mexican federal, state or local laws or regulations pertaining to mandatory reductions in energy consumption or emissions of greenhouse gasses could affect the feasibility of our mining projects and increase our operating costs.

Risks Relating to Our Common Stock

        Gain recognized by non-U.S. holders and non-U.S. persons holding any interest in the Company other than solely as a creditor (including, for example, interests in the form of our convertible debt, if any) on the sale or other disposition of our securities may be subject to U.S. federal income tax.    We believe that we currently are a "United States real property holding corporation" under section 897(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, or USRPHC, and that there is a substantial likelihood that we will continue to be a USRPHC in the future. Subject to certain exceptions, securities (other than securities that provide no interest in a corporation other than solely as a creditor) issued by a corporation that has been a USRPHC at any time during the preceding five years (or the non-U.S. holder's holding period for such securities, if shorter) are treated as U.S. real property interests, or USRPIs, and gain recognized by a non-U.S. holder on the sale or other disposition of a USRPI is subject to regular U.S. federal income tax, on a net basis at graduated rates, as if such gain were effectively connected with the conduct by such holder of a U.S. trade or business. If gain recognized by a non-U.S. holder from the sale or other disposition of our common stock or other securities is subject to regular net basis income tax under these rules, the transferee of such common stock or other securities may be required to deduct and withhold a tax equal to 10 percent of the amount realized on the sale or other disposition, unless certain exceptions apply. Any tax withheld may be credited against the U.S. federal income tax owed by the non-U.S. holder for the year in which the sale or other disposition occurs.

        The conversion of outstanding exchangeable shares, exercise of options and the future issuances of our common stock will dilute current shareholders and may reduce the market price of our common stock.    As of March 9, 2011, we had outstanding exchangeable shares and options to purchase a total 7,708,729 shares of our common stock, which if completely converted or exercised, would dilute existing shareholders' ownership by approximately 5%. Under certain circumstances, our Board of Directors has

17

Table of Contents

the authority to authorize the offer and sale of additional securities without the vote of or notice to existing shareholders. We may issue equity in the future in connection with acquisitions, strategic transactions or for other purposes. Based on the need for additional capital to fund expected growth, it is likely that we will issue additional securities to provide such capital and that such additional issuances may involve a significant number of shares. Issuance of additional securities in the future will dilute the percentage interest of existing shareholders and may reduce the market price of our common stock.

        Furthermore, the sale of a significant amount of common stock by any selling security holders, specifically Robert R. McEwen, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, may depress the price of our common stock. As a result, you may lose all or a portion of your investment.

        A small number of existing shareholders own a significant portion of our common stock, which could limit your ability to influence the outcome of any shareholder vote.    Our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Robert R. McEwen, beneficially owns approximately 22% of our common stock as of March 9, 2011. Under our Articles of Incorporation and the laws of the State of Colorado, the vote of a majority of the shares voting at a meeting at which a quorum is present is generally required to approve most shareholder action. As a result, this individual will be able to significantly influence the outcome of shareholder votes for the foreseeable future, including votes concerning the election of directors, amendments to our Articles of Incorporation or proposed mergers, acquisitions or other significant corporate transactions.

         Our stock price has historically been volatile, and as a result you could lose all or part of your investment.

        The market price of our common stock has fluctuated significantly and may decline in the future. The high and low sale prices of our common stock on the NYSE Amex, and the NYSE after November 2, 2010, were $4.10 and $0.38 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, $3.53 and $0.90 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 and $8.17 and $2.02 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. The fluctuation of the market price of our common stock has been affected by many factors that are beyond our control, including: changes in the worldwide price for gold and/or silver, results from our exploration or development efforts and the other risk factors discussed herein.

         We have never paid a dividend on our common stock and we do not anticipate paying one in the foreseeable future.

        We have not paid a dividend on our common stock to date, and we may not be in a position to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. Our ability to pay dividends will depend on our ability to successfully develop one or more properties and generate revenue from operations. Further, our initial earnings, if any, will likely be retained to finance our growth. Any future dividends will depend upon our earnings, our then-existing financial requirements and other factors, and will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors.

18

Table of Contents

ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

        None.

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES

Introduction

        Throughout 2010, we continued to hold a 100% interest in the historic Tonkin property and also continued to rationalize the Nevada Pacific, White Knight and Tone properties acquired in 2007. Our total Nevada land position consists of approximately 254 square miles (658 sq. km) of patented and unpatented mining claims, of which approximately 191 square miles (495 sq. km) are located on the Cortez Trend. We also continued to hold approximately 1,525 square miles (3,950 sq. km) of mineral rights in Mexico, including the Magistral Gold Mine located in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico.

        The following table summarizes the U.S. land position of our company as of December 31, 2010:

        We generally hold mineral interests in Nevada through unpatented mining and mill site claims, leases of unpatented mining claims, and joint venture and other agreements. Unpatented mining claims are held subject to paramount title in the United States. In order to retain these claims, we must pay annual maintenance fees to the BLM, and to the counties within which the claims are located. Rates for these jurisdictions vary and may change over time. Other obligations which must be met include obtaining and maintaining necessary regulatory permits, and lease and option payments to claim owners.

        As discussed elsewhere in this report in more detail, the lease covering a total of 478 claims comprising a portion of our Tonkin property, known as Tonkin North and Cornerstone, expired in January 2011. Since that date, we have entered into an agreement with the owner to acquire the claims for a combination of cash and the grant of a royalty interest in any gold produced from the claims in excess of a prescribed minimum. However, that agreement is subject to certain conditions, and we have not formally acquired the claims as of March 9, 2011. In the event we are unsuccessful in acquiring those claims, our interest in the Tonkin property would be reduced by 478 claims and the estimate of mineralized material relating to the Tonkin property would be reduced accordingly. Please review the following disclosure relating to our Tonkin property for additional details.

19

Table of Contents

        The following Nevada trend map and property location map is presented to generally indicate the location of the trends and our properties:

        For purposes of organizing and describing our exploration efforts in the United States, we have grouped our properties into four complexes, the Tonkin Complex, the Gold Bar Complex, the Limo Complex and the Battle Mountain Complex. Mineral properties outside these areas and where limited exploration work has been performed by us to date are grouped as "Other United States Properties". Certain properties are subject to certain royalty and earn-in rights. Please see the "Other United States Properties" section below for further information.

        In addition to the above-mentioned U.S. properties, we acquired mineral concessions in Mexico from our acquisition of Nevada Pacific in 2007, including the Magistral Mine and the concessions where the Company discovered El Gallo, which is US Gold's primary focus in Mexico. El Gallo is located in northwestern Mexico, within Sinaloa state, Mocorito Municipality, Mexico. In aggregate, we currently own an interest in approximately 1,525 sq. miles (3,950 sq. km) of mineral concessions in Mexico.

20

Table of Contents

        The following map illustrates the general location of the El Gallo Project and our mineral concessions in Mexico:

Tonkin Complex

        Overview.    The Tonkin Complex includes our historic Tonkin property, together with additional properties and interests acquired in 2007. The Tonkin Complex is divided functionally into five areas: the Mine Corridor, Tonkin North, Patty, Keystone, and Tweed. The Tonkin Complex represents our largest holding in the State of Nevada at approximately 93 sq. miles (241 sq. km).

        Location.    The Tonkin Complex is located on the Cortez Trend, approximately 48 miles (77 km) by road northwest from Eureka, Nevada, 85 miles (137 km) by road southwest from Elko and 245 miles (394 km) by road east from Reno. The nearest commercial airport is located in Elko.

        Infrastructure.    The Tonkin Complex includes a mine site from operations in the 1980's with several small open pits, stockpile areas, plant and established infrastructure. In 1988 and 1989, an integrated carbon-in-leach bacterial oxidation plant was built. The plant and associated infrastructure was decommissioned and put on care and maintenance in June 1990, but apart from the SAG mill, which has been removed, it is complete and we believe it is in relatively good condition. We do not envision utilizing this mill in the foreseeable future and may undertake efforts to sell it in an effort to supplement our working capital. The existing infrastructure also includes a water supply, water storage and distribution, sewage disposal, trailer park, fuel storage and distribution, grid and emergency power supply and distribution. Electrical power is supplied via existing 64kV power lines and a substation on the property. The power lines and substation are owned and maintained by Sierra Pacific Power

21

Table of Contents

Company. Existing facilities include an administration building, truck shop, assay laboratory, mill building, warehouse, and plant maintenance shop.

        History.    We obtained the first claims which now comprise the Tonkin Complex in 1985. Between 1985 and 1988, we produced approximately 26,000 ounces of gold from the heap leach operation from about 871,000 tons of ore.

        In 1988 and 1989, we constructed a mill with the proceeds of a debt financing. In 1989, we processed ore from the "Rooster" deposit, producing 1,753 ounces of gold. In 1990, using bio-oxidation and the carbon-in-leach circuits of the mill, we produced 2,735 additional ounces of gold from approximately 70,000 tons of sulfide ore mined from the property. To date, a total of approximately 30,517 ounces of gold has been produced at the Tonkin property.

        Beginning in 1990, we have had a series of joint venture partners at the Tonkin property. These partners include Homestake Mining Company, Sudbury Contact Mines Limited, a subsidiary of Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited, and BacTech Mining Corporation. As a group, these companies conducted various types of exploration, including data compilation, geologic mapping, rock, soil and chemical sampling, and drilling, all focused primarily on the development of near-surface oxide and later, sulfide mineralization. For a variety of reasons, some of which are unknown to us, these relationships were terminated, returning 100% ownership of the property to us in 2005. We commenced a comprehensive drilling program in 2006, following an equity financing.

        Recent Exploration.    The following table summarizes drilling at our Tonkin Complex during 2010 and 2009:

        As noted in the previous table, drilling at the Tonkin Complex for 2010 totaled 8,001 ft. (2,439 m) in five core and flooded reverse circulation drill holes. Additional exploration efforts at the Complex included continued geologic mapping and sampling. The objective of the 2010 program at the Tonkin Complex was to explore for feeders to the known mineralization in the South Mine Corridor area, testing new targets adjacent to the known mineralization identified through our three-dimensional modeling completed in 2009.

22

Table of Contents

        The following graphic depicts the Tonkin Complex:

        During 2008, a technical report completed on the Tonkin property estimated that mineralized material totals 35.6 million tons with an average grade of 0.041 opt of gold. Mineralized material cutoff grades were 0.018 opt of gold for sulfide and 0.012 opt of gold for oxide. This report provides a technical summary of the existing exploration and development activities and results, and the mineral potential of the Tonkin property. It was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. The full text of this report is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

        The 2010 exploration program at Tonkin was directed by in-house three-dimensional modeling that utilized surface geology, surface geochemistry, drill hole geochemistry, drill hole geology, drill hole and surface structure, and geophysical surveys. The program consisted of two flooded reverse circulation drill holes totaling 3,270 feet (997 m) and three core holes that tested three separate targets in the eastern area. Although none of these holes intersected ore grade mineralization, two contained anomalous gold mineralization (up to 1.6 ppm) with anomalous pathfinder elements. The significance of this mineralization is currently being evaluated.

        Geology.    The geology of the Tonkin Complex area is complicated. The primary host for mineralization is the Cambro-Ordovician Hales Formation, which consists of sandy limestones, siltstones, shales, and greenstones in the Mine Corridor area. These rocks are in apparent structural contact with Ordovician rocks of the Vinini Formation, Devonian Slaven Chert, Devonian McColley Canyon Formation and the Devonian Devils Gate Limestone. This assemblage has been intruded locally by Tertiary porphyritic dacite and andesite dikes. All rocks east and west of the Mine Corridor are overlain by Tertiary volcanic rocks. Gold mineralization is found in all of the rock types of the Hales Formation, Slaven Chert, and McColley Canyon Formation, as well as at the contact between internal units. Spotty gold occurs in other units in the Mine Corridor, but it has not been recorded in economic amounts to date.

23

Table of Contents

        Patty Project.    The Tonkin Complex also includes the Patty Project, in which the Company holds a non-operating minority interest (30%) and where Barrick Gold U.S. Inc. ("Barrick") is manager and holds a 60% interest and the remaining 10% is owned by Chapleau Resources Ltd. The Patty Project is a large property (approximately 18.1 sq. miles) located in the northeast portion of the Tonkin Complex and consists of 544 unpatented mining claims. The 2010 exploration program expenditures totaled approximately $152,225, of which our portion was $45,668. In November 2009, Barrick informed us that it intended to cease management of the exploration program. An amendment to the joint venture agreement would need to be executed should that occur.

        In addition to exploration conducted during 2010, we completed the reclamation of certain access roads, and other existing disturbed areas at the Tonkin Complex.

        During the fourth quarter of 2010, we submitted a mine closure plan to the BLM for the Tonkin Complex. Based on our estimate, the change in our bonding requirements was insignificant. Our closure plan is currently under review by the BLM.

        The mineral interests included in the Tonkin Complex are set forth in the following table:

        Tonkin North.    The 372 claims (included in the 1,478 under "US Gold's Historic Tonkin Property" amount above) covering the area of the property known as Tonkin North are owned by unaffiliated parties and were previously held by us under a lease agreement. This lease expired on January 1, 2011. We have executed an agreement to acquire these claims, as described below.

        Cornerstone Property Lease.    The Company held an interest of in 106 claims (included in the 156 under "Cornerstone" amount above) in the Cornerstone property, pursuant to a mining lease made effective as of May 25, 2004. This lease expired on January 1, 2011.

        On February 10, 2011, we entered into a binding letter of intent with the owners of the Tonkin North and Cornerstone claims for the purchase of those claims. Pursuant to the letter of intent, we have agreed to pay an aggregate of CDN$8.4 million for the claims and grant the seller a 2% net smelter return royalty interest on any gold produced from the claims in excess of 682,000 ounces of gold. The parties have not yet negotiated and entered into definitive documentation for the transaction. If the transaction is consummated, we will use cash on hand to pay the purchase price for the claims. If we do not consummate the transaction to purchase the claims, our total interest in the Tonkin Complex will be reduced by 478 claims or 13.96 square miles, and, as a result, we estimate that our interest in the previously announced mineralized material identified at the Tonkin Complex will be reduced by approximately 38%. If the transaction is not consummated, we will file amended technical reports under NI 43-101 on the Tonkin Complex to reflect our reduced interests in the Tonkin Complex.

Gold Bar Complex

        The Gold Bar Complex is located south of the Tonkin Complex on the continuation of the Cortez Trend. The Gold Bar Complex is in the Roberts Creek Mountains, in Eureka County, Nevada,

24

Table of Contents

approximately 30 miles (48 km) northwest of the town of Eureka. The Complex may be accessed by traveling approximately 26 miles (42 km) west of Eureka on U.S. Highway 50, 17 miles (27 km) north on county-maintained and graded Three Bar Road. Several unimproved dirt roads lead from there up into the project area.

        The following graphic depicts the Gold Bar Complex:

        In April 2010, we announced completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the Gold Bar Project. This study was prepared by Telesto as a follow up on the updated technical report completed in accordance with NI 43-101 standards by Telesto in April 2009. The complete text of the PEA is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and our website at www.usgold.com/resources. The 2009 report was based on 1,369 drill holes from historic Atlas drillings programs, 19 holes drilled in 2005-2006 by White Knight Resources Ltd., and 20 holes drilled by us in 2008. The 2010 PEA study included an additional 107 reverse circulation holes, totaling 69,930 ft. (21,315 m), drilled by us in 2009. The estimate for the PEA consists of 33.3 million tons of mineralized material at an average grade of 0.027 opt of gold.

        The updated technical report from 2009 also included an estimate for the Cabin Creek Project located just east of the Gold Pick-Gold Ridge Project. The report estimates that the Cabin Creek Property contains 3.2 million tons of mineralized material at an average grade of 0.024 opt of gold. No mining has been done on the Cabin Creek Project. The Cabin Creek estimate is based on 165 reverse circulation drill holes.

25

Table of Contents

        The following table summarizes drilling at our Gold Bar Complex during 2010 and 2009:

        Exploration drilling at the Gold Bar Complex in 2010 totaled approximately 31,995 ft. (9,752 m) in 44 reverse circulation drill holes that were focused on extensions to the Gold Pick-Gold Ridge and Cabin Creek mineralization. Geologic mapping and geochemical sampling were also conducted on the property. Exploration drilling was guided by the detailed cross-sections that were constructed to define mineralization during preparation of the mineralized material analysis.

        The 2010 drilling focused on these trends and continued to expand the gold mineralization. The best intercepts from this drilling are shown below:

        The Gold Pick-Gold Ridge area occurs on the Battle Mountain-Eureka mineral belt in a large window of lower-plate carbonate rocks surrounded by upper-plate rocks. The lower-plate carbonates at Gold Pick-Gold Ridge consist of an east-dipping section of Silurian Lone Mountain Dolomite, Devonian McColley Canyon Formation, Devonian Denay Formation, and Devonian Devils Gate Limestone (from oldest to youngest). Northwest-trending and northeast-trending structures cut the area; the Gold Pick mineralization is localized in an apparent northwest-trending horst of McColley Canyon Formation which is cut by a series of northeast-trending structures.

        Gold mineralization is hosted primarily in the Bartine Member of the McColley Canyon Formation, which consists of carbonate wackestones and packstones approximately 250 to 380 feet thick. Minor amounts of mineralization are found in the underlying dolomitic limestone Kobeh Member of the McColley Canyon Formation when it is adjacent to apparent feeder structures. Gold Pick-Gold Ridge is "Carlin-Type" sediment-hosted gold mineralization with typical associated alteration (decalcification, silicification) and trace elements (antimony, arsenic, mercury, and barium).

        Three-dimensional modeling by our geologists has led to the identification of an unconformity (erosional surface) between the basement and gold host rocks at the Gold Bar Project. Channels in this unconformity were filled with porous limestone, which then acted as preferred pathways for gold mineralization. Most of the gold mineralization in the Gold Pick-Gold Ridge area occurs in the porous limestones above these channels. These channels were the focus of some of the exploration drilling in 2010 and will continue to be targets for exploration in 2011.

26

Table of Contents

        Exploration in 2010 was conducted under various BLM Notices of Intent. All disturbances were reclaimed as per BLM regulation.

        In September 2010, SRK Consulting was awarded a contract to conduct a pre-feasibility study at Gold Bar. During the fourth quarter of 2010, 11 metallurgical holes and three geotechnical holes were completed to support the pre-feasibility study. With the exception of two, all of these holes were core holes. The pre-feasibility study is scheduled to be completed by the first of October 2011.

        US Gold's objective is to lengthen the projected mine-life at Gold Bar through exploration and optimization concurrent with the completion of the pre-feasibility study. Highlights of the 2010 PEA are as follows:

•

Projected annual production of approximately 57,000 ounces of gold over a 6 year mine life, at an estimated cash cost of $557 per ounce (oz).



•

Pre-tax estimated discounted Net Present Value ("NPV") of $105 million at $1,150 per oz gold and 6% discount rate, giving an estimated Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 60%.



•

Estimated initial capital expenditure of $40 million, life-of-mine ("LOM") capital expenditure of $47 million, and pay-back period of 3 years at $1,150 per oz gold.

        Mineral interests included in the Gold Bar Complex are set forth in the following table:

Limo Property

        The Limo Property is located in east-central Nevada, along the eastern portion of Butte Valley and along the western edge of the Cherry Creek Range. It is located about 40 miles northwest of Ely, the county seat of White Pine County, at the southern end of the Carlin Trend.

        The project area lies between the historic Cherry Creek Mining District to the northeast and the deeply buried Butte Valley copper-molybdenum porphyry deposit to the southwest. The northeast-trending Black Metals fault system stretches between the two areas, and controls mineralization along its 15 mile (24 km) length. Access is gained from US Highway 93 via the town of Cherry Creek, and

27

Table of Contents

from US 50 via the Thirty Mile gravel road. Except for periods of heavy snowfall or excessive mud, the property is accessible most of the year.

        When the Limo Property was acquired in 2007, it was a large, 30 sq. mile (78 sq. km) property with historic production of approximately 93,000 ounces of gold. With additional claim staking in 2007 and 2008, the property position now totals approximately 44 sq. miles (114 sq km). Gold mineralization has been identified in numerous places along the 15 mile (24 km) length of the property.

        Gold mineralization at the Limo Complex is localized along northeast- and northwest- trending fault zones, where favorable calcareous beds have been replaced within the Devonian-Mississippian Pilot and the Mississippian Chainman formations. The mineralization is "Carlin-style", with its associated alteration (decalcification, silicification, and argillization) and trace elements (antimony, arsenic, mercury and barium) suites.

        The following graphic depicts the Limo Complex:

        A technical report compliant with NI 43-101 standards was completed on the Limo Project by Telesto in July 2009. This report estimates that the Resurrection Ridge/Golden Butte area of the Limo property contains mineralized material of 9 million tons at an average grade of 0.023 opt of gold. The complete text of this report is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and our website at www.usgold.com/resources.

        The Telesto report is based on 680 drill holes from historic drilling programs by Amselco, Alta Bay, Kennecott and others and 32 holes drilled by us in 2007. Sets of east-west and north-south

28

Table of Contents

cross sections were created at 30-meter intervals. Geologic parameters and gold grades were plotted on the sections. Geologic and structural data from surface mapping were transferred to the sections. Geological boundaries were rectified between sections and then gold envelopes were drawn to constrain interpolation of grades in the block model.

        Exploration drilling at the Limo Property in 2010 totaled approximately 12,907 ft. (3,934 m) in 15 diamond drill core holes and 13 reverse circulation drill holes. The drilling was focused on two new targets, Cadillac and Continental, outside the existing mineralization.

Cadillac drilling focused on an area where gold was found beneath thick alluvial cover. This new zone has been intersected in six holes, and the highlights are listed in the table below. This mineralization is contained within an extensive zone of jasperoid, developed where favorable Pilot shale lies along NE-trending faults. The Pilot has been silicified and mineralized for hundreds of feet in some areas. Guilmette limestone and Simonson dolomite usually lie beneath the gold-bearing zones and are only weakly mineralized.

        Highlights of Cadillac Drilling Results:

Continental drilling explored a northeast-trending outcropping vein containing high silver and gold values. Core holes were drilled to intersect the vein, and resulted in several mineralized intercepts. The vein was intersected in holes for a strike length of 20 meters, with the widest intersection of 15 meters down-hole. The mineralization consists of gossanous iron and manganese oxides with silicification, carbonate and barite.

29

Table of Contents

        Highlights of Continental Drilling Results:

        Recoveries from historic mining, CN-soluble gold assays, and preliminary metallurgical tests conducted on 2007 drill core indicate that mineralization at the Limo Complex is primarily oxide in nature and amenable to current heap-leach technology.

        The mineral interests controlled by us at the Limo property consist of 1,392 contiguous claims that cover approximately 44 square miles (114 sq km). The land package extends for about 15 miles (24 km), and covers much of the western side of the southern Cherry Creek Range.

        The Limo Property was previously subject to a joint venture between Nevada Pacific and Newmont Gold Company ("Newmont"), and in March 2003, Nevada Pacific acquired Newmont's interest in return for a sliding scale (1.5% to 2.5%) net smelter return royalty on all production from the property and from any claim acquired by Nevada Pacific within one mile of the property, with an advance payment to Newmont of $1 million to be made at the commencement of commercial production and credited against future royalty payments. Newmont has subsequently assigned this royalty interest to Franco-Nevada Corporation.

Battle Mountain Complex

        In conjunction with the acquisitions in 2007, we acquired various property interests which have been grouped under the designation "Battle Mountain Complex." The Battle Mountain Complex is generally located within Humboldt and Lander Counties in the valleys and on the flanks of the mountains surrounding Battle Mountain on the Cortez Trend north of our Tonkin complex. Battle Mountain, Nevada, located off Interstate 80, is the closest town.

30

Table of Contents

        The following graphic depicts the Battle Mountain Complex:

31

Table of Contents

        In 2010, exploration drilling in the Battle Mountain Complex totaled 11,335 ft. (3,455 m). Drilling took place at the Blue Bird, Hits and Valmy projects. There were no drilling activities in 2009.

        Two holes were drilled on the Hits project, with the objective of drilling through the alluvial and volcanic cover into relatively shallow mineralization. The alluvium and volcanics proved to be thicker than anticipated and drilling conditions were too difficult to allow their penetration. Due to this unfavorable situation, the property was dropped.

        The East Marigold target was drilled with several holes. Weakly anomalous gold was found near the bottom of only one hole. Due to the absence of favorable host rocks found in the drilling, along with the considerable depth of alluvial cover, this property was also dropped.

        The general exploration model for the Battle Mountain Complex is Carlin-style mineralization contained in structurally-controlled, intrusive-related, quartz-adularia-sericite, low-sulfidation deposits, and/or skarn mineralization.

        The mineral interests included in the Battle Mountain Complex are set forth in the following table:

Other United States Properties

        Through the acquisitions completed during 2007, we acquired a number of additional mineral properties in Nevada, some of which are subject to option agreements as discussed further below.

        Mineral interests included in Other Properties are set forth in the following table:

        Royalty and Earn In Rights.    The mineral properties included in the acquisition of Tone (Roberts Creek, Kobeh, Gold Bar North, South Keystone, Big Antelope Springs, Red Ridge, Fish Creek and Kent Springs) are generally subject to a 1% net smelter return royalty interest in favor of KM Exploration Ltd, a Nevada limited liability company. Certain properties (Roberts Creek, Kobeh, Gold Bar North, South Keystone and Big Antelope Springs) are also subject to earn-in rights in favor of Teck Cominco American Incorporated ("Teck"), pursuant to a 2004 Financing and Acquisition

32

Table of Contents

Agreement ("Acquisition Agreement"). Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, Teck has the right to acquire a joint venture interest in certain of our properties subject to the Acquisition Agreement. In order to acquire a joint venture interest in any property, certain contingencies and benchmarks outlined in the Acquisition Agreement which are intended to benefit a specific property must be satisfied. Such benchmarks include for example: (i) Teck funding certain minimum holding, exploration, and development activities for the property; (ii) Teck arranging financing for the development of the property; and (iii) Teck having feasibility reports prepared for the property. The Acquisition Agreement assigns various equity earn-in percentages in the joint venture to Teck's various levels of expenditures on the property. Depending on the benchmarks and related contractual contingencies satisfied, Teck has an opportunity to acquire a joint venture interest of between 51%-75% of our interest in a maximum of two properties. Teck also has certain first rights of refusal if the Company determines to sell the Red Ridge property. Through December 31, 2010, the required contractual contingencies and benchmarks had not been satisfied to enable Teck to earn a joint venture interest in any of the properties subject to the Acquisition Agreement.

        New Pass and Squaw Creek.    In 2004, White Knight entered into an option agreement on the New Pass and Squaw Creek properties with Consolidated Odyssey Exploration Inc. ("Odyssey") whereby Odyssey may earn an initial 50% interest in each property. To earn this, Odyssey needs to provide cash payments to White Knight (which we acquired in 2007) of $500,000, 500,000 of its common shares per property (which have been paid) and spend $2,000,000 in exploration expenditures per property over a four-year period. Odyssey may earn an additional 10% interest in each property by financing the completion of a feasibility study. On September 30, 2005, Odyssey assigned all its rights under the option agreement to Bonaventure Enterprises Inc., a Canadian corporation ("Bonaventure"). Bonaventure alleges that its exploration expenditures reached the $2,000,000 earn-in mark during 2008 and the parties are currently investigating the formation of the joint venture. According to the original option agreement, Bonaventure will be the operator of the newly formed joint venture. Bonaventure did not complete the requirements to earn an additional 10% interest in the property.

Mexican Properties

        The Company has property in Mexico which includes the El Gallo, Magistral and the Palmarito properties in Sinaloa state. El Gallo was first discovered in 2008 by US Gold geologists. There was no recorded exploration or production from the area. The Magistral Mine produced approximately 70,000 ounces of gold from 2002-2005 before it was shut down due to higher than anticipated operating costs and a lack of working capital. In late 2006, the Magistral mine was placed on a care and maintenance basis. The Palmarito Project was Sinaloa's largest producer of silver prior to 1950.

        Including the projects discussed above, we currently control mineral concessions of approximately 1,525 sq. miles (3,950 sq. km) located in the Mexican states of Sinaloa and Nayarit. We hold our interests through ownership of Pangea Resources Inc. which in turn holds 100 percent ownership of Compania Minera Pangea S.A. de C.V. ("Minera Pangea"). The titles are granted under Mexican mining law and are issued by Secretaria de Economía, Coordinación General de Mineria, Dirección General de Minas (Dirección de Minas).

33

Table of Contents

        The following map depicts the location of El Gallo, Magistral and Palmarito.

El Gallo Project

        The El Gallo Project is located in Sinaloa state, northwestern Mexico in Mocorito Municipality. Access to El Gallo is from the city of Culiacan via the four-lane Pacific Highway (Highway 15) for a distance of 60 miles (100 km) to the city of Guamuchil. From Guamuchil a local paved road extends 12.5 miles (20 km) to the east toward Mocorito. US Gold's concessions are located approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km) north of Mocorito. The El Gallo Project includes three primary areas containing mineralized material: El Gallo, Magistral and Palmarito.

El Gallo

        In July 2010, we completed an initial estimate of mineralized material at El Gallo. The estimate was prepared by PAH in accordance with NI 43-101. In November 2010, PAH updated the El Gallo estimate to approximately 7.5 million tonnes of mineralized material with an average grade of 110.6 gpt for silver and 0.09 gpt for gold using a higher grade milling method and 5.1 million tonnes of mineralized material with an average grade of 28.5 gpt of silver and 0.03 gpt of gold using a lower

34

Table of Contents

grade heap leach method. The complete text of this report is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and our website at www.usgold.com/resources. El Gallo became a priority for US Gold after high grade silver mineralization was discovered during the fall of 2008. Although there has been some minor prospecting in the area, there is no historic mining of any significance. The mineralization at El Gallo is mainly silver, with minor gold-lead-zinc probably contributed by a separate mineralizing event.

        The El Gallo Project lies within two US Gold-controlled concessions called Rocío Fracción A and Pangea (see map below). These concessions have an area of 86,487 acres and 3,942 acres respectively. US Gold controls all the immediate properties surrounding El Gallo.

        PAH also completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment (the "El Gallo PEA") for the El Gallo Project (that also included Magistral and Palmarito) in February 2011. The complete text of this report is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and our website at www.usgold.com/resources. The El Gallo PEA focused on a development plan involving surface mining from various locations and having the ore processed at a central facility, with an estimated total mill capacity of 6,000 tons per day. Lower grade ore would be processed at approximately 3,250 tons per day by crushing and heap leaching. The El Gallo PEA estimated average mine production of 5.0 million ounces of silver and 50,245 ounces of gold annually during a six year mine life. Based on an assumed gold price of $1,000 per ounce, the estimated cash cost net of by-product credit is $5.90 per silver ounce. Estimated costs fall to $2.44 per

35

Table of Contents

silver ounce based on an assumed gold price of $1,350 per ounce. At an assumed silver price of $18.00 per ounce and a gold price of $1,000 per ounce, the El Gallo PEA calculates a pre-tax discounted (5%) net present value of $155 million, giving a pre-tax internal rate of return of 27%. These numbers increase to $521 million and 65% based on an assumed silver price of $28.50 per ounce and an assumed gold price of $1,350 per ounce. The total capital expenditures to construct the mine are estimated at $149.2 million. The El Gallo PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as reserves under Guide 7. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of inferred resources exist, or that they can be mined legally or economically. At this time, there is no certainty that the preliminary assessment and economics estimated in the El Gallo PEA will be realized.

        Exploration work completed in 2010 at El Gallo consisted mainly of core and conventional rotary drilling and geochemical surface sampling. A total of 813 (2009—11,665) soil samples and 1,521 (2009—3,845) rock samples were taken at the El Gallo Project during 2010. Drilling at El Gallo totaled 139,443 ft. (42,502 m) in 2010 (2009—58,583 ft. (17,856 m)). The most significant core intercepts are highlighted below:

36

Table of Contents

        El Gallo occurs within the Pie de la Sierra physiographic province of the Sierra Madre Occidental Range, which is part of a late Jurassic to middle Cretaceous volcanic-arc. Tertiary volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks overlay Paleozoic and Mesozoic metamorphic rocks which may be locally cut by Cretaceous intrusive rocks.

        The oldest rocks in the region are andesite porphyries that occur widely throughout the area. These are cut by intrusions of late Cretaceous-early Tertiary age, ranging from tonalite to granodiorite in composition. These rocks are discordantly overlain by early Tertiary andesites, andesite tuffs, and andesite porphyries which are the principal host rocks to the mineralized structures that occur throughout the district. The oldest rocks seen in outcrop are Cretaceous in age. This includes locally fossiliferous limestones, sandy limestones, and limy sandstones that crop out to the south and northwest of El Gallo, where they are altered to garnet-epidote skarn with very local tremolite-actinolite skarn.

        The Cretaceous calcareous rocks are overlain discordantly by a thick package of andesitic rocks of Middle Cretaceous age. The sequence is composed of coarse-grained andesite flows (turkey track), fine-grained andesite porphyry flows, aphanitic andesite flows and andesite lithic tuffs. Coarse-grained granite-granodiorites of the Laramide Sinaloa Batholith intrude both Cretaceous sequences. The Cretaceous sedimentary and volcanic rocks, as well as the lower Tertiary volcanics, are also locally cut by younger dikes of quartz-eye rhyolitic porphyry and fine-to-medium grained diorite stocks that are of a later stage than the main batholith, possibly of lower Tertiary age. These dikes and stocks are interpreted to be the source of the mineralized hydrothermal fluids responsible for the El Gallo and Magistral deposits.

        The northern part of El Gallo is characterized by the presence of a thick sequence of volcanic rocks, mainly andesitic flows, that discordantly overlie the Cretaceous andesitic rocks and are hydrothermally altered, forming part of the host rock for the mineralized structures.

        The Cretaceous and lower Tertiary units are covered by rhyolitic to rhyodacitic flows of probable mid-Tertiary age which are then capped by upper Tertiary basaltic andesitic flows.

        Various environmental permits, which are issued by Secretariat of Environmental and Natural Resources, the Mexican Government environmental authority ("SEMARNAT") are required in order perform exploration drilling in Sinaloa state, Mexico. Permitting requirements are dependent upon the level of disturbance. Exemptions can generally be obtained if drilling occurs in areas where no new disturbance will occur and vegetation will not be removed (agricultural areas, dirt roads, previously mined sites). If drilling occurs on previously undisturbed land and vegetation will be removed, an Environmental Impact Study and Land Use Change are required. In addition to US Gold's environmental employees, Heuristica Ambiental, environmental consultants from Hermosillo, Sonora, work with the Company in order to permit US Gold's exploration activities. Each of the areas where US Gold is currently conducting exploration drilling has the required permit or exemption.

        The Repadre Capital Corporation (owned by IAMGOLD Corporation) holds a net smelter return ("NSR") royalty based upon the quantity of gold or gold equivalent produced by the project. The royalty covers both El Gallo and the Magistral Mine Property. For production up to 30,000 ounces, a 1.5 percent royalty is due. For production between 30,000 and 350,000 ounces, a royalty of 3.5 percent is required. Above 350,000 ounces the royalty drops to 1 percent. Since Magistral has already produced more the 70,000 ounces of gold the 1.5 percent royalty is no longer in effect and production up to the 350,000 ounces will be subject to the 3.5 percent royalty rate.

Magistral Mine Property

        In November 2010, an estimate of mineralized material was completed by PAH in accordance with NI 43-101. The report estimates approximately 10.4 million tonnes of mineralized material with a grade

37

Table of Contents

of 1.50 gpt of gold. The complete text of this report is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and our website at www.usgold.com/resources.

        The mineralization at the Magistral Mine Property is classified as a low-sulfidation epithermal gold-silver mineral system. The presence of biotite and K-feldspar, the lack of clay minerals, and the overprint of biotite by chlorite indicate that these veins were formed deep in the epithermal system. The main alteration and assemblages consist of quartz-chlorite/biotite-hematite, and minor sulphides.

        Mineralization within the various deposits of the Magistral Mine Property mine area is generally very similar, with the individual structural zones consisting of stockwork, breccia, and locally quartz vein mineralization occurring within sheared, broken, and propylitically altered volcanic rocks.

        Modern exploration activities at the Magistral Mine Property started in early 1995, initially for Mogul Mining NL and subsequently for Santa Cruz Gold Inc. From mid-1995 to early 1997, extensive drilling was conducted by Minera Pangea/Santa Cruz Gold on the San Rafael and Samaniego Hill deposit areas, as well as locally extensive drilling on the Sagrado Corazón-Central-Lupita deposit area. In 1998, Santa Cruz conducted a limited amount of additional drilling for metallurgical samples, reverse circulation grade verification, in-fill purposes, and condemnation of potential surface facility locations. In 1999, after a merger with Santa Cruz Gold, Queenstake conducted a limited drilling program to step-out/in-fill drill in the Samaniego Hill deposit and to obtain pit-slope geotechnical samples from both the San Rafael and Samaniego Hill deposits. Queenstake conducted a drilling campaign from late 2001 to early 2002 in the La Prieta Zone of the Samaniego Hill deposit to delineate extensions of the high grade La Prieta zone along strike and down dip.

        The Magistral Mine Property includes infrastructure associated with heap leach operations at the mine site and is currently used as our base for exploration. Infrastructure at Magistral includes offices and process buildings, as well as a heavy equipment maintenance shop and warehouse. An in-house laboratory has the capacity for fire assays along with atomic absorption, and includes a standard metallurgical testing facility. Telecommunications are provided by a microwave system that supplies modern telephone and internet service. The process plant includes a carbon circuit with a capacity of 12 tons of activated carbon. The gold recovery system includes a zinc precipitation circuit. The plant is powered by four 175 kW diesel generators. In 2009, we sold the four CAT 777B haul trucks and five Euclid R-50 trucks due to the age of the equipment for net proceeds of $654,637. The remaining heavy fleet of used equipment includes various loaders, excavators, bulldozers and conventional rotary drills. During 2009, with the assistance of a third party valuator, it was determined that our carrying value of this equipment were greater than the net realizable value. As a result, for the year ended December 31, 2009, we recorded a write-off of long-lived assets of $760,355. There were no changes to the carrying value of this equipment as at December 31, 2010.

        In October 2006, the mine was placed on care and maintenance. The pumping of solutions and operation of other plant equipment will continue on an "as needed" basis to maintain safe pond levels and to ensure that the plant equipment can be returned to service when and if a decision to restart the mine is made. Staffing levels have been maintained to the minimum required for these efforts and also to support exploration in the mine area.

38

Table of Contents

        The following map depicts the key mineralized areas at the Magistral Mine Property and surface facilities

Palmarito Project

        Palmarito is one of Sinaloa's major historic producers of silver. Total production is estimated to be 15,300,000 ounces of silver and 49,250 ounces of gold from open pit and underground workings before mining ceased in 1950.

        During 2008, US Gold signed an option agreement to buy 100 percent of a third party concession containing 0.5 sq. miles (1 sq. km) in the Palmarito area. The exercise of the option brought the immediate project area to a total of approximately 3 sq. miles (8 sq. km). The option agreement provides US Gold with the right to purchase the 2 percent NSR royalty for $1 million during the term of option agreement and up to 12 months thereafter. The NSR primarily impacts the mineralized material contained in the historic tailings.

        Core drilling totaled approximately 8,817 ft (2,687 m) in 2010 (2009—1,465 ft. (447 m)) with the objective of identifying and confirming new mineralized zones. An NI 43-101 compliant technical report was completed at the Palmarito Project by PAH in December 2008 and updated in November 2010.

39

Table of Contents

The most recent report estimates that mineralized material for the Palmarito consists of 3.7 million tonnes of material with an average grade of 71 gpt of silver and 0.14 gpt of gold.

        The following map depicts the concessions that are 100% owned by US Gold and those where the Company has an option to earn a 100% interest at Palmartio:

        Palmarito is a low-sulfidation, epithermal silver deposit. These deposit types occur commonly throughout the Sierra Madres in Mexico. Known mineralization at Palmarito occurs along or near the northeastern intrusive contact where the structures forming the intrusive contact strike roughly E-W and N-S. Near surface, these structures are mineralized, forming a horseshoe-shaped zone which wraps around the margin of the intrusive. Commonly, strongly silicified and stockwork-veined andesite occurs above and below the breccia at the contact. The breccias consist of clast-supported, coarse angular

40

Table of Contents

fragments of rhyolite and fine- to medium-grained andesite. Clasts are cemented by fine-grained, white silica. Generally, Palmarito mineralization is characterized by strong silicification.

Other Exploration Areas

        During 2010 US Gold drill tested other prospects in the vicinity of El Gallo, which resulted in the discovery of four new veins. The Gold Zone Vein, located 1,650 ft (500 m) South East of El Gallo, the Alamo Vein, located 4.5 miles (7 km) north of El Gallo, the Oro Vein, located 20 miles (32 km) North East of El Gallo and the Chapotillo vein, located 6.5 miles (10.5 km) north of El Gallo. Some of the results obtained in this drilling campaign are shown below:

Gold Zone Vein

•

GZX-002: 7.7 gpt gold over 4.8m, including 22.2 gpt gold over 1.1m



•

GZX-001: 6.4 gpt gold over 3.1m, including 10.8 gpt gold over 1.2m

Alamo Vein

•

SJX-002: 9.3 gpt gold over 1.7m



•

SJX-009: 7.6 gpt gold over 1.7m



•

SJX-010: 4.2 gpt gold over 6m including 7.9 gpt gold over 1.4m

Oro Vein

•

POX-002: 7.4 gpt gold over 0.9m



•

POX-003: 5.9 gpt gold over 0.9m

Chapotillo

•

CHX-007: 236.2 gpt silver and 1.6 gpt gold over 18.6m* (* includes 3.1m of no sample where the core hole intercepted an underground working)



•

CHX-011: 274 gpt silver and 2.4 gpt gold over 1.3m



•

CHX-009: 104.4 gpt silver and 1.8 gpt gold over 2.7m

41

Table of Contents

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        We are not currently subject to any legal proceedings, and to the best of our knowledge, no such proceeding is threatened, the results of which would have a material impact on our properties, results of operation, or financial condition. Nor, to the best of our knowledge, are any of our officers or directors involved in any legal proceedings in which we are an adverse party.

ITEM 4.    RESERVED

PART II

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information

        On November 2, 2010, our common stock commenced trading on the NYSE. Prior to November 2, 2010, our common stock traded on the NYSE Amex. Our common stock is traded on the NYSE and TSX, in each case under the symbol "UXG." US Gold Canadian Acquisition Corporation exchangeable shares are traded on the TSX, under the symbol "UXE".

        The table below sets forth the high and low sales prices for our common stock on a quarterly basis as reported by the NYSE and NYSE Amex during the relevant time from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010 and TSX from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010.

        As of March 9, 2011, there were outstanding 135,319,750 shares of our common stock, which were held by approximately 6,411 stockholders of record.

42

Table of Contents

        As of March 9, 2011, there were outstanding 4,166,060 exchangeable shares, which were held by 72 holders of record. The exchangeable shares are exchangeable at the option of the holders into our common stock on a one-for-one basis.

Transfer Agent

        Computershare Investor Services is the transfer agent for our common stock. The principal office of Computershare is 350 Indiana Street, Suite 800, Golden, Colorado 80401 and its telephone number is (303) 262-0600.

Dividend Policy

        We have never declared or paid dividends on our common stock. Payment of future dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors after taking into account various factors, including the terms of any credit arrangements, our financial condition, operating results, current and anticipated cash needs and plans for growth. Our initial earnings, if any, will likely be retained to finance our growth. At the present time, we are not party to any agreement that would limit our ability to pay dividends.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

        Set out below is information as of December 31, 2010 with respect to compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance. This information relates to our Equity Incentive Plan.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

        The options that we assumed in connection with the acquisition of the Acquired Companies were not approved by our security holders. These options are exercisable at prices ranging from C$4.30 to C$6.70 and expire on dates from 2014 to 2017. The weighted average exercise price of these options reflects the original exercise price of the options, modified to reflect the exchange ratios associated with the acquisitions. We are not authorized to issue any additional options under any of these plans.

43

Table of Contents

Performance Graph

        The following graph compares our cumulative total shareholder return for the five years ended December 31, 2010 with (i) the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index, which is an index of companies involved in the gold industry and (ii) the NYSE Composite Index, which is a performance indicator of the overall stock market. The graph assumes a $100 investment, assuming reinvestment of dividends, if any, on December 31, 2005 in our common stock and the two other stock market indices.

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
(Assumes $100 initial investment on 12/31/2005)

44

Table of Contents

ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

        The following table summarizes certain selected historical financial data about our company for the last 5 years. The data has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for the years indicated. Our historical results include the results of the Acquired Companies that we acquired effective June 28, 2007. You should read this data in conjunction with the MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS and our audited consolidated financial statements contained herein. All amounts are stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.