Timberline Resources Corp - Quarter Report: 2011 December (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the transition period from              to           

Commission file number: 001-34055

TIMBERLINE RESOURCES CORPORATION

 (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

(208) 664-4859

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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 past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.   x   Yes  o  No

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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  xYes  o  No

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

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

Number of shares of issuer’s common stock outstanding at February 8, 2012: 61,303,709

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INDEX

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

3

ITEM 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

3

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

16

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

21

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

22

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

22

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

22

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

22

ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

22

ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

22

ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION.

22

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.

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SIGNATURES

24

2

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

TIMBERLINE RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

(An Exploration Stage Company)

Contents

Page

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

Consolidated balance sheets

4

Consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss)

5

Consolidated statements of cash flows

6

Notes to consolidated financial statements

7 - 15

3

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

4

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

5

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

6

TIMBERLINE RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

(An Exploration Stage Company)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2011

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS:

Timberline Resources Corporation (“Timberline” or “the Company”) was incorporated in August of 1968 under the laws of the State of Idaho as Silver Crystal Mines, Inc., for the purpose of exploring for precious metal deposits and advancing them to production.  In 2008, we reincorporated into the State of Delaware pursuant to a merger agreement approved by our shareholders.

In 2006, the Company acquired Kettle Drilling, Inc. (“Kettle Drilling” or “Kettle”) and its Mexican subsidiary, World Wide Exploration S.A. de C.V. (“World Wide”). In 2008, Kettle Drilling, Inc. changed its name to Timberline Drilling Incorporated (“Timberline Drilling”).  In November 2011, the Company closed the sale of Timberline Drilling and World Wide (see Note 13) and became an exploration stage enterprise.

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

a.

Basis of Presentation – The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information, as well as the instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the interim financial statements have been included. Operating results for the three month period ended December 31, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year ending September 30, 2012.  All amounts presented are in U.S. dollars.

For further information refer to the financial statements and footnotes thereto in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011.

b.

Exploration Stage Enterprise – Following the sale of Timberline Drilling, the remainder of the Company is in the exploration stage of operation.  Therefore, as of November 9, 2011, the Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with the provisions of ASC 915 Development Stage Enterprises, as it devotes substantially all of its efforts to acquiring and exploring mining interests that management believes should eventually provide sufficient net profits to sustain the Company’s existence.  Until such interests are engaged in commercial production, the Company will continue to prepare its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with this standard.

c.

Reclassifications – Certain amounts in the prior period financial statements have been reclassified for comparative purposes to conform to current period presentation with no effect on previously reported net loss.

d.

Net Income (Loss) per Share –Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed as net income (loss) available to common shareholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur from common shares issuable through stock options, warrants, and other convertible securities.

The dilutive effect of convertible and outstanding securities, in periods of future income as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, would be as follows:

At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the effect of the Company’s outstanding options and common stock equivalents would have been anti-dilutive.

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TIMBERLINE RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

(An Exploration Stage Company)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2011

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, (continued):

e.

Asset retirement obligation – The Company accounts for asset retirement obligations by following the uniform methodology for accounting for estimated reclamation and abandonment costs as prescribed by authoritative accounting guidance.  This guidance provides that the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation (“ARO”) will be recognized in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The ARO is capitalized as part of the carrying value of the assets to which it is associated, and depreciated over the useful life of the asset. Adjustments are made to the liability for changes resulting from passage of time and changes to either the timing or amount of the original present value estimate underlying the obligation. The Company has an ARO associated with its exploration program at the Lookout Mountain exploration project (see Note 9).

f.

New accounting pronouncements – In January 2010, the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) guidance for fair value measurements was updated to require additional disclosures related to movements of assets among Levels 1 and 2 of the three-tier fair value hierarchy. Also, a reconciliation of purchases, sales, issuance, and settlements of anything valued with a Level 3 method is required.  Disclosure regarding fair value measurements for each class of assets and liabilities will be required. The updated guidance was adopted by the Company in its quarter ended December 31, 2009, except for disclosures about the activity in Level 3 fair value measurements which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years.  Adoption of this updated guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”). This standard will require entities to present net income and other comprehensive income in either a single continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive, statements of net income and other comprehensive income. The option to present items of other comprehensive income in the statement of changes in equity is eliminated. The new requirements are generally effective for public entities in fiscal years (including interim periods) beginning after December 15, 2011. Management does not believe adoption of this guidance will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 3 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

The table below sets forth our financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2011 and September 30, 2011, and the fair value calculation input hierarchy level that we have determined applies to each asset and liability category.

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TIMBERLINE RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

(An Exploration Stage Company)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2011

NOTE 4 – INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURE:

In July 2009, the Company entered into a joint venture operating agreement (the “Agreement”) with Highland Mining, LLC (“Highland”), an entity controlled by Ronald Guill, a director of the Company.   The joint venture entity, Butte Highlands JV, LLC (“BHJV”) was created for the purpose of developing and mining the Butte Highlands Gold Project.  As a result of its contribution of the Company’s 100% interest in the Butte Highlands Gold Project, carried on its balance sheet at the original purchase price of the Butte Highlands project ($621,000) to BHJV, the Company holds a 50% interest in BHJV.  Under terms of the agreement, the Company’s interest in BHJV will be carried to production by Highland, which will fund all future project exploration and mine development costs.  During the year ended September 30, 2011 the Company’s investment in joint venture was increased by $21,450 due to the release by the State of Montana of reclamation bonds that were in place prior to the creation of BHJV.  Under the Agreement, these funds were contributed to BHJV upon their release.

Under the Agreement, Highland contributed property and will fund all future mine development costs at Butte Highlands.  Both the Company’s and Highland’s share of development costs will be paid from proceeds of future mine production.  The Agreement stipulates that Highland shall appoint a manager of BHJV and that Highland will manage BHJV until such time as all mine development costs, less $2 million (the deemed value of the Company’s contribution of property to BHJV), are distributed to Highland out of the proceeds from future mine production.

NOTE 5 – NOTE RECEIVABLE:

The Company has a $1,350,000 note receivable as a portion of the consideration received from the sale of Timberline Drilling in November 2011 (see Note 13).  The  note receivable is unsecured and subordinated and bears interest at 10% per annum, payable monthly, with the principal to be repaid on or before 18 months of the closing date of the sale.

NOTE 6 – PREPAID DRILLING SERVICES:

The Company has $1,100,000 in prepaid drilling services obtained as a portion of the consideration received from the sale of Timberline Drilling in November 2011 (see Note 13).  The prepayment amount represents discounts on future drilling services, or cash if the Company does not use the prepaid drilling services, to be provided by Timberline Drilling to the Company between the closing of the sale of Timberline Drilling and November 2016.    

NOTE 7 – AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE EQUITY SECURITY:

Available-for-sale equity security is comprised of 2,980,000 shares of common stock in Rae Wallace Mining Company (“RWMC”), which have been valued as described below.  The following table summarizes the Company’s available-for-sale equity security:  

Management has determined the best measure of fair value to be the bid price of RWMC stock as quoted by the market maker in the stock as of December 31, 2011 and September 30, 2011, which was $0.20 and $0.18 per share, respectively.  

RWMC is a related party to the Company (see Note 8).

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TIMBERLINE RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

(An Exploration Stage Company)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2011

NOTE 8 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:

a.

Juniper Resources, LLC

The Company had a convertible note payable to a related party, Juniper Resources, LLC.  Information regarding the convertible note payable is as follows at December 31, 2011 and September 30, 2011:

During the quarter ended December 31, 2011, subsequent to the Company’s sale of Timberline Drilling, Inc., the convertible note and all accrued interest was repaid in full and all related agreements were cancelled (see Note 13).

b.

Butte Highlands Joint Venture Agreement

In 2009, the Company entered into an operating agreement (the “Operating Agreement”) with Highland, an entity controlled by Ron Guill, a director of the Company, to form a 50/50 joint venture for development and mining of the Company’s Butte Highlands Gold Project (see Note 4). Under the terms of the Operating Agreement, the Company contributed its Butte Highlands property to BHJV for a deemed value of $2 million, and Highland contributed certain property and will fund all future mine development costs.  Both the Company’s and Highland’s share of costs will be paid out of proceeds from future mine production.  

Ron Guill, a director of the Company and an owner of Highland, is the manager of BHJV until such time as income in an amount equal to all mine development costs less $2 million is distributed to Highland.  At that time, a management committee, with equal representation from Highland and the Company, will be the manager of BHJV.  Under the terms of the Operating Agreement, Highland will have preferential rights with respect to distributions until the investment by Highland is deemed equal to the investment by the Company.  

At December 31, 2011 and September 30, 2011, the Company has a receivable from BHJV for expenses incurred on behalf of BHJV in the amount of $6,951 and $97,626, respectively.  This amount is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2011 and September 30, 2011.

c.

Rae Wallace Mining Company

The Company is an affiliate of Rae Wallace Mining Company (“RWMC”), as it holds approximately 13% of the issued and outstanding stock of RWMC as of December 31, 2011 and September 30, 2011.

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TIMBERLINE RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

(An Exploration Stage Company)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2011

NOTE 9 – ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION:

During the year ended September 30, 2011, the Company established an asset retirement obligation (“ARO”) in the amount of $110,000 for its exploration program at the Lookout Mountain Project.  The ARO resulted from the reclamation and remediation requirements of the United States Bureau of Land Management as outlined in the Company’s permit to carry out the exploration program.  Estimated reclamation costs at the Lookout Mountain Project were discounted using a credit adjusted risk-free interest rate of 5% from the time the Company expects to pay the retirement obligation to the time it incurred the obligation, which is estimated at 10 years. 

The Company also had an ARO associated with the underground exploration program at the Butte Highlands Gold Project being performed by BHJV (see Note 4).  The ARO resulted from the reclamation and remediation requirements of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality as outlined in the Company’s permit to carry out the exploration program.  During the year ended September 30, 2011, the Company’s exploration permit was transferred to BHJV as the operator of the Butte Highlands Gold Project, thus relieving the Company of its reclamation and remediation obligations.  Therefore, the ARO of $250,089 and the related asset, along with accumulated accretion expense of $12,504 associated with the Butte Highlands exploration program, were removed from the Company’s financial statements during the year ended September 30, 2011.

The following table summarizes activity in the Company’s ARO:

NOTE 10 – INCOME TAXES:

Significant components of income tax benefit during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

The federal deferred income tax benefit is realized in the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, BH Minerals USA, Inc., which is not consolidated with the federal income taxes of the remainder of the Company since BH Minerals USA, Inc. is wholly owned by the Company’s wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, Staccato Gold Resources Ltd.

For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012 the Company anticipates an effective income tax rate of 0% in the United States and 0% in Canada due to the availability of accumulated net operating losses to offset any U.S. and Canadian income taxes, including any taxable gain realized on the sale of Timberline Drilling (see Note 13).

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TIMBERLINE RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

(An Exploration Stage Company)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2011

NOTE 11 – COMMON STOCK, WARRANTS AND PREFERRED STOCK:

Stock Issued for Services

During the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, zero and 36,300 shares of common stock, respectively, were issued to employees of the Company as incentive bonuses under the Company’s Amended 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. The common stock issued during the three months ended December 31, 2010 was valued at the closing price of the Company’s stock on the date of issue of $1.08 per share, for a total cost of $39,204 classified under salaries and benefits expense.   

Warrants

The following is a summary of the Company’s warrants outstanding:

The warrants outstanding at September 30, 2011 expired unexercised on November 15, 2011.

Preferred Stock

Timberline is authorized to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value. The Board of Directors of Timberline is authorized to issue the preferred stock from time to time in series, and is further authorized to establish such series, to fix and determine the variations in the relative rights and preferences as between series, to fix voting rights, if any, for each series, and to allow for the conversion of preferred stock into common stock.

NOTE 12 – STOCK OPTIONS:

The Company has established the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended by shareholders of the Company on May 28, 2010) to authorize the granting of up to 10,000,000 stock options to employees, directors and consultants. Upon exercise of options, shares are issued from the available authorized shares of the Company.  Option awards are granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s stock at the date of grant.  

The fair value of option awards granted during the three months ended December 31, 2011 were estimated on the date of grant with a Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the assumptions noted in the following table.  No option awards were granted during the three months ended December 31, 2010.

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TIMBERLINE RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

(An Exploration Stage Company)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2011

NOTE 12 – STOCK OPTIONS, (continued):

Total compensation cost of options vested charged against operations under the plan for employees was none and $97,332 for the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  These costs are classified under salaries and benefits expense.  Total compensation cost of options vested charged against operations under the plan for directors and consultants was $42,000 for both the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.  These costs are classified under other general and administrative expenses.  

The following is a summary of the Company’s options issued under the Amended 2005 Equity Incentive Plan:

The average remaining contractual term for the options both outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2011 was 2.71 years.  The Company received $11,550 from the exercise of 35,000 options during the quarter ended December 31, 2011.  

As of December 31, 2011 there is no unrecognized compensation expense related to options.  The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $8,050 and $97,600, respectively.  The aggregate intrinsic value of options both outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2011 was $427,400.

NOTE 13 – DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:

Timberline Drilling

In September 2011, the Company announced that it had entered into a non-binding letter of intent to sell its wholly-owned subsidiary, Timberline Drilling.  The results of operations for Timberline Drilling have been reported in discontinued operations for all periods presented.  On November 9, 2011, the sale of Timberline Drilling was completed.  Total consideration received by the Company included $8,000,000 in cash, an additional $2,000,000 in cash from the existing working capital of Timberline Drilling, a working capital adjustment receivable by the Company in the amount of $1,657,625, a $1,350,000 note receivable, and an agreement by Timberline Drilling to provide discounted drilling services or cash with a total value of $1,100,000 to the Company over five years, as well as the assumption by the purchaser of approximately $1,000,000 in long-term debt and obligations under capital leases of Timberline Drilling.  The Company recognized a $1,636,938 gain on the sale of Timberline Drilling, but does not anticipate income taxes to arise from the gain (see Note 10).

The $1,350,000 note receivable is unsecured and subordinated and bears interest at 10% per annum, payable monthly, with the principal to be repaid on or before 18 months of the closing date of the sale.  

In conjunction with the sale of Timberline Drilling, the Company repaid its $5,000,000 convertible note and all accrued interest outstanding to Juniper Resources, LLC, a company controlled by Ron Guill, a director of the Company (see Note 8).

13

TIMBERLINE RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

(An Exploration Stage Company)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2011

NOTE 13 – DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, (continued):

The following table details selected financial information for Timberline Drilling that is included in the income (loss) from discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

The consolidated balance sheet of the Company has assets and liabilities held for sale from Timberline Drilling which were comprised of the following items at December 31, 2011 and September 30, 2011:

14

TIMBERLINE RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

(An Exploration Stage Company)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2011

NOTE 13 – DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (continued):

World Wide Exploration

In September 2010, the Company ceased its drilling service operations in Mexico and moved all of the serviceable assets in Mexico to the United States for potential use.  The results of operations for the Company’s Mexican subsidiary, World Wide Exploration, have been reported in discontinued operations for all periods presented.

The following table details selected financial information included in the income (loss) from discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

The consolidated balance sheet of the Company has assets held for sale from World Wide Exploration of zero and $152,336 at December 31, 2011 and September 30, 2011, respectively.  The balance of assets held for sale at September 30, 2011 consists of $126,686 in materials and supplies inventory and $25,650 in prepaid expenses and other assets.  The sale of Timberline Drilling in November 2011 included its subsidiary, World Wide Exploration.

NOTE 14 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

Real Estate Lease Commitments

The Company has real estate lease commitments related to its main office in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, facilities in Butte, Montana, and Eureka, Nevada. Total office and storage rental expense from continuing operations aggregated $16,230 for both the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our financial statements and related notes which appear elsewhere in this quarterly report.  

Forward-Looking Statements

This quarterly report and the exhibits attached hereto contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements concern the Company’s anticipated results and developments in the Company’s operations in future periods, planned exploration and development of its properties, plans related to its business and other matters that may occur in the future.  These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.

Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “estimates” or “intends”, or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation:

·

risks related to our properties being in the exploration or development stage;

·

risks related to our mineral operations being subject to government regulation;

·

risks related to our ability to obtain additional capital to develop our resources, if any;

·

risks related to mineral exploration and development activities;

·

risks related to mineral estimates;

·

risks related to our insurance coverage for operating risks;

·

risks related to the fluctuation of prices for precious and base metals, such as gold, silver and copper;

·

risks related to the competitive industry of mineral exploration;

·

risks related to our title and rights in our mineral properties;

·

risks related to our limited operating history;

·

risks related to the possible dilution of our common stock from additional financing activities;

·

risks related to potential conflicts of interest with our management; and

·

risks related to our shares of common stock.

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking statements. Some of the important risks and uncertainties that could affect forward-looking statements are described further in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 15, 2011.  Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.  We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.  We disclaim any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, except as otherwise required by law.

We qualify all the forward-looking statements contained in this report by the foregoing cautionary statements.

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Corporate Background and History

We commenced our exploration stage in January 2004 with the change in the management of the Company.  From January 2004 until March 2006, we were strictly a mineral exploration company.  With our acquisition of a drilling services company and the acquisition of the Butte Highlands Gold Project, we diversified our business plan to include drilling services and an exploration property with the potential to develop an underground mine with possible future gold production.  Prior to the purchase of Timberline Drilling (formerly known as Kettle Drilling), the Company had no reported revenues and only had accumulated losses. In June 2010, the Company acquired Staccato Gold Resources Ltd. (“Staccato”), a Canadian-based resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange that was in the business of acquiring, exploring and developing mineral properties with a focus on gold exploration in the dominant gold producing trends in Nevada.  As a result of this acquisition, we obtained Staccato’s South Eureka Property, which included their flagship gold exploration project, the Lookout Mountain Project (“Lookout Mountain”), and several other projects at various stages of exploration in the Battle Mountain/Eureka gold trend in Nevada, along with Staccato’s wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, BH Minerals USA, Inc.  In September 2011, we announced that we had entered into a non-binding letter of intent to sell Timberline Drilling to a private company formed by a group of investors, including certain members of the senior management team of Timberline Drilling.  The sale of Timberline Drilling was completed in November 2011 for a total value of approximately $15 million and will enable the Company to focus exclusively on its core business of gold exploration and development

Corporate Overview

Timberline Resources Corporation’s business is mineral exploration, with a focus on district-scale gold projects, such as our South Eureka Property in Nevada as well as our 50% carried-to-production interest in the Butte Highlands Joint Venture, which is currently in development under the terms of our 50/50 joint venture agreement with Highland Mining, LLC and targeted to begin gold production in 2012.

Mineral Exploration

South Eureka Property, Nevada

The South Eureka Property, including the Lookout Mountain Project, comprises an area of approximately 15,000 acres, or more than 23 square miles, and it is considered to be one of the largest remaining undeveloped gold properties in Nevada.  The South Eureka Property is located within the southern portion of Nevada’s productive Battle Mountain-Eureka gold trend and includes a 4-mile strike length of structurally and stratigraphically controlled gold mineralization, all zones of which are open and will require additional in-fill and step-out drilling. The property has an extensive exploration, drilling, and gold production history by a number of companies since 1975, including Idaho Mining Corp., Norse-Windfall Mining, Amselco, Echo Bay Mines, and Barrick Gold. A total of 533 holes, totaling 267,000 feet, were drilled on the property prior to its acquisition by Timberline in 2010. Gold mineralization tested to date is typical sediment-hosted Nevada gold mineralization, most of which may be amenable to low cost, run of mine, heap leach processing.

In 2010-2011 we completed an exploration program that culminated in the release of a Canadian National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”) compliant technical report, entitled, Technical Report on the Lookout Mountain Project, Eureka County, Nevada, USA, dated May 2, 2011 ( the “Technical Report”).  The Technical Report was prepared by Mine Development Associates (“MDA”) of Reno, Nevada under the supervision of Michael M. Gustin, Senior Geologist, who is a qualified person under NI 43-101.  The Technical Report details mineralization at the Lookout Mountain Project.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors: The Technical Report uses the terms "mineral resource," "measured mineral resource," "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource". We advise investors that these terms are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 (“Guide 7”) and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. As a reporting issuer in Canada, we are required to prepare reports on our mineral properties in accordance with NI 43-101. We reference the Technical Report in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for informational purposes only and the Technical Report is not incorporated herein by reference.  Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a mineral deposit in the above categories will ever be converted into Guide 7 compliant reserves.  "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category.  Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases.  Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable.  

17

The NI 43-101 compliant technical report was modeled and estimated by MDA by evaluating available drill data statistically, utilizing geologic interpretations provided by Timberline to interpret gold mineral domains on cross sections spaced at 50- to 100-foot intervals across the extents of the Lookout Mountain mineralization, rectifying the mineral-domain interpretations on level plans spaced at 10-foot intervals, analyzing the modeled mineralization geostatistically to aid in the establishment of estimation parameters, and interpolating grades into a three-dimensional block model.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2011 we completed the next phase of exploration and drilling at the South Eureka Property.  The program included approximately 45,000 feet of drilling, with a primary focus on expanding and upgrading the mineralization at Lookout Mountain by drilling along strike on the Ratto Ridge structural trend north toward the Rocky Canyon zone and, especially, south toward the South Adit zone.  Both the Rocky Canyon and South Adit zones have been extensively drilled and contain historic gold resources. The program also tested additional mineralization at other targets on the property, ranging from zones known to carry significant gold mineralization to previously untested structural targets.  In addition, the Company performed additional metallurgical test work.

As a result of the most recently completed exploration program, we have successfully extended the gold zone at Lookout Mountain 600 feet to the south of the existing mineral deposit, and have expanded gold mineralization along the west margin of the deposit. Results from Lookout Mountain, and from the South Adit area, are expected to significantly increase the current reported mineralization at the Lookout Mountain project.  We expect to release an updated NI 43-101 technical report with updated mineralization details during our second fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2012.

Butte Highlands Project, Montana

In conjunction with our joint venture partner, Highland Mining LLC (“Highland”), we continue to advance the Butte Highlands Gold Project toward an expected commencement of production in 2012.  With the receipt of final assays from the 50,000-foot underground exploration drill program that was completed in the year ended September 30, 2011, Highland was able to complete an initial mine plan and obtain necessary data for the completion of the Hard Rock Operating Permit application.  The mine plan anticipates production of approximately 400 to 500 tons per day during the first four years of operation, with mineralized material to be direct shipped to a nearby mill.  

The application for our Hard Rock Operating Permit was initially submitted to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality in May 2010. As a result of hydrological studies performed since that time, it has become evident that there will be a need to pump and discharge more water from the mineralized area than was initially expected.  As a result, the project is expected to require an additional water discharge permit by the State of Montana and the construction of additional water treatment facilities.  Consequently, Highland is now targeting the issuance of the Hard Rock Operating Permit in mid-2012, and the commencement of shipments to the mill later in the year.

Highland is also working with the United States Forest Service and the public to evaluate and permit a haulage route from the mine site.  Highland’s proposed haulage route will be included as part of its final operating permit application responses that are expected to be submitted to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality in the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

Timberline's joint venture at the Butte Highlands Project calls for its retention of a 50-percent project interest while being carried to production by Highland.  Once in production, Timberline is to receive 20-percent of project cash flow until Highland recovers its initial capital expenditures, at which time Timberline will receive 50-percent of cash flow.  A feasibility study has not been completed on the Butte Highlands project, and there is no certainty the proposed operations will be economically viable.

Drilling Services

During the quarter ended December 31, 2011, we completed the sale of our drilling services subsidiary, Timberline Drilling, for total consideration of approximately $15 million. The sale of Timberline Drilling allows the Company to concentrate on its core business of mineral exploration, with specific attention toward advancing our South Eureka Property and Butte Highlands Project, as described above.

Summary

We believe the global economic environment and monetary situation favor a solid and relatively steady gold price for the foreseeable future.  Volatility is to be expected, however our view is that our business model can continue to advance even if gold prices retreat significantly from current levels.  

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As a company, we are focused on advancing the Butte Highlands Gold Project toward expected gold production in 2012, advancing exploration programs at Lookout Mountain and other potential projects on our South Eureka Property and other properties acquired in Nevada, and continuing to evaluate new mineral exploration opportunities that fit with our business model. We have evaluated a number of projects and opportunities during the past several months and will continue to do so.  We believe that management and the Company’s board of directors have the knowledge base to evaluate opportunities – either organically or through mergers and acquisitions – and we continue to do so.       

Results of Operations for the Three Month Periods ended December 31, 2011 and 2010

Consolidated Results

Our consolidated net income for the three months ended December 31, 2011 was $454,141 compared to a consolidated net loss of $2,003,487 for the three months ended December 31, 2010.   The year over year improvement in income during the quarter ended December 31, 2011 is primarily attributable to a $1,636,938 gain on the sale of our subsidiary, Timberline Drilling, along with $484,642 in net income from Timberline Drilling during the portion of the quarter prior to completion of the sale, as compared to a loss of $152,839 during the quarter ended December 31, 2010, and reduced exploration expenses compared to the previous year.    

Timberline Corporate and Exploration Division

The decrease in the after tax net loss for Timberline Corporate and the Exploration division for the three months ended December 31, 2011 as compared to the previous year’s after tax net loss in the same period is primarily a result of reduced mineral exploration activities at our Lookout Mountain Project in Nevada as compared to the same period in the previous year.  The decrease in exploration expenditures in the current year was partially offset by increased professional fees expenses incurred as a result of our disposition of Timberline Drilling in November 2011.  Interest expense in the quarter ended December 31, 2011 was less than the previous year as the Company repaid its outstanding $5 million convertible debt subsequent to closing the sale of Timberline Drilling.

The income tax benefit during the three months ended December 31, 2010 arose as a result of a reduction in deferred income tax liabilities assumed upon the acquisition of Staccato Gold Resources Ltd.

Discontinued Operations - Timberline Drilling and World Wide Exploration

In September 2011, the Company announced that it had entered into a non-binding letter of intent to sell its wholly-owned subsidiary, Timberline Drilling, Inc.  The results of operations for Timberline Drilling have been reported in discontinued

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operations for all periods presented. The sale of Timberline Drilling was completed in November 2011.  Total consideration received by the Company included $8,000,000 in cash, an additional $2,000,000 in cash from the existing working capital of Timberline Drilling, a working capital adjustment receivable by the Company in the amount of $1,657,625, a $1,350,000 note receivable, and an agreement by Timberline Drilling to provide discounted drilling services to the Company or cash with a total value of $1,100,000 over five years, as well as the assumption by the purchaser of approximately $1,000,000 in long term debt and obligations under capital leases of Timberline Drilling.  The Company recognized a $1,636,938 gain on the sale of Timberline Drilling.

During the year ended September 30, 2010, due to declining operational and financial results, we decided to cease the operations of Timberline Drilling’s wholly-owned Mexican subsidiary, World Wide Exploration (“WWE”).  WWE’s drill rigs and related assets were moved back to the U.S. where they were available for use by Timberline Drilling.  The sale of Timberline Drilling in November 2011 included its subsidiary, WWE.

The following table details selected financial information included in the income from discontinued operations in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Financial Condition and Liquidity

At December 31, 2011, we had assets of $23,623,173 consisting of cash in the amount of $4,882,796; a receivable from the sale of our subsidiary, Timberline Drilling, in the amount of $1,657,625; property, mineral rights and equipment, net of depreciation of $12,653,025; a note receivable of $1,350,000, and other assets in the amount of $3,079,727.  

Disruptions in the credit and financial markets over the past several years have had a material adverse impact on a number of financial institutions and have limited access to capital and credit for many companies. While access to capital has improved recently, these disruptions could, among other things, make it more difficult for us to obtain, or increase our cost of obtaining, capital and financing for our operations.  Our access to additional capital may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.  If we are unable to obtain financing through equity investments, we will seek multiple solutions including, but not limited to, asset sales, credit facilities or debenture issuances.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2011, the Company repaid its $5,000,000 convertible note payable to Juniper Resources, LLC, an entity controlled by a director of the Company, Ron Guill.  At December 31, 2011, the Company has a working capital surplus of $6,404,329, including a receivable from the purchasers of Timberline Drilling in the amount of $1,657,625.  This receivable was collected subsequent to December 31, 2011.  Therefore, as of the date of filing of this report, the Company has no outstanding debt and a cash balance of approximately $6.1 million.

Management expects to closely monitor discretionary exploration expenditures and professional and consulting expenses over the next 12 months, and may potentially obtain financing through sales of equity securities.  We plan to continue exploration programs on our material exploration properties and to seek additional acquisition opportunities.  

As a result of our current cash balance and our ability to curtail discretionary exploration expenditures as needed, management believes that it has sufficient working capital to meet the Company’s ongoing operating expenses for the next 12 months.  Additional financing may be required if the Company seeks to expand its exploration activities or undertake further property acquisitions.  

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off balance sheet arrangements that are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, revenues, results of operations, liquidity or capital expenditures.

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

See Note 2 to the financial statements contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report for a summary of the significant accounting policies used in the presentation of our financial statements. We are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and related disclosures of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses.  We believe that our most critical accounting estimates are related to asset impairments and asset retirement obligations.

Our critical accounting policies and estimates are as follows:

Asset Impairments

Significant property acquisition payments for active exploration properties are capitalized.  The evaluation of our mineral properties for impairment is based on market conditions for minerals, underlying mineralized material associated with the properties, and future costs that may be required for ultimate realization through mining operations or by sale.  If no mineable ore body is discovered, or market conditions for minerals deteriorate, there is the potential for a material adjustment to the value assigned to mineral properties.

The Company reviews the carrying value of equipment for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable from the estimated future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. In cases where undiscounted expected future cash flows are less than the carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized equal to an amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the asset. The factors considered by management in performing this assessment include current operating results, trends and prospects, the manner in which the equipment is used, and the effects of obsolescence, demand, competition, and other economic factors.

Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company has an obligation to reclaim its properties after the surface has been disturbed by exploration methods at the site. As a result, we have recorded a liability for the fair value of the reclamation costs we expect to incur at our Lookout Mountain Project.  The Company estimated applicable inflation and credit-adjusted risk-free rates as well as expected reclamation time frames. To the extent that the estimated reclamation costs change, such changes will impact future reclamation expense recorded. A liability is recognized for the present value of estimated environmental remediation (asset retirement obligation) in the period in which the liability is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The offsetting balance is charged to the related long-lived asset. Adjustments are made to the liability for changes resulting from passage of time and changes to either the timing or amount of the original present value estimate underlying the obligation.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Not applicable.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Conclusions of Management Regarding Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

At the end of the period covered by this report, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision of and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the President and Chief Executive Officer, Paul Dircksen (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer, Randal Hardy, (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operations of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a – 15(e) and Rule 15d – 15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on that evaluation the CEO and the CFO have concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were adequately designed and effective in ensuring that: (i) information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits to the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable rules and forms and (ii) material information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow for accurate and timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  

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Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

No director, officer or affiliate of Timberline and no owner of record or beneficial owner of more than 5% of our securities or any associate of any such director, officer or security holder is a party adverse to Timberline or has a material interest adverse to Timberline in reference to pending litigation.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes from the risk factors as previously disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011 which was filed with the SEC on December 15, 2011.

 ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

None.

ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

None.

ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

We consider health, safety and environmental stewardship to be a core value for the Company.

 Pursuant to Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, issuers that are operators, or that have a subsidiary that is an operator, of a coal or other mine in the United States are required to disclose in their periodic reports filed with the SEC information regarding specified health and safety violations, orders and citations, related assessments and legal actions, and mining-related fatalities with respect to mining operations and properties in the United States that are subject to regulation by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (the “Mine Act”). During the quarter ended December 31, 2011, our U.S. exploration properties were not subject to regulation by the MSHA under the Mine Act.  

ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION.

None.

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.

(1)

Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 2011.

(2)

Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 15, 2011.

(3)

Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 18 of the Securities Act of 1934 and otherwise are not subject to liability.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

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