Nature of Operations

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Nature of Operations

Nature of Operations

1. Nature of Operations

The Company is a mining company, holding a 100% interest in the Rodeo property in Durango State, Mexico (the “Rodeo Property”), a 100% interest in the Velardeña and Chicago precious metals mining properties and associated oxide and sulfide processing plants in the state of Durango, Mexico (the “Velardeña Properties”), a 100% interest in the El Quevar advanced exploration property in the province of Salta, Argentina, which is subject to the terms of the “Earn-in Agreement” (see Note 9), and a diversified portfolio of precious metals and other mineral exploration properties located primarily in or near historical precious metals producing regions of Mexico, Argentina and Nevada. The Rodeo Property, the Velardeña Properties, the Yoquivo property and the El Quevar advanced exploration property are the Company’s only material properties.

We concluded mining operations at the Rodeo Property in June 2023. We commenced mining activities at the Velardeña Properties in December 2023, however, mining operations were shut down in February 2024 because the initial performance of the mine and the processing plant did not achieve the expected results. We are shutting down operations at our Velardeña Properties and holding them for short-term sale while we evaluate alternatives to realize value from the asets. We continue to evaluate and search for mining opportunities in North America (including Mexico) with near-term prospects of mining. We are also focused on advancing our Yoquivo exploration property in Mexico and our El Quevar advanced exploration property in Argentina through the Earn-In Agreement with Barrick. We are holding an additional portfolio of approximately 11 properties, located in Mexico, Nevada and Argentina for sale or advancement when possible.

The Company is considered an exploration stage issuer under the criteria set forth by the SEC under Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K (“S-K 1300”) as the Company has not yet demonstrated the existence of mineral reserves at any of the Company’s properties. As a result, and in accordance with GAAP for exploration stage companies, all expenditures for exploration and evaluation of the Company’s properties are expensed as incurred. As such, the Company’s financial statements may not be comparable to the financial statements of mining companies that have proven and probable mineral reserves. Such companies would typically capitalize certain development costs including infrastructure development and mining activities to access the ore. The capitalized costs would be amortized on a units-of-production basis as reserves are mined. The amortized costs are typically allocated to inventory and eventually to cost of sales as the inventories are sold. As the Company does not have proven and probable mineral reserves, substantially all expenditures at the Company’s Rodeo Property and the Velardeña Properties for mine construction activity, as well as operating costs associated with the mill facilities, and for items that do not have a readily identifiable market value apart from the mineralized material, have been expensed as incurred. Such costs are charged to cost of metals sold or project expense during the period depending on the nature of the costs. Certain costs may be reflected in inventories prior to the sale of the product. The Company cannot be certain that any deposits at any of its properties will ever be confirmed or converted into S-K 1300 compliant “reserves.”

Reverse Stock Split

On May 26, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a reverse stock split (the “Reverse Stock Split”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a ratio of one-for-25 shares and a reduction in the total number of authorized shares of common stock of the Company from 350,000,000 shares to 28,000,000 shares (the “Authorized Shares Reduction”), each effective as of June 9, 2023. To effect the Reverse Stock Split and the Authorized Shares Reduction, the Company filed an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 30, 2023.

As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, each 25 shares of common stock of the Company then-issued and outstanding automatically combined into one new share of common stock, with no change in par value per share. No

fractional shares of common stock were issued as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. Any fractional shares resulting from the Reverse Stock Split were rounded up to the nearest whole share of common stock. The common stock of the Company commenced trading on a split-adjusted basis at the open of trading on June 9, 2023.

In addition, proportionate adjustments were made to the number of shares issuable upon the exercise or vesting of all outstanding warrants and restricted stock units, resulting in a proportional decrease in the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise or vesting of such warrants and restricted stock units and the number of shares of common stock then reserved for issuance under the Company’s equity compensation plans, including the Company’s 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, which was reduced proportionately.

Accordingly, all share and per share data (including share and per share information related to share-based compensation and outstanding warrants), number of shares outstanding and other common stock equivalents for the periods presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted retroactively, where applicable, to reflect the Reverse Stock Split.