2300 - 1066 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6E 3X2

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Dorsey & Whitney LLP
1400 Wewatta Street, Suite 400
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 629-3400

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. x

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If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.

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The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act, or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the Securities and Exchange Commission declares our registration statement effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

We, Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd., may offer and sell, from time to time, up to $70,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of our common shares, without par value (which we refer to as “Common Shares”), warrants to purchase Common Shares (which we refer to as “Warrants”), or any combination thereof (which we refer to as “Units”) in one or more transactions under this prospectus (which we refer to as the “Prospectus”). We may also offer under this Prospectus any Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of Warrants. Collectively, the Common Shares, Warrants, Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and Units are referred to as the “Securities”.

This Prospectus provides you with a general description of the Securities that we may offer. Each time we offer Securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement (which we refer to as the “Prospectus Supplement”) that describes specific information about the particular Securities being offered and may add, update or change information contained in this Prospectus. You should read both this Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, together with any additional information which is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement. This Prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities without the Prospectus Supplement which includes a description of the method and terms of that offering.

We may sell the Securities on a continuous or delayed basis to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers. The Prospectus Supplement, which we will provide to you each time we offer Securities, will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of the Securities, and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this Prospectus.

Our Common Shares are listed and posted for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) under the symbol “GQM” and quoted on the OTCQX International Exchange under the symbol “GQMNF”. On April 29, 2016, the last reported sale price of the Common Shares on the QTCQX was $1.34 per Common Share and on the TSX was C$1.66 per Common Share. There is currently no market through which the Securities, other than the Common Shares, may be sold and purchasers may not be able to resell the Securities purchased under this Prospectus. This may affect the pricing of the Securities, other than the Common Shares, in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of these Securities and the extent of issuer regulation. See “Risk Factors and Uncertainties”.

Investing in the Securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors and Uncertainties” on page 6.

These Securities have not been approved or disapproved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or any state securities commission nor has the SEC or any state securities commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

This Prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the Securities described in this Prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of initial aggregate offering price of $70,000,000. This Prospectus provides you with a general description of the Securities that we may offer. The specific terms of the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement and may include, where applicable: (i) in the case of Common Shares, the number of Common Shares offered, the offering price and any other specific terms of the offering; (ii) in the case of Warrants, the designation, number and terms of the Common Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Warrants, any procedures that will result in the adjustment of those numbers, the exercise price, dates and periods of exercise, and the currency or the currency unit in which the exercise price must be paid and any other specific terms; and (iii) in the case of Units, the designation, number and terms of the Common Shares or Warrants comprising the Units. A Prospectus Supplement may include specific variable terms pertaining to the Securities that are not within the alternatives and parameters set forth in this Prospectus.

In connection with any offering of the Securities (unless otherwise specified in a Prospectus Supplement), the underwriters or agents may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the Securities offered at a higher level than that which might exist in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be interrupted or discontinued at any time. See “Plan of Distribution”.

Please carefully read both this Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement together with the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference under “Documents Incorporated by Reference”, any free writing prospectus and the additional information described below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Owning securities may subject you to tax consequences both in Canada and the United States. This Prospectus or any applicable Prospectus Supplement may not describe these tax consequences fully. You should read the tax discussion in any Prospectus Supplement with respect to a particular offering and consult your own tax advisor with respect to your own particular circumstances.

References in this Prospectus to “$” are to United States dollars. Canadian dollars are indicated by the symbol “C$”.

You should rely only on the information contained in this Prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this Prospectus. The distribution or possession of this Prospectus in or from certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these Securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these Securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or where the person making the offer or sale is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is not permitted to make such offer or sale. The information contained in this Prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this Prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this Prospectus or of any sale of the Securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

In this Prospectus and in any Prospectus Supplement, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “Golden Queen”, “Company” “we”, “us” or “our” refer to Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd., either alone or together with its subsidiaries as the context requires.

SUMMARY

Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd.

Corporate Information

We, Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd., were incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada in November 1985. Our Common Shares are listed and posted for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (referred to as the “TSX”) under the symbol “GQM” and quoted on the OTCQX International Exchange under the symbol “GQMNF”.

Our registered office is located at 1200 - 750 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 2T8 and our executive offices are located at 2300 – 1066 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6E 3X2. The address of Golden Queen Mining Holdings, Inc., a California corporation wholly-owned by the Company (“GQM Holdings”), in California office is P.O. Box 1030, Mojave, California 93502 USA. Our phone number is (778) 373-1557. We maintain a website at www.goldenqueen.com and through a link on our website you can view the periodic filings that we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (which we refer to herein as the “SEC”). Information contained on our website is not incorporated into this Prospectus.

Our Business and Property

The Company was incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada in November 1985 and has been exploring and developing the Soledad Mountain mining Project (the “Project”) located just south of Mojave in Kern County in southern California since that time.

The Company acquired its initial interest in the Project in 1985 and subsequently added to its landholdings and interests in the area. Exploration and evaluation work on the Project was done, until September 10, 2014, by Golden Queen Mining Co., Inc. (“GQM Inc.”), a California corporation wholly-owned by the Company. GQM Inc. was converted into a limited liability company, Golden Queen Mining Company, LLC (“GQM LLC”) on September 10, 2014 in preparation for the formation of a joint venture (the “Joint Venture”) between a newly formed entity, GQM Holdings, and Gauss LLC (“Gauss”). Gauss is an investment entity formed for the purpose of the Joint Venture, and is 70.51% owned by Leucadia National Corporation and 29.49% owned by members of the Clay family, a controlling shareholder group of the Company. Gauss acquired 50% of GQM LLC by investing $110 million in cash in exchange for newly issued units of GQM LLC.

Major construction projects completed on the Project in 2015, include the Phase 1, stage 1 heap leach pad, the crushing-screening plant and Merrill-Crowe plant, Assay lab, workshop & warehouse, roads and access ramps, power and water supply, conveying and stacking system. The Company acquired mobile mining and support equipment required for the commencement of mining operations and has been stock-piling ore from pre-production mining. Stock-piling of ore occurred in 2015 until the crushing-screening circuit was commissioned. In addition, the Company conducted an infill drilling program in 2015 as part of its pre-production mine planning.

Commissioning of the crushing-screening plant started in the fourth quarter of 2015 and the first gold pour occurred during testing and commissioning on March 1, 2016. The mine is expected to enter the production phase in the second quarter of 2016.

As a result of the changes made in connection with the Joint Venture and the incorporation of GQM Canada, the names, place of formation and ownership of the Company’s subsidiaries and the Project as at April 29, 2016 are as follows:

Recent Developments

Project Update

The Company engaged Mine Development Associates (“MDA”) in late 2014 to update the Project's geological model from first principles and to provide an updated mineral resource estimate. In late 2014, the Company also engaged Norwest Corporation (“Norwest”) and Kappes, Cassiday & Associates (“KCA”) to update the reserve estimates and prepare a feasibility study and economic analysis based upon current information. The updated mineral resource and reserve estimates and results of the feasibility study were disclosed in a news release on February 10, 2015. In support of the updated mineral resource and reserve estimates, the Company filed a technical report pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) titled “Soledad Mountain Technical Report and Updated Feasibility Study” with an effective date of February 25, 2015 (the “Technical Report”) on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (“SEDAR”) on February 27, 2015 and with the U.S. Securities And Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 2, 2015. The Technical Report was prepared by Carl E. Defilippi of KCA, Sean Ennis of Norwest, Michael M. Gustin of MDA and Peter Ronning of New Caledonian Geological Consulting, each of whom are Qualified Persons and independent of the Company pursuant to NI 43-101.

Major construction projects completed on the Project in 2015, include the Phase 1, stage 1 heap leach pad, the crushing-screening plant and Merrill-Crowe plant, Assay lab, workshop & warehouse, roads and access ramps, power and water supply, conveying and stacking system. The Company acquired mobile mining and support equipment required for the commencement of mining operations and has been stock-piling ore from pre-production mining. Stock-piling was carried out until the crushing-screening circuit was commissioned. In addition, the Company conducted an infill drilling program in 2015 as part of its pre-production mine planning.

There are a number of risks associated with the Project and readers are urged to consider these risks and possible other risks, in order to obtain an understanding of the Project (see Risk Factors and Uncertainties below).

Joint Venture with Gauss LLC

The Company owns a 50% interest in GQM LLC pursuant to the terms of a joint venture agreement, dated September 15, 2014, entered into between GQM Holdings and Gauss (the “JV Agreement”). The JV Agreement provides, inter alia, details of how GQM LLC will be managed and the obligations of each of the parties in connection with further funding requirements. GQM LLC is managed by a board of managers comprising an equal number of representatives of each of Gauss and GQM Holdings. The current representatives of GQM Holdings on the board of managers are Guy Le Bel, Bryan A. Coates and Thomas Clay. The current officers of GQM LLC are Robert C. Walish, Jr. as Chief Executive Officer and Andrée St-Germain as Chief Financial Officer.

The JV Agreement also provides for future funding requirements, if needed, and dilution of member interests on a straight line basis in the event any member does not equally fund a capital contribution. During 2015, Gauss and GQM Holdings each made a capital contribution to GQM LLC in the amount of $12.5 million, for a total contribution of $25 million. Following the capital contribution, each of Gauss and GQM Holdings retained a 50% ownership interest in GQM LLC. The funds contributed are expected to be sufficient for GQM LLC to commence commercial production and maintain operations until the Project is cash flow positive. However, should additional capital funds be required in the future, the JV partners may be called upon to contribute additional capital.

Following closing of the Joint Venture Transaction, Golden Queen has been treating GQM LLC as a variable interest entity (“VIE”), with Golden Queen considered to be the primary beneficiary. A VIE is an entity in which the investor, Golden Queen, holds a controlling interest, or in this case, is a primary beneficiary, that is not based on the majority of the voting rights. As a result, Golden Queen continues to reflect 100% of the financial results of GQM LLC in its consolidated financial statements, along with a non-controlling interest representing Gauss’ 50% interest in GQM LLC.

Financing – Loans

On January 1, 2014, the Company entered into an agreement to secure a $10,000,000 loan (the “January Loan”). The January Loan was provided by members of the Clay family including $7,500,000 to be provided by an investment vehicle managed by Thomas M. Clay, a Director and insider of the Company. The January Loan had a twelve-month term and bore an annual interest rate of 5%, payable on the maturity date. If the January Loan was repaid on a date that is less than 183 days before the maturity date, the Company would pay the Lenders an amount of 105% of the principal amount plus interest on the principal amount at the rate of 5% per annum accrued to the date the January Loan is repaid. The January Loan was repaid in full on the maturity date from the proceeds of new loan agreements with the lenders. For more detail, see the description of the December 31, 2014 transaction below.

On December 31, 2014, the Company entered into an agreement with members of the Clay family to secure a $12,500,000 loan (the “December Loan”) including approximately $9,375,000 provided by an investment vehicle managed by Thomas M. Clay. Golden Queen issued two (2) promissory notes, each due July 1, 2015, with an annual interest rate of 10.0%, payable quarterly on the first business day of each quarter. A portion of the proceeds of the December Loan was used to retire the January Loan, including principal, accrued interest and an additional charge, for an aggregate payment of approximately $11,000,000. Golden Queen paid the lenders a closing fee of $1,000,000, and the balance of the proceeds of the December Loan will be used for expenses and general corporate purposes.

On June 8, 2015, the Company amended the December Loan to extend the maturity to December 8, 2016 and increased the principal amount from $12,500,000 to $37,500,000 (the “June 2015 Loan”). The Company also issued 10,000,000 common share purchase warrants exercisable for a period of five years expiring June 8, 2020. The common share purchase warrants have an exercise price of $0.95. All other terms remained the same as the December Loan. The Company also incurred a closing fee to secure the loan in the amount of $1,500,000, all of which was paid on June 8, 2015. The Company agreed to pay the legal fees incurred by the lenders relating to this instrument, which amounted to $46,408. The legal fees were expensed as the transaction met the definition of a debt extinguishment. The terms of the registration rights remains unchanged as does the Company’s assessment of the likelihood of the registration rights being exercised. As such, as of December 31, 2015, no accrual has been made for the potential costs related to the registration rights.

On October 1, 2015, January 1, 2016, and April 1, 2016, the Company chose to exercise its right to defer quarterly interest on the June 2015 Loan by adding it to the principal balance.

The Securities Offered under this Prospectus

We may offer the Common Shares, Warrants, or Units with a total value of up to $70,000,000 from time to time under this Prospectus, together with any applicable Prospectus Supplement and related free writing prospectus, if any, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. This Prospectus provides you with a general description of the Securities we may offer. Each time we offer Securities, we will provide a Prospectus Supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the Securities, including, to the extent applicable:

aggregate offering price;

the designation, number and terms of the Common Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Warrants, any procedures that will result in the adjustment of those numbers, the exercise price, dates and periods of exercise, and the currency or the currency unit in which the exercise price must be paid and any other specific terms;

voting or other rights, if any; and

important United States federal income tax considerations.

A Prospectus Supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change information contained in this Prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference. However, no Prospectus Supplement or free writing prospectus will offer a security that is not registered and described in this Prospectus at the time of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part.

We may sell the Securities on a continuous or delayed basis to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers. The Prospectus Supplement, which we will provide to you each time it offers Securities, will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of the Securities, and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them.

Common Shares

We may offer Common Shares. Holders of Common Shares are entitled to one vote per Common Share on all matters that require shareholder approval. Holders of our Common Shares are entitled to dividends when and if declared by our Board of Directors. Our Common Shares are described in greater detail in this Prospectus under “Description of Common Shares.”

Warrants

We may offer Warrants for the purchase of Common Shares, in one or more series, from time to time. We may issue Warrants independently or together with Common Shares and the Warrants may be attached to or separate from such securities.

The Warrants will be evidenced by warrant certificates and may be issued under one or more warrant indentures, which are contracts between us and a warrant trustee for the holders of the Warrants. In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the Warrants under “Description of Warrants.” We urge you, however, to read any Prospectus Supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of Warrants being offered, as well as the complete warrant indentures, if applicable, and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the Warrants. If applicable, specific warrant indentures will contain additional important terms and provisions and will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part, or incorporated by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC.

Units

We may offer Units consisting of Common Shares and Warrants to purchase any of such securities in one or more series. In this Prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the Units under “Description of Units.” We urge you, however, to read any Prospectus Supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of Units being offered. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we may issue under a separate unit agreement with a unit agent. If applicable, we will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, the unit agreements that describe the terms of the series of Units we are offering before the issuance of the related series of Units.

THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO OFFER OR SELL ANY SECURITIES UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

Investing in the Securities involves a high degree of risk. Prospective investors in a particular offering of Securities should carefully consider the following risks, as well as the other information contained in this Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement, and the documents incorporated by reference herein before investing in the Securities. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business could be materially harmed. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those of which we are currently unaware or that we deem immaterial, may also adversely affect our business.

Mineral resource and reserve estimates are based on interpretation and assumptions, and the Project may yield lower production of gold and silver under actual operating conditions than is currently estimated. A material decrease in the quantity or grade of mineral resource or reserves from those estimates, will affect the economic viability of the Project or the Project’s return on capital.

Unless otherwise indicated, mineral resource and reserve figures presented in this Form S-3 and in our filings with securities regulatory authorities, press releases and other public statements that may be made from time to time, are based upon estimates made by independent consulting geologists and mining engineers. Estimates can be imprecise and depend upon geological interpretation and statistical inferences drawn from drilling and sampling, which may prove to be unreliable. We cannot assure you that the estimates are accurate or that mineralized materials from the Project can be mined or processed profitably.

Assumptions about gold and silver market prices are subject to great uncertainty as those prices have fluctuated widely in the past. Declines in the market prices of gold and silver may render reserves containing relatively lower grades of ore uneconomic to exploit, and the Company may be required to reduce reserve estimates, discontinue development or mining at one or more of its properties or write down assets as impaired. Should GQM LLC encounter mineralization or geologic formations at the Project different from those predicted, it may adjust its reserve estimates and alter its mining plans. Either of these alternatives may adversely affect the Company’s actual production and financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.

As production at the Project proceeds, mineral resources and reserves may require adjustments or downward revisions. In addition, the grade of mineralized material ultimately mined, if any, may differ from that indicated by our 2015 updated feasibility study. Gold and silver recovered in small scale tests may not be duplicated on a production scale.

The mineral resource and reserve estimates contained in this Form S-3 have been determined and valued based on assumed future prices for gold and silver, cut-off grades and operating costs that may prove to be different than actual prices, grades and costs. Extended declines in prices for gold or silver may render such estimates uneconomic and result in reduced reported mineralization or adversely affect current determinations of commercial viability. Any material reductions in estimates of mineralization, or of the ability of GQM LLC to profitably extract gold and silver, could have a material adverse effect on our share price and the value of the Project.

The estimates of production rates, costs and financial results contained in the 2015 feasibility study and any future guidance of production rates offered by the Company depend on subjective factors and may not be realized in actual production and such estimates speak only as of their respective dates.

The 2015 feasibility study provides estimates and projections of future production, costs and financial results of the Project. In addition, the Company may in the future provide guidance on projected production rates of the Project. Any such information is forward-looking and depend on numerous assumptions, including assumptions about the availability, accessibility, sufficiency and quality of ore, the costs of production, the market prices of silver and gold, the ability to sustain and increase production levels, the sufficiency of its infrastructure, the performance of its personnel and equipment, its ability to maintain and obtain mining interests and permits and its compliance with existing and future laws and regulations. Actual results and experience may differ materially from these assumptions. Any such production cost, or financial results estimates speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update such estimates, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

There are significant financial and operational risks associated with an operating mining project such as the project operated by GQM LLC.

The financial results of GQM LLC are subject to risks associated with operating and maintaining mining operations on the Property, including:

Any of these hazards and risks can materially and adversely affect, among other things, production quantities and rates, costs and expenditures, potential revenues and production dates. They may also result in damage to, or destruction of, production facilities, environmental damage, monetary losses and legal liability. The value of our interest in GQM LLC may decrease as a result, which would be expected to reduce the value of our common shares.

There are operational risks for which insurance coverage is not available at affordable rates or at all, and the occurrence of any material adverse event for which there is no insurance coverage may decrease financial performance of GQM LLC, or may impede or prevent ongoing operations.

GQM LLC currently maintains insurance within ranges of coverage consistent with industry practice in relation to some of these risks, but there are certain risks against which GQM LLC cannot insure, or against which GQM LLC cannot maintain insurance at affordable premiums. Insurance against environmental risks (including pollution or other hazards resulting from the disposal of waste products generated from production activities) is not generally available to GQM LLC. If subjected to environmental liabilities, the costs incurred would reduce funds available for other purposes, and GQM LLC may have to suspend operations or undertake costly interim compliance measures to address environmental issues. Any such events would be expected to have a significant detrimental impact on the value of our interest in GQM LLC and our common stock.

Gold and silver mining involves significant production and operational risks.

Gold and silver mining involves significant production and operational risks, including those related to uncertain mineral exploration success, unexpected geological or mining conditions, the difficulty of development of new deposits, unfavorable climate conditions, equipment or service failures, unavailability of or delays in installing and commissioning plants and equipment, import or customs delays and other general operating risks.

Commencement of mining can reveal mineralization or geologic formations, including higher than expected content of other minerals that can be difficult to separate from silver, which can result in unexpectedly low recovery rates. Problems may also arise due to the quality or failure of locally obtained equipment or interruptions to services (such as power, water, fuel or transport or processing capacity) or technical capital expenditure to achieve expected recoveries. Many of these production and operational risks are beyond the Company’s control. Delays in commencing successful mining activities at new or expanded mines, disruptions in production and low recovery rates could have adverse effects on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Land reclamation requirements for our properties may be burdensome and expensive.

Reclamation requirements are imposed on GQM LLC in order to minimize long term effects of land disturbance, and this includes a requirement to re-establish pre-disturbance land forms.

In order to carry out reclamation obligations imposed on GQM LLC in connection with development activities, GQM LLC must allocate financial resources that might otherwise be spent on further exploration and development. GQM LLC has set up and plans to set up a provision for our reclamation obligations on the Project, as appropriate, but this provision may not be adequate. If GQM LLC is required to carry out unanticipated reclamation work, our financial position could be adversely affected.

We have not included contributions from the sale of aggregate in the 2015 feasibility study cash flow projections. However, aggregate sales over a period of thirty years are important for the Project as it will permit GQM LLC to meet its closure and reclamation requirements. If no sale of waste rock as aggregate is ever achieved, the initial mine life is expected to be reduced.

As a result of competition in the mining industry, some of which is with large established mining companies with substantial capabilities and with greater financial and technical resources than ours, GQM LLC may be unable to effectively develop the Project or obtain financing on terms we consider acceptable.

We compete with other mining companies in the recruitment and retention of qualified managerial and technical employees. If we are unable to successfully compete for qualified employees, GQM LLC’s production of minerals from the Project may be slowed down or suspended. We also compete with other mining companies for capital. If we are unable to raise sufficient capital to meet capital call requirements, our interest in GQM LLC may be diluted.

We are subject to significant governmental regulations, which affect our operations and costs of conducting our business.

GQM LLC’s current and future operations are and will be governed by laws and regulations, including, among others, those relating to:

Companies engaged in production activities often experience increased costs and delays as a result of the need to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and permits. Failure to comply with these may result in enforcement actions, orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities requiring operations to cease or be curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures, installation of additional equipment or costly remedial actions. GQM LLC may be required to compensate those suffering loss or damage by reason of our activities and may have civil or criminal fines or penalties imposed for violations of such laws, regulations and permits.

Existing and possible future laws, regulations and permits governing operations and activities of mining companies, or more stringent implementation, could have a material adverse impact on GQM LLC’s business and cause increases in capital expenditures or require abandonment or delays in development of the Project, all of which would be expected to reduce the value of our interest in the GQM LLC.

GQM LLC’s activities are subject to California state and federal environmental laws and regulations that may increase the costs of doing business and restrict operations.

GQM LLC’s current and planned operations are subject to state and federal environmental laws and regulations. Those laws and regulations provide strict standards for compliance, and potentially significant fines and penalties for non-compliance. These laws address air emissions, waste discharge requirements, management of hazardous substances, protection of endangered species and reclamation of lands disturbed by mining. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations requires significant time and expense, and future changes to these laws and regulations may cause material changes or delays in the production of minerals from the Project or future activities.

U.S. Federal Laws: The Comprehensive Environmental, Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and comparable state statutes, impose strict, joint and several liability on current and former owners and operators of sites and on persons who disposed of or arranged for the disposal of hazardous substances found at such sites. It is not uncommon for the government to file claims requiring cleanup actions, demands for reimbursement for government incurred cleanup costs, or natural resource damages, or for neighbouring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by hazardous substances released into the environment. The Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and comparable state statutes, govern the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste and authorize the imposition of substantial fines and penalties for noncompliance, as well as requirements for corrective actions. CERCLA, RCRA and comparable state statutes can impose liability for clean-up of sites and disposal of substances found on exploration, mining and processing sites long after activities on such sites have been completed.

The Clean Air Act, as amended, and comparable state statutes, restrict the emission of air pollutants from many sources, including mining and processing activities. GQM LLC’s mining operations may produce air emissions, including fugitive dust and other air pollutants from stationary equipment, storage facilities and the use of mobile sources such as trucks and heavy construction equipment, which are subject to review, monitoring and/or control requirements under the Clean Air Act and comparable state air quality laws. New facilities may be required to obtain permits before work can begin, and existing facilities may be required to incur capital costs in order to remain in compliance. In addition, permitting rules may impose limitations on GQM LLC’s production levels or result in additional capital expenditures in order to comply with the rules. The Clean Air Act and comparable state statutes provide for civil, criminal and administrative penalties for unauthorized emissions of pollutants.

The Clean Water Act (CWA), and comparable state statutes, impose restrictions and controls on the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States, or to the surface or ground waters of the state. The CWA regulates storm water runoff from mining facilities and requires a storm water discharge permit for certain activities. Such a permit requires the regulated facility to monitor and sample storm water run-off from its operations. The CWA and comparable state statutes provide for civil, criminal and administrative penalties for unauthorized discharges of pollutants and impose liability on parties responsible for those discharges for the costs of cleaning up any environmental damage caused by the release and for natural resource damages resulting from the release. Violation of these regulations and/or contamination of groundwater by mining related activities may result in fines, penalties, and remediation costs, among other sanctions and liabilities under state laws. In addition, third party claims may be filed by landowners and other parties claiming damages for alternative water supplies, property damages, and bodily injury.

The Endangered Species Act and comparable state laws are designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a consequence of development. GQM LLC filed a response to statements made in a petition filed on January 31, 2014 with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), which petition sought to list the Mojave Shoulderband snail as a threatened or endangered species. In April 2014, USFWS concluded that there was no imminent threat to the snail that would cause them to believe an emergency listing was required, but that USFWS may address the petition in the future, subject to funding. Under the Endangered Species Act if the USFWS determines that the petition contains information that the species is imperiled, it then will proceed with a 90 day screening process to determine if the petition presents substantial information to support listing the subject species as endangered, and if such information exists, the USFWS has a further 12 month period to conduct a detailed assessment of the listing request to approve or deny the listing. The existence of any species listed as endangered under those laws, including as a result of the petition, on Project lands that are to be disturbed as part of the development and operation of the Project could increase the costs associated with the Project or require changes or limitations to the planned project development.

California Laws: At the state level, mining operations are also regulated by the California Department of Conservation, Office of Mine Reclamation. State law requires mine operators to hold a permit, which dictates operating controls and closure and post-closure requirements directed at protecting surface and ground water. In addition, state law requires operators to have an approved mine reclamation plan. Local ordinances require the operators to hold Conditional Use Permits. These permits mandate concurrent and post-mining reclamation of mines and require the posting of reclamation financial assurance sufficient to guarantee the cost of closure and reclamation. Any changes to these laws and regulations could have an adverse impact on our financial performance and results of operations by, for example, requiring changes to operating constraints, technical criteria, fees or financial assurance requirements.

Regulations and pending legislation governing issues involving climate change could result in increased operating costs.

A number of governments or governmental bodies have introduced or are contemplating regulatory changes in response to various climate change interest groups and the potential impact of climate change. Legislation and increased regulation regarding climate change could impose significant costs on GQM LLC and its suppliers, including costs related to increased energy requirements, capital equipment, environmental monitoring and reporting and other costs to comply with such regulations. Given the current emotion, political significance and uncertainty around the impact of climate change and how it should be dealt with, we cannot predict how legislation and regulation will affect our financial condition and operating performance. Furthermore, even without such regulation, increased awareness and any adverse publicity in the global marketplace about potential impacts on climate change by GQM LLC or other companies in our industry could harm our reputation. The potential physical impacts of climate change on our operations are highly uncertain, and may include changes in rainfall and storm patterns and intensities, water shortages and changing temperatures. These impacts may adversely impact the cost, production and financial performance of our operations.

Title to the Property may be subject to other claims, which could affect our property rights.

There are risks that title to the Property may be challenged or impugned. The Property is located in California and may be subject to prior unrecorded agreements or transfers and title may be affected by undetected defects. There may be valid challenges to the title to the Property which, if successful, could affect development of the Project and/or operations. This is particularly the case in respect of those portions of the Property in which GQM LLC holds its interest solely through a lease with landholders, as such interests are substantially based on contract and have been subject to a number of assignments.

GQM LLC holds a number of unpatented mining claims created and maintained in accordance with the General Mining Law of 1872 (the “General Mining Law”). Unpatented lode mining claims and millsites are unique property interests, and are generally considered to be subject to greater title risk than other real property interests because the validity of unpatented mining claims is often uncertain. This uncertainty arises, in part, out of the federal laws and regulations under the General Mining Law. Also, unpatented mining claims may be subject to possible challenges by third parties or validity contests by the federal government. The validity of an unpatented mining claim or millsite, in terms of both its location and its maintenance, is dependent on strict compliance with a body of U.S. federal law. Should the federal government impose a royalty or additional tax burdens on the properties that lie within public lands, the resulting mining operations could be seriously impacted, depending upon the type and amount of the burden.

Legislation has been proposed in the past that could significantly affect the mining industry

Members of the United States Congress have repeatedly introduced bills which would supplant or alter the provisions of the United States General Mining Law. If enacted, such legislation could change the cost of holding unpatented mining claims and could significantly impact our ability to mine mineralized material on unpatented mining claims. Such bills have proposed, among other things, to either eliminate or greatly limit the right to a mineral patent and to impose a federal royalty on production from unpatented mining claims. Although we cannot predict what legislated royalties might be, the enactment of these proposed bills could adversely affect GQM LLC’s potential to mine mineralized material on unpatented mining claims. Passage of such legislation could adversely affect our financial performance.

GQM LLC may incur increased construction costs if a 1997 project labor agreement is found to be enforceable.

The Company filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (the “NLRB”) against the Building and Construction Trades Council of Kern, Inyo, and Mono Counties (the “Union”) on May 23, 2014. The complaint was in response to the action taken by the Union related to a 1997 project labor agreement that the Company believes is not applicable to the Project and unenforceable under federal labor law.

The NLRB issued a Complaint against the Union and the matter was heard by Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) John McCarrick in June 2015. In December 2015 ALJ McCarrick issued his Decision finding that the PLA violates Section 8(e) of the National Labor Relations Act and is therefore unenforceable. The Union has appealed that Decision to the NLRB in Washington, D.C.

Our financial statements contain a qualification as to our ability to continue as a going concern due primarily to the need to repay or refinance our current indebtedness due in December of 2016, which is not assured.

Until such time as GQM LLC can economically produce and sell gold and silver from the Project and distribute cash to its members, we will continue to have no cash flow from our ownership interest in GQM LLC and will continue to incur an operating deficit. As at December 31, 2015, excluding any cash held by GQM LLC and inclusive of GQM Holdings, we had cash of approximately $6.1 million and current liabilities of approximately $37.1 million, including secured debt with a related party lender which is due in December of 2016. The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern requires that we obtain new financing to replace our current debt obligations or are able to refinance with the existing lenders. Our ability to obtain new financing is dependent on a number of factors including cash flow from operations that are distributed from GQM LLC to the Company, equity market conditions, the market for precious metals, and the willingness of other parties to lend the Company money.

The Company must meet any future cash contribution requirements if required under the terms of the JV Agreement with Gauss LLC, or face dilution of its ownership interest in the Project, which could impact our stock value and our ability to meet stock exchange listing requirements.

We hold a 50% interest in the Project pursuant to the terms of the JV Agreement. If in the future there are unexpected costs that require additional capital contributions from us under the terms of the JV Agreement, we will need to raise additional funds in order to maintain our 50% interest in the Project, otherwise we will have our interest diluted to below 50% which will likely have an adverse impact on the price of our common shares. In addition, to the extent our ownership interest of GQM LLC remains our sole business and asset, if we are diluted below 50% ownership we could fail to meet the listing requirements of the TSX and be delisted from the TSX and unable to list on a suitable alternate stock exchange. In such an event the market for our securities would be limited to the US over-the-counter market and related quotation services, being currently the OTCQX in the case of the Company. The anticipated impact of such a delisting will be to reduce venues for trading in our securities, a reduction in available market information, a reduction in liquidity, a decrease in analyst coverage of our securities, and a decrease in our ability for us to obtain additional financing to fund our operations.

GQM LLC’s results of operations, cash flows and operating costs are highly dependent upon the market prices of gold and silver and other commodities, which are volatile and beyond the Company’s control.

Gold and silver are exchange-traded commodities, and 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, as shown in the table below:

Gold and silver prices are affected by many factors including U.S. dollar strength or weakness, prevailing interest rates and returns on other asset clauses, expectations regarding inflation, speculation, global currency values, governmental decisions regarding the disposal of precious metal stockpiles, global and regional demand and production, political and economic conditions and other factors. In addition, Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”), which have substantially facilitated the ability of large and small investors to buy and sell precious metals, have become significant holders of gold and silver. Factors that are generally understood to contribute to a decline in the prices of gold and silver include a strengthening of the U.S. dollar, net outflows from gold and silver ETFs, bullion sales by private and government holders and global economic conditions and/or fiscal policies that negatively impact large consumer markets.

Because GQM LLC is expected to derive all of its revenues from sales of gold and silver, its results of operations and cash flows will fluctuate as the prices of these metals increase or decrease. A period of significant and sustained lower gold and silver prices would materially and adversely affect the results of operations and cash flows. Additionally, if market prices for gold and silver decline or remain at relatively low levels for a sustained period of time, GQM LLC may have to revise its operating plans, including reducing operating costs and capital expenditures, terminating or suspending mining operations at one or more of its properties and discontinuing certain exploration and development plans. GQM LLC may be unable to decrease its costs in an amount sufficient to offset reductions in revenues, and may incur losses.

Operating costs at the Project are also affected by the price of input commodities, such as fuel, electricity, labour, chemical reagents, explosives, steel and concrete. Prices for these input commodities are volatile and can fluctuate due to conditions that are difficult to predict, including global competition for resources, currency fluctuations, consumer or industrial demand and other factors. Continued volatility in the prices of commodities and other supplies the Company purchases could lead to higher costs, which would adversely affect results of operations and cash flows.

Holders of common shares may suffer dilution as a result of any equity financing by us in order to reduce or repay current indebtedness.

We require additional capital to repay our current indebtedness, and we may be required to seek funding, including through the issuance of equity based securities. We cannot predict the size or price of any future financing to raise capital, and any issuance of common shares or other instruments convertible into equity. Any additional issuances of common shares or securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, common shares may ultimately result in dilution to the holders of common shares, dilution in any future earnings per share and a decrease in the market price of our common shares.

We have been reflecting 100% of the financial results of GQM LLC in our consolidated financial statements based on certain assumptions of management, which assumptions, if incorrect, may require us to account for the Joint Venture differently.

Our financial statements are prepared on the basis that GQM LLC meets the requirements for accounting treatment as a variable interest entity with the Company being considered as the primary beneficiary. As a result, we continue to reflect 100% of the financial results of GQM LLC in our consolidated financial statements, along with a non-controlling interest held by Gauss LLC representing a 50% interest in GQM LLC. Although no individual investor holds a controlling financial interest in GQM LLC, GQM LLC is controlled by a related party group. Accordingly, one member of the group must be identified as the primary beneficiary. As the member of the related party group most closely associated with GQM LLC, Golden Queen has determined it is the primary beneficiary. Future changes in the capital or voting structure of GQM LLC could change that outcome. If this is the case, the presentation of the information in Golden Queen’s financial statements would change, which could be perceived negatively by investors, and could have an adverse effect on the market price of Golden Queen’s common shares.

There are differences in U.S. and Canadian practices for reporting mineral resources and reserves.

We generally report mineral resources and reserves in accordance with Canadian practices. These practices differ from the practices used to report resource and reserve estimates in reports and other materials filed with the SEC.

It is Canadian practice to report measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources, which are generally not permitted in disclosure filed with the SEC by United States issuers. In the United States, mineralization may not be classified as a “reserve” unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of measured or indicated mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves. Further, “inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. Disclosure of “contained ounces” is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however, the SEC only permits issuers to report “resources” as in place, tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.

The Company’s future growth will depend upon its ability to develop new mines, either through exploration at existing properties or by acquisition from other mining companies.

Mines have limited lives based on proven and probable ore reserves. The Company’s ability to achieve significant additional growth in revenues and cash flows will depend upon success in further developing the Project and developing or acquiring new mining properties. Any strategies to further develop the Project or acquire new properties are inherently risky, and the Company cannot assure that it will be able to successfully develop existing or new mining properties or acquire additional properties on favorable economic terms or at all.

We believe that we may be a “passive foreign investment company” for the 2015 taxation year which would likely result in materially adverse United States federal income tax consequences for United States investors.

We generally will be designated as a “passive foreign investment company” under the meaning of Section 1297 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (a “PFIC”) if, for a tax year, (a) 75% or more of our gross income for such year is “passive income” (generally, dividends, interest, rents, royalties, and gains from the disposition of assets producing passive income) or (b) if at least 50% or more of the value of our assets produce, or are held for the production of, passive income, based on the quarterly average of the fair market value of such assets. United States shareholders should be aware that we believe we were classified as a PFIC during our tax year ended December 31, 2015. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a United States person holds our securities, it would likely result in materially adverse United States federal income tax consequences for such United States person. The potential consequences include, but are not limited to, re-characterization of gain from the sale of our securities as ordinary income and the imposition of an interest charge on such gain and on certain distributions received on our Common Shares. Certain elections may be available under U.S. tax rules to mitigate some of the adverse consequences of holding shares in a PFIC.

Two of our directors are ordinarily resident outside of the United States and accordingly it may be difficult to effect service of process on them, or to enforce any legal judgment against them.

Two of our directors namely, Bryan A. Coates and Guy Le Bel are residents of Canada. Consequently, it may be difficult for U.S. investors to effect service of process within the U.S. upon these directors, or to realize in the U.S. upon judgments of U.S. courts predicated upon civil liabilities under the U.S. securities laws. A judgment of a U.S. court predicated solely upon such civil liabilities would probably be enforceable in Canada by a Canadian court if the U.S. court in which the judgment was obtained had jurisdiction, as determined by the Canadian court, in the matter. There is substantial doubt whether or not an original action could be brought successfully in Canada against any of such directors predicated solely upon such civil liabilities.

Our directors and officers may have conflicts of interest as a result of their relationships with other companies.

Our directors and officers are, or may in the future be, directors, officers or shareholders of other companies that are similarly engaged in the business of acquiring, developing and exploiting natural resource properties. Consequently, there is a possibility that our directors and/or officers may be in a position of conflict in the future.

Members of the Clay family own a substantial interest in Golden Queen and are represented on our board of directors, and thus may exert significant influence on our corporate affairs and actions, including those submitted to a shareholder vote.

Thomas M. Clay, a director of the Company is a member of the Clay Group. The Clay Group also controls Auvergne, which holds a 29.49% interest in Gauss, the joint venture that holds a 50% interest in GQM LLC and half the Project. For so long as the Clay Group beneficially owns at least 25% of our common shares, at least one of Golden Queen’s representatives on the board of managers of the Joint Venture will be designated by Auvergne. Accordingly, the Clay Group has considerable influence on our corporate affairs and actions, including those submitted to a shareholder vote, and GQM LLC’s development and operation of the Project. The interests of the Clay family may be different from the interests of other investors.

Members of the Clay family have also provided the Company with a loan of $37.5 million, including approximately $18.75 million provided by an investment vehicle managed by Thomas M. Clay. The loan is guaranteed by GQM Holdings and secured by a pledge of the Company’s interest in GQM Canada, GQM Canada’s interest in GQM Holdings, and GQM Holdings’ 50% interest in GQM LLC. As a result, a default on the loan could result in the Company losing its interest in the Project, which would have a material adverse effect on our share price.

Our share price may be volatile and as a result you could lose all or part of your investment.

In addition to volatility associated with equity markets in general, the value of your investment could decline due to the impact of any of the following factors upon the market price of our common shares:

Over the past few years, stock markets have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations and the market prices of securities have been highly volatile. These fluctuations are often unrelated to operating performance and may adversely affect the market price of our common shares. As a result, you may be unable to resell your shares at a desired price.

Because our common shares trade at prices below $5.00 per share, and because we will not be listed on a national U.S. exchange, there are additional regulations imposed on U.S. broker-dealers trading in our shares that may make it more difficult for you to buy and resell our shares through a U.S. broker-dealer.

Because of U.S. rules that apply to shares with a market price of less than $5.00 per share, known as the “penny stock rules”, investors will find it more difficult to sell their securities in the U.S. through a U.S. broker dealer. The penny stock rules will probably apply to trades in our shares. These rules in most cases require a broker-dealer to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document to a potential purchaser of the securities, along with additional information including current bid and offer quotations, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction, monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account, and to make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. Any information we reference in this manner is considered part of this Prospectus. Information we file with the SEC after the date of this Prospectus will automatically update and, to the extent inconsistent, supersede the information contained in this Prospectus. Copies of the documents incorporated herein by reference may be obtained on request and without charge from the Corporate Secretary of the Company at 2300 – 1066 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6E 3X2, telephone 778-373-1557.

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and future filings we make with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (referred to as the “Exchange Act”) (excluding, unless otherwise provided therein or herein, information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 on any Current Report on Form 8-K) after the date of the initial filing of this registration statement on Form S-3 to which this Prospectus relates until the termination of the offering under this Prospectus.

We also hereby specifically incorporate by reference all filings by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the filing of the initial registration statement on Form S-3 to which this prospectus relates and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement.

Certain statements contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (referred to collectively as “forward-looking statements”). The use of any of the words “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “projected”, “propose”, “should”, “believe”, “intends”, “contingent”, “subject to” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements included in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein should not be unduly relied upon. This forward-looking information is made as of the date of this prospectus, or in the case of documents incorporated by reference herein, as of the dates of such documents.

In particular, this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements pertaining to the following:

With respect to forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things:

Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the risk factors set forth below and elsewhere in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference:

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists of factors are not exhaustive. Due to the nature of the mining industry, budgets are regularly reviewed in light of the success of the expenditures and other opportunities, which may become available to the Company. Accordingly, while the Company anticipates that it will have the ability to spend the funds available to it as stated in this prospectus, there may be circumstances where, for sound business reasons, a reallocation of funds may be prudent or necessary. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and documents incorporated by reference herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Except as required under applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake or assume any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Investors should read this entire prospectus, as well as the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and consult their own professional advisors to assess the income tax, legal, risk factors and other aspects of their investment.

This prospectus has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all reserve and resource estimates included in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein have been, and will be, prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (referred to as “NI 43-101”) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum classification system. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects.

Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the SEC, and reserve and resource information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by companies reporting under United States standards. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term “resource” does not equate to the term “reserve”. Under United States standards, mineralization may not be classified as a “reserve” unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. The SEC’s disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning “measured mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources” or “inferred mineral resources” or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute “reserves” by United States standards in documents filed with the SEC. United States investors should also understand that “inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and 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, estimated “inferred mineral resources” may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an “inferred mineral resource” exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of “contained ounces” in a resource estimate is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. The requirements of NI 43-101 for identification of “reserves” are also not the same as those of the SEC, and reserves in compliance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as “reserves” under SEC standards.

Accordingly, information contained in this Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain descriptions of our mineral deposits that may not be comparable to similar information made public by United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Financial information is presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (referred to as “US GAAP”). The Company prepares its financial statements in United States dollars.

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high, low, average noon spot and period end noon spot buying rates of exchange for one United States dollar in Canadian dollars as published by the Bank of Canada. Although obtained from sources believed to be reliable, the data is provided for informational purposes only, and the Bank of Canada does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the data.

On April 29, 2016, the noon spot rate reported by the Bank of Canada was $1.00 = C$1.2549.

The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe certain Canadian federal income tax consequences to investors described therein of acquiring Securities including, in the case of investors who are not residents of Canada for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada), whether payment of any amount in respect of a security will be subject to Canadian non-resident withholding tax.

The applicable Prospectus Supplement will also describe certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Securities by an initial investor who is a U.S. person (within the meaning of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code), if applicable, including, to the extent applicable, any such consequences relating to Securities payable in a currency other than the U.S. dollar, issued at an original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes or containing early redemption provisions or other special terms.

The following table sets forth for the 12 month period prior to the date of this Prospectus, details of the price at which securities have been issued by us, the number and type of securities issued and the date on which such securities were issued, excluding employee stock options and Common Shares sold pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options:

The Shares are listed on the TSX under the symbol GQM, and on the OTCQX under the symbol GQMNF. The following table sets forth the price range and volume of trading of the Common Shares during the 12 months preceding the date of this Prospectus.

On April 29, 2016, the last reported sale price of the Common Shares on the TSX was C$1.66 per Common Share and on the QTCQX was $1.34 per Common Share.

We are authorized to issue an unlimited number of Common Shares, without par value, of which 99,928,683 are issued and outstanding as at the date of this Prospectus. There are options outstanding to purchase up to 1,070,000 Common Shares at exercise prices ranging from $0.58 to $1.59. There are warrants outstanding to purchase up to 10,000,000 Common Shares at an exercise price of $0.95. Holders of Common Shares are entitled to one vote per Common Share at all meetings of shareholders, to receive dividends as and when declared by our Board of Directors and to receive a pro rata share of the assets of the Company available for distribution to the shareholders in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company. There are no pre-emptive, conversion or redemption rights attached to the Common Shares.

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable Prospectus Supplements and free writing prospectuses, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the Warrants that we may offer under this Prospectus, which will consist of Warrants to purchase Common Shares and may be issued in one or more series. Warrants may be offered independently or together with Common Shares, and may be attached to or separate from those Securities. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any Warrants that we may offer under this Prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of Warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable Prospectus Supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus. The terms of any Warrants offered under a Prospectus Supplement may differ from the terms described below.

Warrants may be issued under and governed by the terms of one or more warrant indentures (each of which we refer to as a “Warrant Indenture”) between us and a warrant trustee (which we refer to as the “Warrant Trustee”) that we will name in the relevant Prospectus Supplement, if applicable. Each Warrant Trustee will be a financial institution organized under the laws of Canada or any province thereof and authorized to carry on business as a trustee.

This summary of some of the provisions of the Warrants is not complete. The statements made in this Prospectus relating to any Warrant Indenture and Warrants to be issued under this Prospectus are summaries of certain anticipated provisions thereof and do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all provisions of the Warrant Indenture, if any, and the Warrant certificate. Prospective investors should refer to the Warrant Indenture, if any, and the Warrant certificate relating to the specific Warrants being offered for the complete terms of the Warrants. If applicable, we will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, any Warrant Indenture describing the terms and conditions of Warrants we are offering before the issuance of such Warrants.

The applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to any Warrants offered by us will describe the particular terms of those Warrants and include specific terms relating to the offering. This description will include, where applicable:

Prior to the exercise of their Warrants, holders of Warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.

Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the Securities that we specify in the applicable Prospectus Supplement at the exercise price that we describe therein. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, holders of the Warrants may exercise the Warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

Holders of the Warrants may exercise the Warrants by delivering the Warrant certificate representing the Warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the Warrant Trustee, if any, or to us, as applicable, in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. We will set forth on the Warrant certificate and in the applicable Prospectus Supplement the information that the holder of the Warrant will be required to deliver to the Warrant Trustee, if any, or to us, as applicable.

Upon receipt of the required payment and the Warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Trustee, if any, to us at our principal officers, as applicable, or any other office indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, we will issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the Warrants represented by the Warrant certificate are exercised, then we will issue a new Warrant certificate for the remaining amount of Warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, holders of the Warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for Warrants.

The Warrant Indenture, if any, and the Warrant certificate will specify that upon the subdivision, consolidation, reclassification or other material change of the Common Shares or any other reorganization, amalgamation, merger or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, the Warrants will thereafter evidence the right of the holder to receive the securities, property or cash deliverable in exchange for or on the conversion of or in respect of the Common Shares to which the holder of a Common Share would have been entitled immediately after such event. Similarly, any distribution to all or substantially all of the holders of Common Shares of rights, options, warrants, evidences of indebtedness or assets will result in an adjustment in the number of Common Shares to be issued to holders of Warrants.

We may issue Warrants in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities, which will be registered in the name of and be deposited with a depositary, or its nominee, each of which will be identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The global securities may be in temporary or permanent form. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of any depositary arrangement and the rights and limitations of owners of beneficial interests in any global security. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the exchange, registration and transfer rights relating to any global security.

The Warrant Indenture, if any, and the Warrant certificate will provide for modifications and alterations to the Warrants issued thereunder by way of a resolution of holders of Warrants at a meeting of such holders or a consent in writing from such holders. The number of holders of Warrants required to pass such a resolution or execute such a written consent will be specified in the Warrant Indenture, if any, and the Warrant certificate.

We may amend any Warrant Indenture and the Warrants, without the consent of the holders of the Warrants, to cure any ambiguity, to cure, correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision, or in any other manner that will not materially and adversely affect the interests of holders of outstanding Warrants.

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable Prospectus Supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the Units that we may offer under this Prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any Units that we may offer under this Prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of Units in more detail in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The terms of any Units offered under a Prospectus Supplement may differ from the terms described below.

We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement (which we refer to herein as the “Unit Agreement”), if any, between us and a unit agent (which we refer to herein as the “Unit Agent”) that describes the terms and conditions of the series of Units we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of the related series of Units. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the Units are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Unit Agreement, if any, and any supplemental agreements applicable to a particular series of Units. We urge you to read the applicable Prospectus Supplements related to the particular series of Units that we sell under this Prospectus, as well as the complete Unit Agreement, if any, and any supplemental agreements that contain the terms of the Units.

We may issue Units comprising one or more of Common Shares and Warrants in any combination. Each Unit will be issued so that the holder of the Unit is also the holder of each security included in the Unit. Thus, the holder of a Unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The Unit Agreement under which a Unit may be issued may provide that the securities included in the Unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

We will describe in the applicable Prospectus Supplement the terms of the series of Units, including:

The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Common Shares” and “Description of Warrants” will apply to each Unit and to any Common Share or Warrant included in each Unit, respectively.

We may issue Units in such amounts and in numerous distinct series as we determine.

We may offer and sell the Securities, separately or together: (a) to one or more underwriters or dealers; (b) through one or more agents; or (c) directly to one or more other purchasers. The Securities offered pursuant to any Prospectus Supplement may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions at: (i) a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time; (ii) market prices prevailing at the time of sale; (iii) prices related to such prevailing market prices; or (iv) other negotiated prices. We may only offer and sell the Securities pursuant to a Prospectus Supplement during the period that this Prospectus, including any amendments hereto, remains effective. The Prospectus Supplement for any of the Securities being offered thereby will set forth the terms of the offering of such Securities, including the type of Security being offered, the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, the purchase price of such Securities, the proceeds to us from such sale, any underwriting commissions or discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers. Only underwriters so named in the Prospectus Supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with the Securities offered thereby.

If underwriters are used in the sale, the Securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Unless otherwise set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto, the obligations of underwriters to purchase the Securities will be subject to certain conditions, but the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the Securities offered by the Prospectus Supplement if any of such Securities are purchased. We may offer the Securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. We may agree to pay the underwriters a fee or commission for various services relating to the offering of any Securities. Any such fee or commission will be paid out of our general corporate funds. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in the Prospectus Supplement, naming the underwriter, the nature of any such relationship.

If dealers are used, and if so specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, we will sell such Securities to the dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell such Securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealers at the time of resale. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. We will set forth the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

The Securities may also be sold through agents designated by us. Any agent involved will be named, and any fees or commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Any such fees or commissions will be paid out of our general corporate funds. Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

Securities may also be sold directly by us at such prices and upon such terms as agreed to by us and the purchaser. In this case, no underwriters, dealers or agents would be involved in the offering.

Underwriters or agents could make sales deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the TSX, the existing trading market for our common shares, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the Securities offered by this Prospectus may be deemed underwriters under the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.

Underwriters, dealers or agents who participate in the distribution of Securities may be entitled under agreements to be entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under Canadian provincial and territorial and United States securities legislation, or to contribution with respect to payments which such underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make in respect thereof. Such underwriters, dealers or agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this Prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable Prospectus Supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third parties may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third parties in such sale transactions will be identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

One or more firms, referred to as “remarketing firms,” may also offer or sell the Securities, if the Prospectus Supplement so indicates, in connection with a remarketing arrangement upon their purchase. Remarketing firms will act as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. These remarketing firms will offer or sell the Securities in accordance with the terms of the Securities. The Prospectus Supplement will identify any remarketing firm and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and will describe the remarketing firm’s compensation. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the Securities they remarket.

In connection with any offering of Securities, underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the Securities offered at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Such transactions may be commenced, interrupted or discontinued at any time.

With respect to the sale of Securities under this Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement, the maximum commission or discount to be received by any member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. or independent broker or dealer will not be greater than eight percent (8%).

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of Securities will be used to fund the development of the Soledad Project, repay current debt, working capital requirements or for other general corporate purposes. More detailed information regarding the use of proceeds from the sale of Securities will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. We may, from time to time, issue Common Shares or other securities otherwise than through the offering of Securities pursuant to this Prospectus.

Our registrar and transfer agent for our common shares is Computershare Investor Services Inc., of 3^rd Floor, 510 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3B9.

The law firm of Morton Law LLP has acted as our counsel by providing an opinion on the validity of the securities offered in this Prospectus and applicable Prospectus Supplements and counsel named in the applicable Prospectus Supplement will pass upon legal matters for any underwriters, dealers or agents. Certain legal matters related to the Securities offered by this Prospectus will be passed upon on our behalf by Morton Law LLP, with respect to matters of Canadian law, and Dorsey & Whitney LLP, with respect to matters of United States law.

Information relating to our mineral properties in this Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein has been derived from reports, statements or opinions prepared or certified by Carl E. Defilippi of KCA, Sean Ennis of Norwest, Michael M. Gustin of MDA and Peter Ronning of New Caledonian Geological Consulting (collectively, the “Experts”), this information has been included in reliance on such companies and persons’ expertise.

None of Experts, each being companies and persons who have prepared or certified the preparation of reports, statements or opinions in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein relating to our mineral properties, or any director, officer, employee or partner thereof, as applicable, received or has received a direct or indirect interest in our property or of any of our associates or affiliates. As at the date hereof, the aforementioned persons, companies and persons at the companies specified above who participated in the preparation of such reports, statements or opinions, as a group, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, less than 1% of our outstanding common shares.

The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 and for each of the three years for the period ended December 31, 2015 incorporated by reference in this Prospectus have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of BDO Canada, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.

This Prospectus is part of a registration statement and, as permitted by SEC rules, does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this Prospectus to any of our contracts or other documents, the reference may not be complete and, for a copy of the contract or document, you should refer to the exhibits that are part of the registration statement. You may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information on the public reference rooms and their copy charges. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference rooms at:

Our Articles provide that directors shall be indemnified by us, to the extent authorized by Division 5 of Part 5 of the British Columbia Business Corporations Act, against all judgments, penalties or fines awarded or imposed, and expenses reasonably incurred, in legal proceedings or investigative actions. The Articles also authorize the board of directors to indemnify any other person, subject to any restrictions in the British Columbia Business Corporations Act. We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers, pursuant to which the Company has agreed to indemnify the directors and officers against all judgments, penalties or fines awarded or imposed, and expenses reasonably incurred, in legal proceedings or investigative actions, to the extent permitted by the British Columbia Business Corporations Act.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be conferred upon officers, directors and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act at and is, therefore, unenforceable.

Other than contracts made in the ordinary course of business, the following are the material contracts and other material exhibits as of the date of this registration statement:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) Each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(6) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. The registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3.

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Thomas M. Clay and Andree St-Germain as his or her attorney-in-fact and agent, with the full power of substitution and resubstitution and full power to act without the other, for them in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, and any registration statement relating to the same offering as this registration that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to this registration statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact, or their substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the date indicated:

British Columbia				Not Applicable
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)				(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	1
SUMMARY	2
RISK FACTORS AND UNCERTAINTIES	6
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE	14
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	15
cautionary NOTE REGARDING MINERAL reserve and resource estimates	16
PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION	17
CERTAIN INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS	18
PRIOR SALES	18
TRADING PRICE AND VOLUME	18
Description of Common Shares	19
Description of Warrants	19
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS	21
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	22
USE OF PROCEEDS	23
INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL	23
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR	23
LEGAL MATTERS	24
EXPERTS	24
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	24

Mineral	2015		2014		2013		2012		2011
Gold	$	1,160.06	$	1,265.78	$	1,411.23	$	1,668.98	$	1,571.52
Silver	$	15.68	$	19.08	$	23.79	$	31.15	$	35.12

	Quarter Ended		Year Ended December 31,
	March 31, 2016		2015		2014		2013
Highest noon spot rate during period		1.4589		1.3990		1.1643		1.0697
Lowest noon spot rate during period		1.2962		1.1728		1.0614		0.9839
Average noon spot rate for the period		1.3732		1.2787		1.1045		1.0299
Period end noon spot rate		1.2971		1.3840		1.1601		1.0636

Date of issue	Type of Securities	Number of Securities	Issue or Exercise Price of Security	Description of Transaction

June 8, 2015	Warrants ^[1]	10,000,000	$0.95/ 06/08/2020	June 2015 Loan

	TSX (prices in Canadian dollars)								OTCQX (prices in US dollars)
Month	High		Low		Volume		Month		High		Low		Volume

April 2015		1.18		0.98		819,740		April 2015		0.99		0.82		1,687,744
May 2015		1.08		0.98		584,624		May 2015		0.92		0.80		1,217,417
June 2015		1.06		0.75		930,828		June 2015		0.84		0.61		1,690,206
July 2015		0.83		0.65		3,437,331		July 2015		0.68		0.49		4,955,401
August 2015		1.05		0.75		1,826,220		August 2015		0.82		0.57		2,555,249
September 2015		1.12		0.68		473,826		September 2015		0.88		0.52		1,520,253
October 2015		1.07		0.85		190,054		October 2015		0.85		0.65		1,202,284
November 2015		0.90		0,68		242,384		November 2015		0.71		0.51		1,228,927
December 2015		0.80		0.67		451,522		December 2015		0.60		0.48		1,709,456
January 2016		1.24		0.76		767,900		January 2016		0.88		0.53		2,389,038
February 2016		1.70		1.08		1,184,000		February 2016		1.27		0.75		3,242,132
March 2016		2.00		1.47		1,908,100		March 2016		1.56		1.11		5,617,502
April 2016		1.98		1.19		1,029,361		April 2016		1.54		0.94		5,888,250

	Amount
Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee	$	7,049
Legal Fees and Expenses*		25,000
Accounting Fees and Expenses*		10,000
Printing and Engraving Expenses*		2,500
Miscellaneous Expenses*		2,500
Total*	$	47,049

Exhibit Number		Description
3.01		Notice of Articles, previously filed on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference
3.02		Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the SEC on September 2, 2010
4.01		Form of Stock Certificate*
5.1		Opinion of Morton Law LLP*
23.1		Consent of BDO Canada LLP*
23.2		Consent of Kappes, Cassiday & Associates*
23.3		Consent of Norwest Corporation*
23.4		Consent of Mine Development Associates*
23.5		Consent of Peter A. Ronning*
23.6		Consent of Carl E. Defilippi*
23.7		Consent of Sean Ennis*
23.8		Consent of Michael M. Gustin*
23.9		Consent of Morton Law LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1)*
24.1		Powers of Attorney (included on signature page hereto)

Date	Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd.

May 4, 2016	By:	/s/ Thomas M. Clay
		Thomas M. Clay
		Chairman and Principal Executive Officer
		(Principal Executive Officer)

May 4, 2016	By:	/s/ Andrée St-Germain
		Andrée St-Germain
		Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Signature	Title	Date

/s/ Thomas Clay	Chairman, Principal Executive Officer and Director	May 4, 2016
Thomas M. Clay

/s/ Bryan A. Coates	Director	May 4, 2016
Bryan A. Coates

/s/ Guy Le Bel	Director	May 4, 2016
Guy Le Bel

/s/ Bernard Guarnera	Director	May 4, 2016
Bernard Guarnera

/s/ Andrée St-Germain	Chief Financial Officer	May 4, 2016
Andrée St-Germain

/s/ Robert C. Walish, Jr.	Chief Operating Officer	May 4, 2016
Robert C. Walish Jr.