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Write-downs
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Impairment or Disposal of Tangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
WRITE-DOWNS
WRITE-DOWNS
 
 
Year ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Mining properties
 
 
 
 
 
 
Palmarejo
 
$

 
$
205,803

 
$
668,803

San Bartolomé
 

 
16,690

 
32,328

Kensington
 

 

 
67,671

La Preciosa
 

 

 
371,411

Joaquin
 

 

 
83,429

Coeur Capital
 
4,446

 
22,118

 
6,202

 
 
4,446

 
244,611

 
1,229,844

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property, plant, and equipment
 
 
 
 
 
 
Palmarejo
 
$

 
$
18,704

 
$
115,235

San Bartolomé
 

 
50,022

 
86,426

Kensington
 

 

 
40,161

La Preciosa
 

 

 
1,055

 
 

 
68,726

 
242,877

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
$
4,446

 
$
313,337

 
$
1,472,721



The 2016 write-down of $4.4 million ($3.9 million net of tax) was due to the impairment of Coeur Capital assets. The operator of the Endeavor mine in Australia, on which the Company holds a 100% silver stream, announced in early 2016 a significant curtailment of production due to low lead and zinc prices. As a result, Coeur recorded a $2.5 million write-down of the mineral interest associated with the Endeavor silver stream at March 31, 2016. In April 2016, Coeur sold its tiered NSR royalty on the El Gallo mine to the operator, a subsidiary of McEwen Mining Inc., for total consideration of approximately $6.3 million, including $1 million in contingent consideration. In anticipation of this sale, the Company recorded a $1.9 million write-down of the mineral interest at March 31, 2016.
The 2015 write-down of $313.3 million ($276.5 million net of tax) was due to a $224.5 million impairment of the Palmarejo
complex ($193.5 million net of tax), a $66.7 million impairment of the San Bartolomé mine, and a $22.1 million impairment
($16.3 million net of tax) of certain Coeur Capital assets, including the Endeavor silver stream and other royalties. The non-cash
impairment charges were largely driven by significant decreases in long-term metal price assumptions and revised mine plans in
the fourth quarter. For purposes of this evaluation, estimates of future cash flows of the individual reporting units were used to
determine fair value. The estimated cash flows were derived from life-of-mine plans, developed using long-term pricing reflective
of the current price environment and management’s projections for operating costs.
The 2014 write-down of $1,472.7 million ($1,021.8 million net of tax) was primarily due to a $784.0 million impairment
of the Palmarejo complex ($504.5 million net of tax) and a $372.5 million impairment of the La Preciosa project ($244.9 million
net of tax) due to a decrease in the Company's long-term silver and gold price assumptions reflective of the current silver and gold
price environment and revised mine plans.