Table of Contents

​

​

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

​

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

​

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

​

​

For the transition period from __________ to ___________

​

Commission File Number: 001-34857

​

​

Gold Resource Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

​

​

​

7900 E. Union Ave, Suite 320, Denver, Colorado 80237

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

​

(303) 320-7708

(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)

​

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

​

​

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

None

​

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

​

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

​

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ⌧ No ◻

​

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ⌧ No ◻

​

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

​

​

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act ◻

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C.7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ◻

​

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☒

​

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

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

The aggregate market value of the common stock of Gold Resource Corporation held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2023, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $55,611,099 based on the closing price of the common stock of $0.63 as reported on the NYSE American.

​

As of March 20, 2024, there were 88,757,610 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

​

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

Portions of the Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A for the registrant’s 2024 annual meeting of shareholders will be filed no later than 120 days after the close of Registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

​

​

​

Table of Contents

​

​

​

TABLE OF CONTENTS

​

​

​

Table of Contents

​

​

2023 HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights for the full-year ended December 31, 2023 are summarized below and discussed further in our Management’s Discussion and Analysis:

Corporate and Financial:

Don David Gold Mine:

Back Forty Project:

1 Gold equivalent is determined by taking gold ounces produced and sold, plus silver ounces produced and sold, converted to gold equivalent ounces using the gold to silver average realized price ratio for the period.

2 Further information regarding the Mexican Chamber of Mines benchmark can be found at https://camimex.org.mx/sostenibilidad2023/indicadores.html. Information contained therein is not a part of this report and is not incorporated by reference herein.

Table of Contents

​

​

​

​

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

​

This report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We use the words “anticipate,” “continue,” “likely,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “could,” “will,” “project,” “should,” “believe” and similar expressions (including negative and grammatical variations) to identify forward looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding:

​

​

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Rather, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict, and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:

​

Table of Contents

​

​

​

Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such expectations may prove to be materially incorrect due to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. You should not unduly rely on any of our forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this annual report on Form 10-K. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us and persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this section and elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K.

​

Table of Contents

​

​

​

PART I

History and Organization

In this report, “Company,” “GRC,” “our,” “us,” and “we” refer to Gold Resource Corporation together with its subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. See Item 2. Properties—Glossary for additional definitions.

Gold Resource Corporation was organized under the laws of Colorado, USA on August 24, 1998. Since 2010, GRC has produced gold and silver doré and copper, lead, and zinc concentrates in Oaxaca, Mexico at our subsidiary, Don David Gold Mexico S.A. de C.V. (“Don David Gold Mine” or “DDGM”). The Don David Gold Mine holds six (6) properties which are all located in what is known as the San Jose structural corridor. Our properties span 55 continuous kilometers of this structural corridor, which include three historic mining districts in Oaxaca.

On December 10, 2021, the Company successfully completed the acquisition of all the issued and outstanding common shares of Aquila Resources Inc (the “Aquila Transaction”). Aquila’s principal asset is its 100% interest in the Back Forty Project located in Menominee County, Michigan, USA. The Back Forty Project has a polymetallic (gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc) Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide deposit. The Back Forty Project controls surface and mineral rights through ownership and leases with the State of Michigan. Optimization work related to metallurgy and the economic model was completed during the third quarter of 2023, and the Company filed the Back Forty Project Technical Report Summary on October 26, 2023. Results of the work indicate a more robust economic project with no planned impacts to wetlands that is more protective of the environment, which should facilitate a successful mine permitting process. The Board continues to evaluate options that could lead to the development of the Project.

Review of Strategic Alternatives

Notwithstanding the technical successes noted above, in light of the continued challenges facing the Company, the Company’s Board of Directors has decided to initiate a formal review process, with the assistance of outside financial and legal advisors, to evaluate strategic alternatives for the Company. The comprehensive process is evaluating a broad range of options to maximize shareholder value, including a potential sale of the Company.

There is no deadline or definitive timetable for completion of the strategic alternatives review process, and there can be no assurance regarding the results or outcome of this review. The Company does not intend to comment further on this strategic review process until it has been completed or the Company determines that a disclosure is required by law or otherwise deemed appropriate.

Table of Contents

​

​

Mexico Production Stage Properties:

The primary production stage properties at DDGM commenced operations in 2010. The current operations include the Arista underground mine and the DDGM processing facility. The DDGM processing facility currently produces doré and metal concentrates from ore mined at the Arista Mine. The Arista Mine was expanded in 2016 with the development of the Switchback vein system. The Arista Mine portal is located approximately two kilometers from the processing facility. Additionally, underground mining at the Alta Gracia mine was conducted from 2017 to 2019. Alta Gracia is approximately 32 kilometers from the processing facilities.

The Arista and Alta Gracia mines include a total of approximately 30,000 hectares of mining concessions, access roads from a major highway, haul roads, a processing facility and adjoining buildings, an assay lab, a now depleted open pit, underground mines, tailings facilities, and other infrastructure. Please see Item 2. Properties for additional information.

Mexico Exploration Prospects:

The current company land package sits within the highly prospective 55-kilometer-long San Jose structural corridor, in Oaxaca, Mexico. Multiple volcanic domes of various scales, and likely non-vented intrusive domes, dominate the district geology. These volcanogenic features are imposed on a pre-volcanic basement of sedimentary rocks. Gold and silver, as well as base metal mineralization in this district is related to the manifestations of this classic volcanogenic system and is considered epithermal in character. The Company intends to advance organic growth and to unlock the value of the mine, existing infrastructure, and our large property position by continuing to invest in exploration and development. Please see Item 2. Properties for additional information.

Table of Contents

​

​

Back Forty Project:

There is a long history of exploration at the Back Forty Project. After acquisition of Aquila and the Back Forty Project by the Company in 2021, optimization work was initiated to address the mine’s footprint, potential for an underground mine, wetland mitigation, and other key construction and design decisions. This optimization work related to a change in mine design, tailings relocation, metallurgy, and the economic model was completed, and the Company filed the Back Forty Project Technical Report Summary on October 26, 2023. Results of the work indicate a more robust economic project with no planned impacts to wetlands that is more protective of the environment, which should facilitate a successful mine permitting process. The Board continues to evaluate options that could lead to the development of the Project. Please see Item 2. Properties for additional information.

Before the Aquila Transaction, Aquila’s common shares were traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) under the ticker symbol AQA. Effective December 10, 2021, Aquila ceased to be a reporting issuer in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. At the same time, GRC became a reporting issuer in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Nova Scotia by virtue of the completion of the acquisition. As a Canadian Issuer, GRC is now required to file reports on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (“SEDAR”) in Canada. All financial statements filed on SEDAR will conform to United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”).

Administrative Offices:

Our principal executive offices are located at 7900 E. Union Ave, Suite 320, Denver, Colorado 80237, and our telephone number is (303) 320-7708. The Company maintains a website at www.goldresourcecorp.com. Information on our website is not incorporated into this annual report on Form 10-K and is not a part of this report. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) maintains an internet site (www.sec.gov) on which the reports that we file with the SEC are available to review.

Table of Contents

​

​

The SEC filings can also be accessed through our website.

2023 Developments

For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company reported a net loss of $16.0 million. The loss is mainly attributable to a high inflationary environment and the strengthening of the Mexican Peso, which resulted in higher production and capital costs (including but not limited to energy, payroll, services, and equipment costs). Financial results for 2023 include revenue of $97.7 million and mine gross loss of $5.3 million. The Company achieved solid production results for the year totaling 20,328 gold ounces, 1,142,138 silver ounces, 1,287 copper tonnes, 5,068 lead tonnes, and 13,513 zinc tonnes, as planned, despite achieving lower production than in 2022 due to mine planning.

For the ninth consecutive year, the DDGM received the prestigious ESR award from the Mexican Center for Philanthropy (“CEMEFI”). Awards are given to organizations that demonstrate a commitment to supporting social and environmental protection programs within their local communities.

Our 2023 exploration activities were focused on drilling at the Arista and Switchback vein systems in the Arista Mine. During the year, we completed 168 underground diamond drill holes totaling 36,350 meters, including 18 expansion drill holes totaling 10,293 meters and 150 infill drill holes totaling 26,057 meters in the Arista mine. In addition to exploration drilling, 520 meters of drift development was completed to support the expansion and infill drilling programs.

During 2023, exploration was strategically directed towards infill and expansion drilling of multiple high-grade, polymetallic epithermal veins within the Switchback vein system, both up- and down-dip and along strike of existing workings, as well as in the Three Sisters and newly discovered Gloria vein systems to define additional Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources. The Gloria vein system, located near existing mine infrastructure and comprised of no fewer than three distinct veins, is located between and north of the Arista and Switchback vein systems. Both the Gloria and Three Sisters vein systems will be a primary focus of the 2024 drilling program. The 2023 drilling program successfully targeted the expansion of the Arista vein system along strike to the north-west, with particular focus on the Splay 31 and Marena North veins, to define additional Mineral Resources. Surface exploration activity during 2023 focused on the Alta Gracia property with the interpretation of surface mapping and soil geochemistry results received late 2022. This work has identified several targets for future follow-up exploration activity. Our continued investment in exploration efforts demonstrate our commitment to long-term investment in Oaxaca, Mexico.

​

For the Back Forty Project, work in 2023 focused on the optimization of the mine design, project layout, metallurgy, and the economic model which was completed and filed by the Company in a Technical Report Summary on October 26, 2023. Results of the work indicate a more robust economic project with no planned impacts to wetlands that is more protective of the environment, which should facilitate a successful mine permitting process. The Board continues to evaluate options that could lead to the development of the Project.

In June 2023, the petition by the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (“MITW”) to have an area along the Menominee River registered as a cultural landscape with the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places was approved. Anaem Omot is an area around the Menominee River known as the Sixty Islands. This area is known to have culturally significant archeological findings. The Company helped identify these artifacts to ensure that proper procedures are deployed to protect cultural resources and to avoid and mitigate intrusions to the cultural landscape, as required. In addition to identifying these culturally significant resources, the Company has incorporated them into the Back Forty Project designs and permitting strategy.

We are also monitoring the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ review of a petition by the MITW to have the Menominee River designated as Navigable under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbor Act. The MITW asked the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ to revisit whether they—as opposed to the state of Michigan—should exercise authority over Aquila’s Back Forty permit applications. In response to a petition from the MITW, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is updating its navigability study on the Menominee River, which is expected to be completed in 2025.

Table of Contents

​

​

2024 Guidance

The Company’s focus continues to be on unlocking the value of the Arista mine, existing infrastructure, and large property position in Oaxaca, Mexico.

The table above contains forward-looking projections about our financial condition, results of operations, and business. These projections are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, which are discussed in Item 1A. Risk Factors. Because these projections are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. See Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Measures below for a discussion of the calculation of Cash Costs per Ounce and All-in Sustaining Costs per Ounce, which are non-GAAP measures.

Dividends

In February 2023, we announced the suspension of our quarterly dividend until such time that it may become practicable to reinstate. Please see Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchase of Equity Securities for additional information regarding our Dividend Policy.

Insurance

Our business is capital intensive and requires ongoing investment for the replacement, modernization, or expansion of equipment and facilities. For more information, please see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources below. We maintain insurance policies against property loss and business interruption and insure against most risks that are typical in the operation of our business in amounts that we believe to be reasonable. Such insurance, however, contains exclusions and limitations on coverage, particularly with respect to property loss, environmental liability, and political risk. There can be no assurance that claims would be paid under such insurance policies in connection with a particular event.

Table of Contents

​

​

Please see Item 1A. Risk Factors below for additional information.

Competitive Business Conditions

The acquisition of gold and silver properties is subject to intense competition. Identifying and evaluating potential mining prospects is a costly and time-consuming endeavor. In 2021, we successfully acquired the Back Forty Project as discussed above. We expect to continue our significant investment in exploration and growth activities in the future; however, competition for acquiring mineral prospects will continue to be intense.

Government Regulations and Permits

In connection with mining, milling, and exploration activities in Mexico, we are subject to Mexican federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment, including laws and regulations relating to the protection of air and water quality, hazardous waste management, mine reclamation, as well as the protection of endangered or threatened species. The government department responsible for environmental protection in Mexico is Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (“SEMARNAT”). SEMARNAT has broad authority over environmental regulations and standards. Potential areas of environmental consideration for mining companies, such as ours, include but are not limited to acid rock drainage, cyanide containment and handling, contamination of water sources, dust, and noise.

For operations at our Don David Gold Mine, we have secured and continue to maintain various regulatory permits from federal, state, and local agencies. These governmental and regulatory permits generally govern the processes being used to operate, the stipulations concerning air quality, water issues, hazardous and waste management, and the plans and obligations for reclamation of the properties at the conclusion of operations. These laws and regulations are continually changing and are generally becoming more restrictive.

Our production stage mines in Mexico have reclamation plans in place that we believe meet all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. As of December 31, 2023, $11.4 million has been accrued on our Consolidated Balance Sheets for reclamation costs relating to our production and exploration stage properties in Mexico. In addition, we accrued $0.4 million for drill-hole capping in Michigan.

The State of Michigan has been delegated authority under federal environmental law to issue all necessary environmental permits required for the Back Forty project. The State of Michigan’s “Natural Resource Environmental Protection Act” provides rules and regulations for the State Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to issue permits for mining, treated wastewater discharge, air emissions, and related environmental permits necessary for the project.

Customers

During the year ended December 31, 2023, three customers accounted for 98% of our revenue from DDGM. In the event that our relationship with any of the customers is interrupted for any reason, we believe that we would be able to locate another entity to purchase our products in a timely manner on substantially similar terms. However, any interruption could temporarily disrupt the sale of our principal products and materially adversely affect our operating results. We periodically review our options for alternative sales outlets to mitigate the concentration of risk in case of any unforeseen disruptions.

Human Capital Resources

We value excellence and recognize that embracing the diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives of the local workforce will lead to a competitive advantage. We are committed to leading by example and maintaining a fair and inclusive work environment built on mutual respect and integrity. Diversity means understanding, accepting, respecting, and valuing differences among people regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, religion or spiritual practices, disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, family status, or veteran status.

Table of Contents

​

​

We believe we have good morale and a dedicated workforce. Our human capital resources objectives include, as applicable, identifying, recruiting, retaining, incentivizing, and integrating our existing employees and new hires. The principal purposes of our equity incentive plans are to attract, retain, and motivate selected employees and directors by granting stock-based compensation awards that align employee compensation with shareholder returns.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had 488 employees at DDGM. There were 16 full-time corporate employees, three of whom serve as executive officers, and three full-time employees in Michigan who are fully dedicated to progressing the Back Forty Project.

​

Table of Contents

​

​

Our business, and the mining industry in general, is influenced by significant risks and uncertainties. These risks include those described below and may include additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial. Our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks, and the trading price of our common stock could decline by virtue of these risks. These risks should be read in conjunction with the other information in this annual report on Form 10-K.

Financial Risks

Our results of operations, cash flows, and the value of our properties are highly dependent on the market prices of gold, silver, and certain base metals, and these prices can be volatile.

The profitability of our mining operations and the value of our mining properties are directly related to the market price of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc. The price of gold and silver may also significantly influence the market price of our common stock. The market prices of these metals historically have fluctuated significantly and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control, including (i) global or regional consumption patterns; (ii) supply of and demand for silver and gold on a worldwide basis; (iii) speculative and hedging activities; (iv) expectations for inflation; (v) political and economic conditions; (vi) supply of, and demand for, consumables required for extraction and processing of metals, and (vii) general economic conditions worldwide. Over the last five years (as reported on the London Bullion Market Association using the London PM Fix for gold and silver), gold prices have fluctuated from a low of $1,270 per ounce to a high of $2,078 per ounce, and silver prices have fluctuated from a low of $12.01 per ounce to a high of $29.59 per ounce. On December 28, 2023, The London PM Fix gold price was $2,078 per ounce and on December 29, 2023, the London PM silver price was $23.79 per ounce.

Currently, we do not use hedging transactions with respect to any of our metal production. Accordingly, we are fully exposed to price fluctuations in precious metals. In the event metal prices decline or remain low for prolonged periods of time, we might be unable to develop our exploration properties, which may materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial performance, and cash flows. An asset impairment charge may result from the occurrence of unexpected adverse events that impact our estimates of expected cash flows generated from our mining operations or the market value of our non-producing properties, including a material diminution in the price of metals.

We may not achieve profitability.

Our DDGM property is the only property we own that produces revenue, and it may not generate sufficient cash flow to cover our operating, development, exploration, general and administrative, and other costs due to certain risk factors. Unexpected interruptions in our mining business may cause us to incur losses, or the revenue that we generate from extraction may not be sufficient to fund continuing operations, including exploration and mine development costs. Our failure to generate future profits may materially adversely affect the price of our common stock, and stockholders may lose all or part of their investment. Metal prices and foreign currency rates have a significant impact on our profit margin, and there is no assurance that we will be profitable in the future. Please see Item 1A. Risk Factors—General Risks – Our results of operations, cash flows, and the value of our properties are highly dependent on the market prices of gold, silver, and certain base metals and these prices can be volatile.

We may not have access to sufficient future capital.

We may be required to expend significant funds to develop, access, and determine if Mineral Reserves exist at any of our non-producing properties, continue exploration, and if warranted, develop our existing properties and identify and acquire additional properties to diversify our property portfolio.

Our ability to obtain necessary funding for these purposes, in turn, depends upon several factors, including our historical and prospective results of operations, the status of the national and worldwide economy, the price of gold, silver, and other metals, the condition of the debt and equity markets, the costs associated with extracting and acquiring minerals, and the market value for our common stock.

Table of Contents

​

​

We may not be successful in generating or obtaining the required financing, or if we can obtain such financing, such financing may not be on terms that are favorable to us and our shareholders. We also may be unable to obtain funding by monetizing additional non-core exploration or other assets at an acceptable price.

We cannot provide assurance we will be able to obtain financing to fund our general and administrative costs and other working capital needs to fund our continuing business activities in the future on favorable terms or at all. Failure to obtain financing could result in delay or indefinite postponement of further mining operations, exploration, and construction, as well as the possible partial or total loss of our interest in our properties.

Our ability to recognize the benefits of deferred tax assets is dependent on future cash flows and taxable income.

We recognize deferred tax assets when the tax benefit is more likely than not to be realized; otherwise, a valuation allowance is applied against deferred tax assets. Assessing the recoverability of deferred tax assets requires management to make significant estimates related to expectations of future taxable income. Estimates of future taxable income are based on forecasted cash flows from operations and the application of existing tax laws in each jurisdiction. To the extent that future cash flows and taxable income differ significantly from estimates, our ability to realize the deferred tax assets could be impacted. Additionally, future changes in tax laws could limit our ability to realize the future tax benefits represented by our deferred tax assets.

Our accounting and other estimates may be imprecise.

Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and related disclosure of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses at the date of the consolidated financial statements and reporting periods. The more significant areas requiring the use of management assumptions and estimates relate to:

Future estimates and actual results may differ materially from these estimates as a result of using different assumptions or conditions. For additional information, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

We may be required to repay a significant amount if we default under certain gold and silver stream agreements.

In connection with the Aquila Transaction, the Company assumed substantial liabilities related to the gold and silver stream agreements with Osisko Bermuda Limited (“Osisko”). Under the agreements, Osisko deposited a total of $37.2 million upfront in exchange for a portion of the future gold and silver production from the Back Forty Project. The stream agreements contain customary provisions regarding default and security.

Table of Contents

​

​

In the event that our subsidiary defaults under the stream agreements, including by failing to achieve commercial production by an agreed upon date, it may be required to repay the deposit plus accumulated interest at a rate agreed with Osisko. If the Company fails to do so, Osisko may elect to enforce its remedies as a secured party and take possession of the assets that comprise the Back Forty Project.

Operational Risks

Our production is derived from a single operating unit, and any interruptions or stoppages in our mining activities at that operating unit would materially adversely affect our revenue.

We are dependent on revenues from a single operating unit to fund our operations. Any interruption in our ability to mine this location, such as a labor strike, natural disaster, or loss of permits would negatively impact our ability to generate revenue following such interruption. Additionally, if we are unable to develop additional mines economically, we will eventually deplete the body of mineralized material and will no longer generate cash flow sufficient to fund our operations. A decrease in, or cessation of, our mining operations at this operating unit would materially adversely affect our financial performance and may eventually cause us to cease operations.

Since our current property portfolio is limited to one operating unit, our ability to be profitable over the long-term will depend on our ability to (1) expand the known Arista and Switchback vein systems and /or identify, explore, and develop additional properties in Mexico, (2) successfully develop the Back Forty Project in Michigan, USA, or (3) acquire and develop an alternative project.

Gold and silver producers must continually replace reserves depleted by production to maintain production levels over the long-term and provide a return on invested capital. Depleted reserves can be replaced in several ways, including expanding known ore bodies, locating new deposits, or acquiring interests in reserves from third parties. Exploration is highly speculative in nature, capital intensive, involves many risks, and frequently unproductive. Our current or future exploration programs may not result in new mineralization. Even if significant mineralization is discovered, it will likely take many years from the initial phases of exploration until commencement of production, during which time the economic feasibility of production may change.

From time to time, we may acquire mineral interests from other parties. Such acquisitions are based on an analysis of a variety of factors, including historical exploration results, estimates and assumptions regarding the extent of mineralized material and/or reserves, the timing of production from such reserves, and cash and other operating costs. In addition, we may rely on data and reports prepared by third parties, which may contain information or data that we are unable to independently verify or confirm. All of these factors are uncertain and may impact our ability to develop the mineral interests.

As a result of these uncertainties, our exploration programs and any acquisitions which we may pursue may not result in the expansion or replacement of our current production with new ore reserves or operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial position.

Table of Contents

​

​

Increased operating and capital costs could materially adversely affect our results of operations.

Costs at our mining properties are subject to fluctuation due to a number of factors, such as variable ore grade, changing metallurgy, and revisions to mine plans in response to the physical shape and location of the ore body, as well as the age and utilization rates for the mining and processing-related facilities and equipment. In addition, costs are affected by the price and availability of input commodities, such as fuel, electricity, labor, chemical reagents, explosives, steel, concrete, and mining and processing related equipment and facilities. Commodity costs are often subject to volatile price movements, including increases that could make mineral extraction less profitable. Further, changes in laws and regulations can affect commodity prices, uses, and transport. Reported costs may also be affected by changes in accounting standards. A material increase in costs could significantly affect our results of operations and operating cash flow.

We could have significant increases in capital and operating costs over the next several years in connection with developing new projects in challenging jurisdictions and sustaining and/or expanding existing mining and processing operations. Costs associated with capital expenditures may increase in the future as a result of factors beyond our control, such as inflation. Increased capital expenditures may have an adverse effect on the results of operations and cash flow generated from existing operations, as well as the economic returns anticipated from new projects, or may make the development of future projects uneconomic.

Competition in the mining industry is intense, and we have limited financial and personnel resources with which to compete.

In the mining industry, competition for desirable properties, investment capital, and human capital is intense. Numerous companies headquartered in the United States, Canada, and worldwide compete for properties and human capital on a global basis. We are a small participant in the mining industry due to our limited financial and human capital resources. We presently operate with a limited number of people, and we anticipate operating in the same manner going forward. We compete with other companies in our industry to hire qualified employees and consultants when needed to operate our mines successfully and to advance our exploration properties. We may be unable to attract the necessary human capital to fully explore, and if warranted, develop our properties and be unable to acquire other desirable properties. We believe that competition for acquiring mineral properties, as well as the competition to attract and retain qualified human capital, will continue to be intense in the future.

Estimates of proven and probable Mineral Reserves and measured and indicated Mineral Resources are uncertain, and the volume and grade of ore actually recovered may vary from our estimates.

The proven and probable Mineral Reserves stated in this report represent the amount of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc that we estimated at December 31, 2023, that could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. Estimates of proven and probable Mineral Reserves and measured and indicated Mineral Resources are subject to considerable uncertainty. Such estimates are largely based on the prices of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc, as well as interpretations of geologic data obtained from drill holes and other exploration techniques. These prices and interpretations are subject to change. If we determine that certain of our estimated Mineral Reserves or Mineral Resources have become uneconomic, we may be forced to reduce our estimates. Actual production from proven and probable Mineral Reserves may be significantly less than we expect. There can be no assurance that estimates of Mineral Resources will be upgraded to Mineral Reserves or may ultimately be extracted.

Any material changes in Mineral Reserve or Mineral Resource estimates and grades of mineralization may affect the economic viability of our current operations, our decision to place a new property into production, and/or such property’s return on capital. There can be no assurance that mineral recoveries in small-scale laboratory tests will be duplicated in a large-scale on-site operation in a production environment. Declines in market prices for contained metals may render portions of our Mineral Reserve or Mineral Resource estimates uneconomic and result in reduced reported mineralization or materially adversely affect the commercial viability of one or more of our properties. Any material reductions in estimates of mineralization, or of our ability to extract this mineralization, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

Table of Contents

​

​

Products processed from our operating mines or other mines in the future could contain higher than expected contaminants, thereby negatively impacting our financial condition.

Contracts for treatment charges paid to smelters and refineries include penalties for certain deleterious elements that exceed contract limits. If the material mined from our operating mines includes higher than expected contaminants, this will result in higher treatment expenses and penalty charges that could increase our costs and negatively impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations. This could occur due to unexpected variations in the occurrence of these elements in the material mined, problems that occur during blending of material from various locations in the mine prior to processing, and other unanticipated events.

Continuation of our mining and processing activities is dependent on the availability of sufficient water supplies to support our mining activities.

Water is critical to our business, and the increasing pressure on water resources requires us to consider both current and future conditions in our management approach. Across the globe, water is a shared and regulated resource. Mining operations require significant quantities of water for mining, ore processing, and related support facilities. Many of our properties in Mexico are in areas where water is scarce, and competition among users for continuing access to water is significant. Continuous production and mine development depend on our ability to acquire and maintain water rights and defeat claims adverse to current water use in legal proceedings. Although we believe that our operations currently have sufficient water rights and claims to cover operating demands, we cannot predict the potential outcome of future legal proceedings relating to water rights, claims, and uses. Water shortages may also result from weather or environmental and climate impacts beyond our control. Shortages in water supply could result in production and processing interruptions. In addition, the scarcity of water in certain regions could result in increased costs to obtain sufficient quantities of water to conduct our operations. The loss of some or all water rights, in whole or in part, ongoing shortages of water to which we have rights, or significantly higher costs to obtain sufficient quantities of water (or the failure to procure sufficient quantities of water) could result in our inability to maintain mineral extraction at current or expected levels, require us to curtail or shut down mining operations, and prevent us from pursuing expansion or any development opportunities. Laws and regulations may be introduced in some jurisdictions where we operate, which could also limit access to sufficient water resources, thus materially adversely affecting our operations.

The nature of mineral exploration, mining, and processing activities involves significant hazards, a high degree of risk, and the possibility of uninsured losses.

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

Table of Contents

​

​

​

These occurrences could result in damage to—or destruction of—mineral properties, processing facilities, and equipment; personal injury or death; environmental damage; reduced extraction and processing; delays in mining; asset write-downs; monetary losses; and possible legal liability. Although we maintain insurance in amounts that we consider reasonable for general commercial liability claims, physical assets at our Arista and Alta Gracia mines, and risks inherent in the conduct of our business, this insurance contains exclusions and limitations on coverage and will not cover all potential risks associated with mining and exploration activities. As such, the related liabilities might exceed policy limits. As a result of any or all of the foregoing, we could incur significant liabilities and costs that may exceed the limits of our insurance coverage or that we may elect not to insure against because of premium costs or other reasons, which could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. We may also not be insured against all interruptions to our operations. Losses from these or other events may cause us to incur significant costs which could materially adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to fund activities on our properties. A significant loss could force us to reduce or suspend our operations and development.

Revenue from the sale of metal concentrate may be materially adversely affected by loss or damage during shipment and storage at our buyer’s facilities.

We rely on third-party transportation companies to transport our metal concentrate to the buyer’s facilities for processing and further refining. The terms of our sales contracts with the buyers require us to rely, in part, on assay results from samples of our metal concentrate that are obtained at the buyer’s warehouse to determine the final sales value for our metals. Once the metal concentrate leaves our processing facility, we no longer have direct custody and control of these products. Theft, loss, road accidents, improper storage, fire, natural disasters, tampering, or other unexpected events while in transit or at the buyer’s location may lead to the loss of all or a portion of our metal concentrate products. Such losses may not be covered by insurance and may lead to a delay or interruption in our revenue, and as a result, our operating results may be materially adversely affected.

A significant delay or disruption in sales of doré or concentrates as a result of the unexpected disruption in services provided by smelters or refiners could have a material adverse effect on results of operations.

We rely on third-party smelters and refiners to refine and process and, in some cases, purchase, the gold and silver doré and copper, lead, and zinc concentrate produced from our mines. Access to smelters and refiners on economic terms is critical to our ability to sell our products to buyers and generate revenues. We periodically enter into agreements with smelters and refiners, some of which operate their smelting or refining facilities outside the United States, and we believe we currently have contractual arrangements with a sufficient number of smelters and refiners so that the loss of any one refiner or smelter would not significantly or materially impact our operations or our ability to generate revenues. Nevertheless, services provided by a refiner or smelter may be disrupted by operational issues, new or increased tariffs, duties or other cross-border trade barriers, the bankruptcy or insolvency of one or more smelters, or refiners or the inability to agree on acceptable commercial or legal terms with a refiner or smelter. Such an event or events may disrupt an existing relationship with a refiner or smelter, or result in the inability to create a contractual relationship with a refiner or smelter, which may leave us with limited, uneconomical, or no access to smelting or refining services for short or long periods of time. Any such delay or loss of access may significantly impact our ability to sell doré and concentrate products. We cannot ensure that alternative smelters or refiners would be available or offer comparable terms if the need for them arose or that we would not experience delays or disruptions in sales that would materially adversely affect the results of operations.

Table of Contents

​

​

We rely on contractors to conduct a significant portion of our exploration, development, and construction projects.

A significant portion of our development and construction projects are currently conducted in whole or in part by contractors. As a result, our operations are subject to a number of risks, some of which are outside our control, including:

​

In addition, we may incur liability to third parties as a result of the actions of our contractors. The occurrence of one or more of these risks could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

Risks Related to our Exploration Activities

The exploration of our mineral properties is highly speculative in nature, involves substantial expenditures, and is frequently non-productive.

Table of Contents

​

​

​

Regulatory Risks

Our operations are subject to ongoing permitting requirements, which could result in the delay, suspension, or termination of our operations.

Our operations, including our ongoing exploration drilling programs and mining, require ongoing permits from governmental and local authorities. We may also be required to obtain certain property rights to access or use our properties. Obtaining or renewing licenses and permits, and acquiring property rights, can be complex and time-consuming processes. There can be no assurance that we will be able to acquire all required licenses, permits, or property rights on reasonable terms or in a timely manner, or at all, and that such terms will not be adversely changed; that required extensions will be granted; or that the issuance of such licenses, permits or property rights will not be challenged by third parties. If we cannot obtain or maintain the necessary permits, or if there is a delay in receiving future permits, our timetable and business plan will be materially adversely affected.

Our operating properties located in Mexico are subject to changes in political or economic conditions and regulations in that country.

The risks with respect to operating in Mexico or other developing countries include, but are not limited to: nationalization of properties, military repression, extreme fluctuations in currency exchange rates, increased security risks, labor instability or militancy, mineral title irregularities, and high rates of inflation. In addition, changes in mining or investment policies or shifts in political attitudes in Mexico may materially adversely affect our business. We may be affected in varying degrees by government regulation concerning restrictions on production, price controls, export controls, income taxes, expropriation of property, maintenance of claims, environmental legislation, land use, land claims of local people, opposition from non-governmental organizations, labor legislation, water use, and mine safety. The effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted and may adversely impact our operations.

Most of our properties are subject to extensive environmental laws and regulations, which could materially adversely affect our business.

Our exploration and mining operations are subject to extensive laws and regulations governing land use and the protection of the environment, which control the exploration and mining of mineral properties and their effects on the environment, including air and water quality, mine reclamation, waste generation, handling and disposal, the protection of different species of flora and fauna, and the preservation of lands. These laws and regulations require us to acquire permits and other authorizations for conducting certain activities. In many countries, there is relatively new comprehensive environmental legislation, and the permitting and the authorization process may not be established or predictable.

Table of Contents

​

​

We may not be able to acquire necessary permits or authorizations on a timely basis, if at all. Delays in acquiring any permit or authorization could increase the cost of our projects and could suspend or delay the commencement of extraction and processing of mineralized material.

Environmental legislation in Mexico and in many other countries is evolving in a manner that will require stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects, and a heightened degree of responsibility for companies and their officers, directors, and employees. Future changes in environmental regulation in the jurisdictions where our properties are located may materially adversely affect our business, make our business prohibitively expensive, or prohibit it altogether. We cannot predict what environmental legislation or regulations will be enacted or adopted in the future or how future laws and regulations will be administered or interpreted. Compliance with more stringent laws and regulations, as well as potentially more vigorous enforcement policies or regulatory agencies or stricter interpretation of existing laws, may (i) necessitate significant capital outlays, (ii) cause us to delay, terminate, or otherwise change our intended activities with respect to one or more projects, or (iii) materially adversely affect our future exploration activities.

Climate change and climate change legislation or regulations could impact our business.

We are subject to physical risks associated with climate change, which could seriously harm our results of operations and increase our costs and expenses. The occurrence of severe adverse weather conditions, including increased temperatures and droughts, fires, longer wet or dry seasons, increased precipitation, floods, hail, snow, or more severe storms may have a potentially devastating impact on our operations. Adverse weather may result in physical damage to our operations, instability of our infrastructure and equipment, washed-out roads to our properties, and altered water and electricity supply to our projects. Increased temperatures may also decrease worker productivity at our projects and raise ventilation and cooling costs. Should the impacts of climate change be material in nature or occur for lengthy periods of time in the areas in which we operate, our financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Changes in the quantity of water, whether in excess or deficient amounts, may impact exploration and development activities, mining and processing operations, water storage and treatment facilities, tailings storage facilities, closure and reclamation efforts, and may increase levels of dust in dry conditions, and land erosion and slope stability in case of prolonged wet conditions. Increased precipitation and extreme rainfall events may potentially impact tailings storage facilities by flooding the water management infrastructure, exceeding surface water runoff network capacity, overtopping the facility, or undermining the slope stability of the structure. Further, increased amounts of water may result in extended periods of flooding to the mine pits and site infrastructure or may exceed the current water treatment facility capacity to store and treat water physical conditions, resulting in an unintended overflow either on or off the mine site property.

U.S. and international legislative and regulatory actions intended to ensure the protection of the environment are constantly changing and evolving in a manner expected to result in stricter standards and enforcement, larger fines and liability, and potentially increased capital expenditures and operating costs. Transitioning our business to meet regulatory, societal, and investor expectations may cause us to incur higher costs and lower economic returns than originally estimated for new exploration projects and development plans of existing operations.

Our continuing reclamation obligations at our operations could require significant additional expenditures.

We are responsible for the reclamation obligations related to disturbances located on all of our properties and have recorded a liability on our Consolidated Balance Sheets to cover the estimated reclamation obligation. However, there is a risk that any reserve could be inadequate to cover the actual costs of reclamation when carried out. Continuing reclamation obligations will require a significant amount of capital. There is a risk that we will be unable to fund these obligations and that the regulatory authorities may increase reclamation requirements to such a degree that it would not be commercially reasonable to continue mining and exploration activities, which may materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial performance, and cash flows.

Table of Contents

​

​

Title to mineral properties can be uncertain, and in the event of a dispute regarding the title to our Mexican properties, it will likely be necessary for us to resolve the dispute in Mexico, where we would be faced with unfamiliar laws and procedures.

Our ability to explore and operate our properties depends on the validity of our title to that property. Uncertainties inherent in mineral properties relate to such things as the sufficiency of mineral discovery, proper posting and marking of boundaries, assessment work and possible conflicts with other claims not determinable from public record. There may be valid challenges to the title to our properties which, if successful, could impair development and/or operations. The resolution of disputes in foreign countries can be costly and time consuming. In a foreign country, we face the additional burden of understanding unfamiliar laws and procedures. Not like in the U.S., we may not be entitled to a jury trial. Further, to litigate in any foreign country, we would be faced with the necessity of hiring lawyers and other professionals who are familiar with the foreign laws. For these reasons, we may incur unforeseen costs if we are forced to resolve a dispute in Mexico or any other foreign country.

In most of the countries where we operate, failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations relating to mineral right applications and tenure could result in loss, reduction or expropriation of entitlements, or the imposition of additional local or foreign parties as joint venture partners. Any such loss, reduction, or imposition of partners could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.

Under the laws of Mexico, Mineral Resources belong to the United States of Mexico, and government concessions are required to explore for or exploit Mineral Reserves. Mineral rights derive from concessions granted, on a discretionary basis, by the Ministry of Economy, pursuant to the Mexican mining law and regulations thereunder. Our concessions in Mexico are subject to continuing government regulation, and failure to adhere to such regulations will result in the termination of the concession. A title defect could result in losing all or a portion of our right, title, and interest in and to the properties to which the title defect relates.

Additionally, in 2014, new mining concessions became subject to additional review and approval by the Mexico Ministry of Energy, and in recent years, the federal government has been reluctant to issue new mining concessions.

Mining concessions in Mexico give exclusive exploration and exploitation rights to the minerals located in the concessions but do not include surface rights to the real property, which requires that we negotiate the necessary agreements with surface landowners. Many of our mining properties are subject to the Mexican Ejido system, requiring us to contract with the local communities surrounding the properties in order to obtain surface rights to land needed in connection with our mining exploration activities. Please see Item 1A. Risk Factors—Regulatory Risks—Our ability to develop our Mexican properties is subject to the rights of the Ejido (agrarian cooperatives) who use or own the surface for agricultural purposes.

Our ability to develop our Mexican properties is subject to the rights of the Ejido (agrarian cooperatives), who use or own the surface for agricultural purposes.

Our ability to mine minerals is subject to maintaining satisfactory arrangements and relationships with the Ejido for access and surface disturbances. Ejidos are groups of local inhabitants who were granted rights to conduct agricultural activities on the property. We must negotiate and maintain a satisfactory arrangement with these residents in order to disturb or discontinue their rights to farm. While we have successfully negotiated and signed such agreements related to the DDGM operations, our inability to maintain these agreements or consummate similar agreements for new projects could impair or impede our ability to successfully explore, develop, and mine the properties, which in turn could materially adversely affect our future cash flow.

A significant amount of our mining properties are subject to exchange control policies, the effects of inflation, and currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the Mexican peso.

Our revenue and external funding are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars. However, certain mining, processing, maintenance, and exploration costs are denominated in Mexican pesos. These costs principally include electricity, labor, water, maintenance, local contractors, and fuel. The appreciation of the peso against the U.S. dollar increases expenses and the cost of purchasing capital assets in U.S. dollar terms in Mexico, which can adversely impact our operating results and cash flows.

Table of Contents

​

​

Conversely, the depreciation of the Mexican peso decreases operating costs and capital asset purchases in U.S. dollar terms. When inflation in Mexico increases without a corresponding devaluation of the Mexican peso, our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows could be materially adversely affected. The annual average inflation rate in Mexico was approximately 5.55% in 2023 and 7.89% in 2022. Current and future inflationary effects may be driven by, among other things, supply chain disruptions, governmental stimulus or fiscal policies, and geopolitical instability, including the ongoing conflicts between Ukraine and Russia and in Gaza. For additional information, please see Item 1A. Risk Factors—General Risks—The Israel-Palestinian conflict in Gaza, the conflict in Ukraine, and the related price volatility and geopolitical instability could negatively impact our business. Continuing increases in inflation could increase our costs of labor and other costs related to our business, which could have an adverse impact on our business, financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

At the same time, the peso has been subject to fluctuation, which may not have been proportionate to the inflation rate and may not be proportional to the inflation rate in the future. The value of the peso increased by 14.6% in 2023 and increased by 6.3% in 2022. In addition, fluctuations in currency exchange rates may have a significant impact on our financial results. There can be no assurance that the Mexican government will maintain its current policies with regard to the peso or that the peso's value will not fluctuate significantly in the future. We cannot assure you that currency fluctuations, inflation, and exchange control policies will not have an adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations, earnings, and cash flows.

Lack of infrastructure could forestall or prevent further exploration and advancement.

Exploration activities, as well as any advancement activities, depend on adequate infrastructure. Reliable roads, bridges, power sources, and water supply are important factors that affect capital and operating costs and the feasibility and economic viability of a project. Unanticipated or higher than expected costs and unusual or infrequent weather phenomena, or government or other interference in the maintenance or provision of such infrastructure, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Risks Related to our Common Stock

Our stock price may be volatile, and as a result, shareholders could lose part or all of their investment.

In addition to other risk factors identified in this annual report on Form 10-K, and due to volatility associated with equity securities in general, the value of a shareholder’s investment could decline due to the impact of numerous factors upon the market price of our common stock, including:

​

Table of Contents

​

​

Stock markets in general have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations, and the market prices of individual securities have been highly volatile. These fluctuations are often unrelated to operating performance and may materially adversely affect the market price of our common stock. As a result, shareholders may be unable to sell their shares at a desired price.

Past payments of dividends on our common stock are not a guaranty of future payments of dividends.

In 2010, we began paying cash dividends to the holders of our common stock. However, our ability to pay dividends in the future will depend on a number of factors, including free cash flow, expected operational performance, mine construction requirements and strategies, other acquisition and/or construction projects, spot metal prices, taxation, government-imposed royalties, and general market conditions. Further, a portion of our cash flow is expected to be retained to finance our operations, explorations, and development of mineral properties. In February 2023, we announced the suspension of our quarterly dividends. There is no assurance that the Board will elect to re-institute a dividend payment in the near-term or at all.

Issuances of our stock in the future could dilute existing shareholders and materially adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

We have the authority to issue up to 200,000,000 shares of common stock, 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, and to issue options and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, in some cases without shareholder approval. As of March 20, 2024, there were 88,757,610 shares of common stock outstanding. Future issuances of our securities could be at prices substantially below the price paid for our common stock by our current shareholders. We can issue significant blocks of our common stock without further shareholder approval. Because we have issued less common stock than many of our larger peers, the issuance of a significant amount of our common stock may have a disproportionately large impact on our share price compared to larger companies.

General Risks

Our operations may be disrupted, and our financial results may be materially adversely affected by any future pandemic.

 Any pandemic may pose a risk to our business and operations. If a significant portion of our workforce becomes unable to work or travel to our operations due to illness or state or federal government restrictions (including travel restrictions and “shelter-in-place” and similar orders restricting certain activities that may be issued or extended by authorities), we may be forced to reduce or suspend exploration activities and/or development projects, which may impact liquidity and financial results. These restrictions have significantly disrupted economic activity in both the world, national and local economies and have caused volatility in capital markets.

To the extent any pandemic materially adversely affects our business and financial results, as discussed above, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this “Risk Factors” section, such as those relating to our operation, indebtedness, and financing. We are unable to predict the ultimate adverse impact of any pandemic on our business, which will depend on numerous evolving factors and future developments, including the pandemic’s ongoing effect on the demand for silver and gold, as well as the response of the overall economy and the financial markets after the pandemic and response measures come to an end, the timing of which remains highly unpredictable.

The Israel-Palestinian conflict in Gaza, the conflict in Ukraine, and the related price volatility and geopolitical instability could negatively impact our business.

On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian Sunni Islamist group, Hamas, led surprise attacks against Israel from the Gaza Strip. In response to the attacks, Israel’s cabinet formally declared war on Hamas. Although we do not have operations in the region, the extent and duration of the military action and resulting market disruptions could be significant and could potentially have a substantial negative impact on the global economy and/or our business.

Table of Contents

​

​

The magnitude of these risks cannot be predicted, including the extent to which these conflicts may heighten other risks disclosed herein.

In late February 2022, Russia launched significant military action against Ukraine, and the war remains ongoing. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions, and resulting market disruptions could be significant and could potentially have a substantial negative impact on the global economy and/or our business for an unknown period of time. The ramifications of the hostilities and sanctions may not be limited to Russia, Ukraine, and Russian or Ukrainian companies, and may spill over to and negatively impact other regional and global economic markets (including in Europe and in the United States), companies in other countries (particularly those that have done business with Russia and Ukraine), and various sectors, industries, and markets for securities and commodities globally. Any such volatility and disruptions may also magnify the impact of other risks described in this “Risk Factors” section.

We may not be able to operate successfully if we are unable to recruit, hire, retain, and develop key personnel and maintain a qualified and diverse workforce. In addition, we are dependent upon our employees being able to safely perform their jobs, but there is risk of physical injuries or illness.

We depend upon the services of a number of key executives and management personnel. These individuals include our executive officers and other key employees. If any of these individuals were to die, become disabled, or leave our company, we would be forced to identify and retain individuals to replace them. We may be unable to hire a suitable replacement on favorable terms should that become necessary.

Our success is also dependent on the contributions of our highly skilled and experienced workforce. Our ability to achieve our operating goals depend upon our ability to recruit, hire, retain, and develop qualified and diverse personnel to execute on our strategy. There continues to be competition over highly skilled personnel in our industry. If we lose key personnel or one or more members of our senior management team; or if we fail to develop adequate succession plans; or if we fail to hire, retain, and develop qualified and diverse employees; our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows could be harmed.

We are dependent on information technology systems, which are subject to certain risks, including cybersecurity risks, data leakage risks, and risks associated with implementation and integration.

We are dependent upon information technology systems in the conduct of our business. Any significant breakdown, invasion, virus, cyberattack, security breach, destruction, or interruption of these systems by employees, others with authorized access to our systems, or unauthorized persons could negatively impact our business. To the extent any invasion, cyberattack, or security breach results in disruption to our business; such as loss or disclosure of, or damage to our data or confidential information; our reputation, business, results of operations, and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. We have implemented various measures to manage our risks related to information technology systems and network disruptions. However, given the unpredictability of the timing, nature, and scope of information technology disruptions, we could potentially be subject to production downtimes, operational delays, the compromising of confidential or otherwise protected information, destruction or corruption of data, security breaches, other manipulation or improper use of our systems, and networks or financial losses from remedial actions, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows, competitive position, financial condition, or results of operations. Our systems and insurance coverage for protecting against cyber security risks may not be sufficient. Although to date we have not experienced any material losses relating to cyberattacks, we may suffer such losses in the future. We may be required to expend significant additional resources to continue to modify or enhance our protective measures. We also may be subject to significant litigation, regulatory investigation, and remediation costs associated with any information security vulnerabilities, cyberattacks, or security breaches.

We may also be materially adversely affected by system or network disruptions if new or upgraded information technology systems are defective, not installed properly, or not properly integrated into our operations. If we are unable to successfully implement system upgrades or modifications, we may have to rely on manual reporting processes and controls over financial reporting that have not been planned, designed, or tested.

Table of Contents

​

​

Various measures have been implemented to manage our risks related to the system upgrades and modifications, but system upgrades and modification failures could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations and could, if not successfully implemented, adversely impact the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting.

Our business is subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar worldwide anti-bribery laws, a breach or violation of which could lead to civil and criminal fines and penalties, loss of licenses or permits, and reputational harm.

We operate in certain jurisdictions that have experienced some degree of governmental and private sector corruption, and in certain circumstances, strict compliance with anti-bribery laws may conflict with certain local customs and practices. The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and anti-bribery laws in other jurisdictions generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business or other commercial advantages. Our Code of Ethics and other corporate governance mandate compliance with these anti-bribery laws, which often carry substantial penalties. However, there can be no assurance that our internal control policies and procedures will always protect us from recklessness, fraudulent behavior, dishonesty, or other inappropriate acts committed by our affiliates, employees, contractors, or agents. As such, our corporate policies and processes may not prevent all potential breaches of law or other governance practices. Violations of these laws, or allegations of such violations, could lead to civil and criminal fines and penalties, litigation, loss of operating licenses or permits, and may damage our reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, and results of operations, or cause the market value of our common stock to decline.

None.

Risk Management and Strategy

We have established policies and processes for assessing, identifying, and managing material risk from cybersecurity threats and have integrated these processes into our overall risk management systems and processes. We routinely assess material risks from cybersecurity threats, including any potential unauthorized occurrence on or conducted through our information systems that may result in adverse effects on the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of our information systems or any information residing therein.

​

We conduct periodic risk assessments to identify cybersecurity threats, as well as assessments in the event of a material change in our business practices that may affect information systems that are vulnerable to such cybersecurity threats. These risk assessments include identification of reasonably foreseeable internal and external risks, the likelihood and potential damage that could result from such risks, and the sufficiency of existing policies, procedures, systems, and safeguards in place to manage such risks.

​

Governance

One of the key functions of our Board of Directors is informed oversight of our risk management process, including risks from cybersecurity threats. Our Board is responsible for monitoring and assessing strategic risk exposure, and management is responsible for the day-to-day management of any material risks that may arise. The Board receives periodic updates from management regarding cybersecurity matters and is notified between such updates regarding any significant new cybersecurity threats or incidents. We do not believe that there are currently any known risks from cybersecurity threats that are reasonably likely to materially affect us or our business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition.

Management is responsible for the operational oversight of company-wide cybersecurity strategy, policy, and standards across relevant departments to assess and help prepare us to address cybersecurity risks. As part of our overall risk management system, we monitor and test our safeguards and train our employees on these safeguards.

Table of Contents

​

​

Personnel at all levels and departments are made aware of our cybersecurity policies through trainings.

Cybersecurity Threats

As of December 31, 2023, we have not identified an indication of a cybersecurity incident that would have a material impact on our business and consolidated financial statements. For further discussion of cybersecurity risks, please refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors.

​

Glossary

The following terms used in this report shall have the following meanings:

Table of Contents

​

​

Overview

We classify our mineral properties into three categories: “Production Stage Properties,” “Development Stage Properties,” and “Exploration Stage Properties.” Production Properties are properties for which we operate a producing mine.

At our Don David Gold Mine, we currently have 100% interest in six properties, including two Production Stage Properties and four Exploration Stage Properties, located in Oaxaca, Mexico, along the San Jose structural corridor. Because of their proximity and relatively integrated operations, we collectively refer to the six properties as the Don David Gold Mine. The two Production Stage Properties are the only two of the six properties that make up the Don David Gold Mine that we consider to be independently material at this time. Please see Item 2. Properties – Don David Gold Mine for further discussion of the properties.

The Company also has 100% interest in the Back Forty Project, an advanced Exploration Stage Property, located in Menominee County, Michigan, USA. We do not consider the Back Forty Project to be independently material to the Company at this time. Please see Item 2. Properties – Back Forty Project for further discussion of the property.

Mineral Resources

Under S-K 1300, a Mineral Resource is defined as “a concentration or occurrence of material of economic interest in or on the Earth’s crust in such form, grade or quality, and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction.” A Mineral Resource is a “reasonable estimate of mineralization, taking into account relevant factors such as cut-off grade, likely mining dimensions, location or continuity, that, with the assumed and justifiable technical and economic conditions, is likely to, in whole or in part, become economically extractable. It is not merely an inventory of all mineralization drilled or sampled.”

Table of Contents

​

​

The following tables summarize the estimated Mineral Resources at DDGM and at Back Forty:

Don David Gold Mine – Summary of Gold, Silver, and Base Metal Mineral Resources
at December 31, 2023(1)(2)(3)(4)

​

​

Notes on Mineral Resources:

​

For comparison, as at December 31, 2022, DDGM’s estimates of Mineral Resources, exclusive of Mineral Reserves, are provided in the below table.

Don David Gold Mine – Summary of Gold, Silver, and Base Metal Mineral Resources

at December 31, 2022(1)(2)(3)(4)

​

​

Notes on Mineral Resources:

​

During 2023, we performed a comprehensive review of our geological database and interpretation of the mineralization, the block models derived from them, and ultimately the mine plan to ensure more reliable and accurate mine planning and forecasting. In addition, metallurgy, mining methods, ground control, and other parameters were reviewed.

Table of Contents

​

​

As a result of this review, Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources decreased from approximately 1.6 million tonnes at December 31, 2022 to approximately 0.7 million tonnes at December 31, 2023. The contributing factors to this decrease was the reclassification of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource to Proven and Probable Reserves resulting in a decrease of 0.7 million tonnes, the application of economic constraining parameters (engineering) resulting in a decrease of 1.4 million tonnes, and change in the NSR cutoff grade from $80/tonne to $100/tonne resulting in a decrease of 0.6 million tonnes. These reductions were partially offset by the addition of 1.8 million tonnes related to the 2023 infill and step-out drilling program. The total Inferred Mineral Resources decreased from approximately 2.1 million tonnes at December 31, 2022 to approximately 1.6 million tonnes at December 31, 2023. The decrease in Inferred Mineral Resources was mainly due to infill drilling and the reclassification of Inferred Mineral Resources to Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources along with optimized mine planning.

More information regarding the assumptions, methodologies, and procedures utilized in the estimation of Mineral Resources at DDGM can be found in the updated Don David Gold Mine Technical Report Summary filed as Exhibit 96.2 to this Form 10-K (the “DDGM Technical Report Summary”).

Back Forty Project – Summary of Gold, Silver, and Base Metal Mineral Resources

at December 31, 2023(1)(2)(3)(4)

​

​

Notes on Mineral Resources:

Following the completion of the optimization work for the Back Forty Project, the Company published an update on Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources in the Back Forty S-K1300 Technical Report filed on October 26, 2023. A Measured Mineral Resource estimate or a Mineral Reserve estimate have yet to be established for the Back Forty Project.

More information regarding the assumptions, methodologies, and procedures utilized in the estimation of Mineral Resources at Back Forty can be found in the Back Forty Technical Report Summary incorporated by reference as Exhibit 96.1 to this Form 10-K.

Mineral Reserves

Under S-K 1300, a Mineral Reserve is defined as “an estimate of tonnage and grade or quality of indicated and measured Mineral Resources that, in the opinion of the qualified person, can be the basis of an economically viable project.”

Table of Contents

​

​

The following tables summarize the estimated Mineral Reserves at DDGM:

Don David Gold Mine – Summary of Gold, Silver and Base Metal Mineral Reserves
at December 31, 2023 (1) (2) (3) (4)

​

​

Notes on Mineral Reserves:

For comparison, as at December 31, 2022, DDGM’s estimates of Mineral Reserves are presented in the table below.

Don David Gold Mine – Summary of Gold, Silver and Base Metal Mineral Reserves
at December 31, 2022 (1) (2) (3) (4)

​

​

Notes on Mineral Reserves:

​

Table of Contents

​

​

Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves decreased from 1.4 million tonnes at December 31, 2022 to 1.1 million tonnes at December 31, 2023. The largest contributing factors for this decrease were the depletion of reserves by 0.5 million tonnes related to 2023 mining activities, the reduction of 0.6 million tonnes due to the increase of the NSR cutoff grade from $80/tonne to $120/tonne. The deductions were partially offset by the reclassification of 0.7 million tonnes from Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources to Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves as a result of detailed engineering for the Arista Mine.

More information regarding the assumptions, methodologies, and procedures utilized in the estimation of Mineral Reserves can be found in the DDGM Technical Report Summary filed as Exhibit 96.2 to this Form 10-K.

Don David Gold Mine

All of the properties that make up our Don David Gold Mine are located in Oaxaca, Mexico, in what is known as the San Jose structural corridor, which runs 70 degrees north-west. Our properties comprise 55 continuous kilometers along this structural corridor, which spans three historic mining districts in Oaxaca. The map below shows the general location of our properties:

​

The Company was granted concessions from the Mexican federal government to explore and mine our properties in Mexico. Please see below Item 2. Properties—Mining Concessions and Regulations in Mexico below for additional information. We hold certain properties as the concession holder and lease other properties from third-parties. We are required to pay concession fees to the Mexican government to maintain our interest in these concessions, and we pay concession fees for all our mineral properties, including those which are subject to the third-party lease.

Table of Contents

​

​

The table below details information related to the mining concessions that comprise our properties in Oaxaca, Mexico:

​

Production Stage Properties

Arista & Alta Gracia Mines

History: The Arista and Alta Gracia mines are in the regional Tlacolula mining district within Oaxaca State, in southern Mexico. According to the Mexican Geological Survey, the Servicio Geologico Mexicano (“SGM”) mining activity was initiated in the early 1880s in the Tlacolula mining district, producing some 300,000 ounces of gold and silver from an ore shoot in the La Leona mine. However, no separate amounts of production were reported for each metal. According to the SGM, in 1892 two smelters were built and operated (Magdalena Teitipac and O'Kelly) near the village of Tlacolula for processing ores from the Alta Gracia La Soledad, San Ignacio y Anexas, La Leona, La Victoria, and San Rafael silver mines. Subsequently, in 1911, Mr. Sken Sanders investigated the Totolapam mining region with a particular interest in the Margaritas mine. Most of these historical mines are within DDGM's mining concessions.

While the DDGM Arista Mine and Alta Gracia Mine are in the smaller mining subdistricts of San Jose de Gracia and Alta Gracia, respectively, only small-scale artisanal mining was historically conducted in these areas’ subdistricts. No reliable production records exist for the historic production performed in the Arista and Alta Gracia Project areas.

Arista Mine

Background: The Arista Mine currently holds 18 mining concessions aggregating 24,372 hectares.

In 2002, the initial three concessions were leased from a third-party. Two of the concessions are part of the Arista Mine, and the third concession comprises the Margaritas property. The lease agreement is subject to a 4% net smelter return royalty where production is sold in the form of gold/silver doré and 5% for production sold in concentrate form. Subject to meeting minimum exploration requirements, there is no expiration term for the lease. We may terminate it at any time upon written notice to the lessor, and the lessor may terminate it if we fail to fulfill any of our obligations, which primarily consist of paying the appropriate royalty to the lessor.

In August 2003, initial drilling and exploration program commenced at the Arista mine. Through the end of 2023, we have drilled a total of 1,794 core holes (both surface and underground) totaling 482,271 meters and 166 reverse circulation holes equaling 14,367 meters, for a total of 1,960 holes totaling 496,638 meters.

Table of Contents

​

​

In 2010, additional concessions were acquired from a third-party at no additional cost, which are subject to a 2% royalty. We filed for and received additional concessions from the Mexican government which are also not part of the concessions leased or acquired from the third-party. Two concessions are considered within the Arista mine.

Location and Access: The Arista mine is located in the Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains of southern Mexico in the central part of the State of Oaxaca. The property is located along a major paved highway approximately 120 kilometers southeast of Oaxaca City, the state’s capital city. The property is approximately four kilometers northwest from the village of San Jose de Gracia. We have constructed gravel and paved roads from the village to the mine and processing facility, which provide adequate access to the property.

The climate of the Arista mine area is dry and warm to very warm with most rainfall occurring in June through September, and annual precipitation averaging 423.7 mm. The average yearly temperature is 26.6 degrees centigrade. The area is very rocky with arid vegetation. Subsistence farming occurs, and the main agricultural crop is agave cactus that is cultivated for the production of mescal.

Table of Contents

​

​

Geology and Mineralization: The Arista mine is located in the San Jose de Gracia Mining District in Oaxaca. Multiple volcanic domes of various scales, and likely non-vented intrusive domes, dominate the district geology. These volcanogenic features are imposed on a pre-volcanic basement of sedimentary rocks. Gold and silver mineralization in this district is related to the manifestations of this classic volcanogenic system and is considered epithermal in character.

Historically, we have produced ore from two locations on the Arista mine, the open pit mine and the underground mine. The open pit mineralization is considered low sulfidation epithermal-type with consisting primarily of gold with some silver and no base metals. In 2021, mining activities were completed in the open pit, and it is now being backfilled and reclaimed by filtered dry stack tailings deposition. The Arista underground mine mineralization is considered intermediate epithermal-type consisting of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc. The host rock in the Arista vein system is primarily andesite.

Facilities: The processing facility and other infrastructure at the Arista mine was constructed for approximately $35 million in 2009, and the processing facility was expanded in 2012 and 2013 for additional $23 million. The flotation mill expansion, completed at the end of 2013, increased the number of flotation cells, added a second ball mill to allow for additional processing capacity, and added a Knelson gravity concentrator. In 2014, a doré processing facility was completed. In 2019, an increase in pumping capacity to the cyclones in the plant resulted in plant capacity increasing to nominal 2,000 tonnes per day. The DDGM processing facility is flexible in its ability to process several types of mineralization. It has a differential flotation section capable of processing polymetallic ore and producing up to three separate concentrate products. The facility also has an agitated leach circuit capable of producing gold and silver doré.

We obtained water rights from the Mexican government for an amount of water that we believe is sufficient to meet our operating requirements and pump it approximately five kilometers to the site from a permitted well located near the Totolapam River.

Table of Contents

​

​

Additional improvements at the site include electrical power lines connecting to the Mexican national power grid, installation of backup diesel generation power plants and switch gear, paving a three-kilometer section of the road from the mine to the processing facility, construction of a surface maintenance garage and fuel station, construction of haul roads from the mine site to the processing facility, office space at the processing facility, an assay lab, an exploration office, tailings impoundment facilities and lift, a paste fill plant, mine camp facilities, the filtration plant, the dry stack facility, and other infrastructure.

Exploration Activities: In 2023, an extensive underground drilling campaign at the Arista mine was successfully executed, completing 168 diamond drill holes totaling 36,350 meters. This program included a total of 150 underground infill drill holes, totaling 26,057 meters, with a specific emphasis on upgrading Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves and delineating the multiple sub-parallel veins within the Switchback system. Drilling here identified a number of high-grade zones up- and down-dip of existing workings, both within and peripheral to existing Mineral Resources. In late 2023, infill drilling also got underway in the Three Sisters vein system to begin converting Inferred Mineral Resources, identified earlier in the year during expansion drilling, to Mineral Reserves.

Underground expansion drilling activities were also completed at the Arista mine during 2023, encompassing a total of 18 drill holes totaling 10,293 meters. Expansion drilling focused on the Three Sisters and North Arista vein systems, as well as on the newly discovered Gloria vein system identified through expansion drilling during the first quarter of 2023. The objective of expansion drilling is to delineate additional Mineral Resources. Both the Arista and Switchback vein systems extend for over 1.5 kilometers in strike length, and both systems remain open along strike and in the vertical extent. The Gloria vein system, a new discovery, is located between and north of the Arista and Switchback vein systems, near existing mine infrastructure. Expansion drilling of the Gloria vein system in 2023 has defined a minimum of three new veins with true widths locally in excess of six meters. The Three Sisters vein system lies at the northern limit of the Arista mine underground workings and also between the Switchback and Arista vein systems. The Tree Sisters drilling during 2023 focused on the Sandy veins, which are open to the northwest and up- and down-dip. Both the Gloria and Three Sisters vein systems will be a primary focus of continued infill and expansion drilling in 2024.

Surface exploration activity during 2023 focused on the Alta Gracia property with the interpretation of surface mapping and soil geochemistry results generated in late 2022. This work has identified several targets for future follow-up exploration activity. Our exploration efforts on the Arista, Alta Gracia, and other properties demonstrate our commitment to long-term investment and the potential to extend our operations into the future in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Please see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for additional information concerning our mining operations at the Alta Gracia project.

Alta Gracia Mine

Background: In 2008, we were granted claims adjacent to the Margaritas property in the Alta Gracia Mining District by filing three mining concessions known as the David Fracción I, the David Fracción II, and La Herradura, totaling 5,175 hectares.

As of December 31, 2016, proven and probable reserves had been established for the Mirador Underground Mine on our Alta Gracia property. In July 2017, mine development reached the economic ore zone of the Mirador vein, and mining began.

Location and Access: The Alta Gracia project is approximately 20 kilometers northeast of the village of San Pedro Totalapam, in the Municipality of San Pedro Totolapam. Access to the project is by a gravel road that departs the paved highway approximately 13 kilometers east of the village of San Pedro Totalapam. The haulage distance by road from Alta Gracia to the DDGM processing facility is approximately 32 kilometers.

Table of Contents

​

​

Geology and Mineralization: The sedimentary and volcanic units mapped at Alta Gracia are similar to those observed at the Arista mine. The district is dominated by tertiary-age rhyolite flows and tuffs, which are underlain by andesite flows and tuffs. Granodiorite and felsic intrusives are observed to crop out to the north and east of the Mirador mine. Known vein occurrences at Alta Gracia are mainly hosted in andesite and rhyolite. The veins at Alta Gracia are considered low sulfidation epithermal mineralization with economic values only for gold and silver.

Facilities: During 2016, we received our operating permit for the Mirador Mine. In 2017, two mine portals were developed to provide access to the Mirador vein. Mine site offices and a mobile equipment maintenance shop were established. Additionally, a diesel power generation plant, a compressed air system, and a mine water pumping station were developed and put into service. In 2018, old workings were improved to create a second access to the vein system called Independencia. The portal for this access is located approximately 500 meters southwest of the Mirador portal. Development was established to access the mineralization, delineated by drill campaigns completed during 2018 and 2019 on the Mirador’s Independencia vein.

Ore from the Mirador Mine, primarily silver ore, was transported by contracted haul trucks to and processed at our agitated leach plant at the DDGM processing facility, with the final product being doré.

Exploration Activities: In 2023, surface exploration activity was centered around the Alta Gracia property area. In late 2022 and continuing into early 2023, a surface mapping and soil geochemical program was carried out in the Aguacatillo prospect over an area to the south-west, west, and north-west of the Independencia and Mirador mines. The objective of this work was to test for possible westerly extensions of mineralization extending from the Independencia and Mirador mines. The program was successful in identifying several anomalous zones, which will be used to target follow-up detailed mapping to identify additional potential targets for future surface drilling. In addition, analysis and interpretation was completed in 2023 of the geochemical results generated from a regional soil sampling program completed in late 2022 in the La Fundicion prospect area located immediately south-southeast of the Independencia and Mirador mines.

Table of Contents

​

​

This interpretation was successful in identifying three distinct clusters of anomalous gold- and silver-in-soil anomalies, which will be followed up with detailed geologic mapping and rock chip sampling.

Exploration Properties

Margaritas Property

The Margaritas property is made up of the La Tehuana concession, which is approximately 925 hectares, located within the 55-kilometer San Jose structural corridor and adjacent to the Arista mine.

In 2023, we continued to review results from previous surface drilling, surveying, detailed geological mapping, and rock chip channel sampling for the Margaritas property. We completed the work required to maintain the claims during 2023, with work focused on analysis of spectral and geophysical information to identify new targets of interest. We expect to target a similar amount of work in 2024, along with identifying opportunities to strengthen our relationship in the local communities.

Chamizo Property

In June 2011, we acquired an exploration concession from the Mexican government of approximately 17,898 hectares referred to as Chamizo. In March 2013, we acquired a property known as Cerro Colorado from Almaden Minerals, Ltd. (“Almaden”) consisting of approximately 1,860 hectares. The Cerro Colorado property is surrounded by our Chamizo concession, and we include it as part of the Chamizo property. The Chamizo Property is adjacent to the Alta Gracia property. Any future production from the Cerro Colorado concession is subject to a 2% net smelter return royalty in favor of Almaden.

During 2022, surface mapping and geochemical sampling were begun in the Jabali prospect area. Results of this work were reviewed and analyzed in 2023 in order to plan additional detailed follow up geologic mapping and target evaluation. Different targets within the Chamizo property will continue to be evaluated in 2024, while also looking to identify opportunities to strengthen our relationship in the local communities to facilitate future work.

Fuego Property

In March 2013, we acquired the Fuego property from Almaden subject to a 2% net smelter return royalty. The Fuego property consists of approximately 2,554 hectares and is located south of our Alta Gracia and Chamizo properties. In 2013, Fuego was included in the property-wide airborne geophysical survey. Geologic mapping and surface sampling have been conducted on the Fuego property, which allows us to meet the acceptable amount of work required to maintain the claims. We do not anticipate any significant exploration activities at Fuego in 2024. However, we do plan to conduct the work required to maintain the claims.

Rey Property

The Rey property consists of concessions on the far north-west end of our 55-kilometer structural corridor in the State of Oaxaca known as El Rey, El Virrey, La Reyna, and El Marquez, totaling 2,335 hectares. We acquired the El Virrey concession from a third-party, and it is subject to a 2% net smelter return royalty. We obtained the remaining concessions by staking claims and filing for concessions with the Mexican government.

The Rey property is located approximately 64 kilometers by road from the Arista mine. There is no plant or equipment on the Rey property. If exploration is successful, any mining would probably require an underground mine where ore could be trucked to the DDGM processing facility for processing. To date, we have drilled 48 core holes for a total of 5,273 meters at the Rey property. Early in 2012, we completed a small amount of work to finish refurbishing and extending an existing shaft on the property to permit underground exploratory drilling. We ceased work at the Rey property during 2012, following a request to obtain additional approvals from local community agencies. In 2024, we plan to continue working with the local agencies to understand and address any concerns the community may have, but we have no assurance that we will be able to resume our exploration activities in the near term.

Table of Contents

​

​

Once community support is obtained, we plan to conduct follow-up drilling and exploration based on the drilling done in 2007 and 2008. While negotiations continue, we will complete enough work to maintain the claims in good standing.

Mining Concessions and Regulations in Mexico

Mineral rights in Mexico belong to the Mexican federal government and are administered pursuant to Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution. All of our mining concessions are exploitation concessions, which may be granted or transferred to Mexican citizens and corporations. Our leases or concessions are held by our Mexican subsidiary DDGM. Exploitation concessions have a term of 50 years and can be renewed for another 50 years. Concessions grant us the right to explore and exploit all minerals found in the ground. Maintenance of concessions requires the semi-annual payment of mining duties (due in January and July) and the performance of assessment work, on a calendar year basis, with assessment work reports required to be filed in the month of May for the preceding calendar year. The amount of mining duties and annual assessments are set by regulation, may increase over the life of the concession, and include periodic adjustments for inflation. Failure to pay the mining duties can lead to the cancelation of the relevant concession.

Mexican mining law does not require payment of finder’s fees to the government, except for a discovery premium in connection with national Mineral Reserves, concessions and claims, or allotments contracted directly from the Mexican Geological Survey. None of the claims held by DDGM are under such a discovery premium regime.

Ejido Lands and Surface Right Acquisitions in Mexico

Surface lands within DDGM are Ejido lands (agrarian cooperative lands granted by the federal government to groups of Campesinos pursuant to Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution of 1917). Prior to January 1, 1994, Ejidos could not transfer Ejido lands into private ownership. Amendments to Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution in 1994 now allow individual property ownership within Ejidos and allow Ejidos to enter into commercial ventures with individuals or entities, including foreign corporations. We have an agreement with the local San Pedro Totolapam Ejido, allowing exploration and exploitation of mineralization at the Arista mine and some of our surrounding properties.

Mexican law recognizes mining as a land use generally superior to agriculture. However, the law also recognizes the rights of the Ejidos to compensation in the event mining activity interrupts or discontinues their use of the agricultural lands. Compensation is typically made in the form of a cash payment to the holder of the agricultural rights. The amount of such compensation is generally related to the perceived value of the agricultural rights as negotiated in the first instance between the Ejidos and the owner of the mineral rights. If the parties are unable to reach an agreement on the amount of the compensation, the decision can be referred to the government.

We have established surface rights agreements with the San Pedro Totolapam Ejido and the individuals impacted by our proposed operations which allow disturbance of the surface where necessary for our exploration activities and mining operations.

Office Facilities

We constructed an administrative office building adjacent to the DDGM processing facility and a mine office adjacent to the Arista Mine portal. We also lease approximately 3,000 square feet of office space in Oaxaca City, Oaxaca. The lease commenced in 2012 and was renewed in December 2021 through the end of 2024.

Table of Contents

​

​

Back Forty Project

The Back Forty Project is an advanced Exploration Stage Property located in Menominee County, Michigan, USA in the mineral rich Penokean Volcanic Belt. Our property is made up of approximately 1,304 hectares (3,222 acres) of private and public (State of Michigan) mineral lands. The project is centered at latitude 46 degrees 27 North and longitude 87 degrees 51 West. Because of the exploratory nature of the property, we do not currently consider the Back Forty Project to be independently material to the Company.

​

Background: On December 10, 2021, the Company successfully completed the acquisition of all the issued and outstanding common shares of Aquila Resources Inc. Aquila’s principal asset is its 100% interest in the Back Forty Project located in Menominee County, Michigan, USA. The Back Forty Project has a polymetallic (gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc) Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide deposit. The Back Forty Project controls surface and mineral rights through ownership, leases with the State of Michigan, and royalties with private parties.

Optimization work related to the metallurgy and the economic model for the Back Forty Project was completed, and the Company released the Back Forty Project Technical Report Summary, which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 96.1 to this Form 10-K. Results of the work indicate a more robust economic project with no planned impacts to wetlands that is more protective of the environment, which should facilitate a successful mine permitting process. The Board continues to evaluate options that could lead to the development of the Project. Please see Item 2. Properties for additional information.

Permitting: The State of Michigan governs and regulates the permitting process as it relates to the Back Forty Project.

Community: Tribal engagement has been very important to the Project, especially considering the cultural resources near the site. Outreach to local Tribes, including the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, began as early as June of 2010.

Table of Contents

​

​

Aquila conducted extensive archeological studies throughout the affected and unaffected areas. As agreed with the authorities, Aquila identified areas for permanent protection and established appropriate buffers.

Office Facilities: In Michigan, we own and operate an administrative office building in Stephenson, MI and another field office close to the location of the potential future mine facilities.

In February 2020, a local Ejido community (who claim to be an indigenous community) filed an injunction against the Mexican federal government through which they demanded the cancelation of several concession titles, including concessions currently granted to DDGM. The federal government ordered a suspension to prevent work related to excavating, drilling, opening tunnels, and exploiting the Mineral Resources on the surface and subsoil of the concessions named in the injunction in the lands of the indigenous community. Presently, DDGM does not perform such works in the named concessions in lands of the indigenous community. The lawsuit filed in February 2020 at the First District Courthouse in the state of Oaxaca remains under review by the courts.

Not applicable.

​

Table of Contents

​

​

PART II

Market Information

Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange American (“NYSE”) under the symbol “GORO”.

On March 20, 2024, there were 88,757,610 shares of Gold Resource Corporation, which were held by approximately 200 holders of record.

Transfer Agent

Computershare Trust Company, N.A. is the transfer agent for our common stock. The principal office of Computershare is located at 6200 S. Quebec St., Greenwood Village, CO 80111, and its telephone number is (303) 262-0600. Correspondence should be mailed to P.O. Box 43078, Providence, RI 02940-3078 or couriered to 150 Royall St., Suite 101, Canton, MA 0202.

Dividend Policy

Approximately $123 million in dividends have been returned to our shareholders since commercial production began at DDGM in July 2010. As of February 13, 2023, to protect our balance sheet and to focus our capital resources on exploration and growth opportunities, thus to maximize shareholder value, the company suspended the quarterly dividend payments until such time that it may become practicable to reinstate.

ITEM 6.RESERVED

​

Table of Contents

​

​

Except for the historical information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. We caution you not to put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. See “Forward-Looking Statements” above. Our actual future results or actions may differ materially from these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including but not limited to the risks described in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this annual report and other reports filed by us with the SEC. This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this report and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we currently expect.

Introduction

We are a mining company that pursues gold and silver projects that are expected to achieve both low operating costs and high returns on capital. DDGM holds six properties and includes mineral production primarily from the Arista underground mine. We produce gold and silver doré and metal concentrates which contain precious metals of gold and silver and base metals of copper, lead, and zinc.

The following discussion summarizes our results of operations for the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 and our financial condition as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, with a particular emphasis on the year ended December 31, 2023.

The discussion also presents certain non-GAAP financial measures that are important to management in its evaluation of our operating results and which are used by management to compare our performance with what we perceive to be peer group mining companies and are relied on as part of management’s decision-making process. Management believes these measures may also be important to investors in evaluating our performance. For a detailed description of each of the non-GAAP financial measures, please see the discussion under Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations below.

In our financial statements, we report the sale of all precious and base metals as revenue, and we periodically review our revenue streams to ensure that this treatment remains appropriate. We consider precious metals to be the long-term primary driver of our economic decisions and believe that base metals are secondary products for non-GAAP financial measures.

Gold equivalent is determined by taking gold ounces produced and sold, plus silver ounces produced and sold, converted to gold equivalent ounces using the gold to silver average realized price ratio for the period.

Table of Contents