SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington D.C. 20549
FORM 10-KSB
Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
Commission File No. 0-22905
GOLDEN PHOENIX MINERALS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Minnesota 41-1878178
(State or other jurisdiction (IRS Employer Identification No.)
of Incorporation or Organization)
3595 Airway Drive, Reno, Nevada 89511
(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number: (702) 853-4919
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
12,000,000 Shares Of Common Stock
500,000 shares of Preferred Stock
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Common Stock, (no par value)
(Title of Class)
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_X_ NO___
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the
Registrant on December 31, 1997, based on the average bid and asked prices of
Common Stock in the over-the-counter market on that date was $8,181,733.
13,384,810 shares of Registrant's Common Stock, no par value were outstanding on
December 31, 1997, prior to the effectiveness of the latest practicable date.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
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CONTENTS
Page
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PART I
Item 1. BUSINESS 4
Item 2. PROPERTY 10
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 27
Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE
OF SECURITY HOLDERS 27
PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON
EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS 28
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 28
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 28
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND
SUPPLEMENTARY DATA 33
Item 9. DISAGREEMENTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE 33
PART III
Item 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF
THE REGISTRANT 33
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 34
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT 35
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED
TRANSACTIONS 36
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PART IV
Item 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT
SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K 36
PART I
Item 1. - BUSINESS
Golden Phoenix Minerals, Inc. (the "Company") was formed in
Minnesota on June 2, 1997 and has had limited operations.
The Company plans to produce economically valuable minerals from the
mineral properties it currently controls, and from mineral properties that it
will acquire in the future. The Company intends to concentrate its exploration
efforts in the Western United States and Alaska.
The Company's corporate directors, officers and technical support
team is comprised of 8 former senior management, geological exploration and
development staff members from Santa Fe Pacific Gold Corp. (SFPG) and one senior
exploration manager from Rio Tinto (RTZ/Kennecott). This experienced and diverse
team has in excess of 100 years of major corporate mineral exploration,
development and gold production experience.
Golden Phoenix's key employees were actively involved in the
exploration, discovery and development activities of SFPG, which was the sixth
largest gold producer in North America before it was purchased by Newmont Gold,
North America's largest gold producer, for $2.2 billion. SFPG discovered and
developed over 28 million ounces of gold reserves with annual production in
excess of 800,000 ounces.
The Company will provide joint venture opportunities to other
selected mining companies, to conduct exploration or development on mineral
properties the Company owns or controls. The Company and its joint venture
partners will explore and develop selected properties to a stage of proven and
probable reserves, at which time the Company will then decide whether to sell
its interest in a property or take the property into production with its joint
venture partner. By joint venturing its properties and thereby reducing its
share of the costs for exploration of those properties, the Company can
maintain, while continuing to acquire, an interest in a portfolio of gold and
base metals properties in various stages of mineral exploration and development.
This corporate strategy will minimize financial risk that the Company would
incur by assuming all the exploration costs associated with developing any one
property, while maximizing the potential of success and growth.
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The Company believes that it can create the basis for a competitive
minerals exploration company through assembling a unique group of individuals
with experience in target generation and discovery, resource evaluation and mine
development. The technical team that the Company has assembled consists of two
geological engineers with 42 years of combined experience in the economic
evaluation of mining properties, three geologists with 54 years of combined
experience in mineral exploration, one professional land surveyor who is also an
explorationist with 19 years experience, and one landman/lawyer with 15 years
experience in the minerals industry.
There are at least five sources of land for exploration by the
Company: public lands, private fee lands, aboriginal tribal lands, unpatented
mining claims, and patented mining claims. The primary sources for acquisition
of these lands are the United States government, through the Bureau of Land
Management and the U. S. Forest Service, state governments, tribal governments,
and individuals or entities who currently hold title to or lease government and
private lands.
There are numerous levels of government regulation associated with
the activities of exploration and mining companies. The only two types of
permitting which the Company should have to be concerned with in the near future
are "Notice of Intent" and "Plan of Operations". Both types of procedures will
be necessary in the next twelve months. The Company has not yet filed for any of
these permits and cannot guarantee that the regulatory agency will in a timely
manner approve, if at all, the necessary permits. Further, it will be necessary
to obtain or post a bond for the reclamation of the proposed surface
disturbance.
The total cost and effects on the Company's operations of the
permitting and bonding process cannot be estimated at this time. The cost will
vary for each project when it is initiated.
JOINT VENTURES
The company has signed an acquisition agreement ("Welsh Agreement")
with J. D. Welsh & Associates ("Welsh") to acquire 100 percent of Welsh's 30
percent interest in the Borealis Mine project in Mineral County, Nevada. The
Company has initially paid Welsh US$250,000 and 50,000 shares of its common
stock (valued at US$2.10) for an initial 25 percent ownership in Welsh's 30
percent participating interest in the Borealis Mine project. The Company can
purchase Welsh's entire interest by completing scheduled payments totaling an
additional US$1.25 Million over the next 3 years. The Company is carried through
positive feasibility after the completion of the Welsh payments. Cambior
Exploration USA, Inc. ("Cambior USA") currently has a 70 percent interest in the
project subject to spending US$7Million over the next 7 years. Cambior is the
operator of the Borealis Mine project. If Cambior fails to make its required
work commitment then the property will revert to 100 percent ownership and
operation by the Company. The Welsh Property Agreement is included as exhibit
10.2 of this report.
An agreement to acquire the property called High-Grade has been
entered
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into with Kennecott Exploration Company ("Kennecott"), a subsidiary of Rio Tinto
Plc., and will allow the Company to earn-in a 100 percent interest in the
property. Kennecott Exploration has retained a buy-back option at the time a
positive feasibility study is completed. Should Kennecott exercise that option,
they would become mine operator and reimburse the Company 150 percent of 51
percent of its exploration expenditures to enter into a 51 percent-49 percent
joint mining venture; if not, Kennecott would reduce to a 2 percent net smelter
return royalty. The Company has agreed to make a US$1Million work commitment
over 3 years and a cash or stock payment of US$200,000. No other payments are
required. The Kennecott agreement is included as exhibit 10.3 of this report.
FUNDING
The Company plans to finance its operations through the exercising
of common stock options controlled by key directors of the Company. As part of
the formation of the Company, the Board of Directors resolved to create two
million options with one million at US$2.00 and one million at US$3.00. These
were created respectively in the names of Michael R. Fitzsimonds, president, and
Donald J. McDowell, executive vice president, for the purpose of raising
additional financing as the company needed operating capital for its exploration
and development activities. The Company will also offset some of its cost by
joint-venturing its properties with other mining groups for exploration and
development while paying fees to Golden Phoenix Minerals, Inc. for the right to
acquire an interest in the property.
COMPETITION
Over the last five years the imposition of claim rental fee policies
by the United States Government and the general exodus of major gold
corporations from the U.S. to pursue mineral exploration in foreign countries
has opened prospective mineral ground for location and acquisition. Recently,
however, mining claim staking by the major mining companies on public lands has
increased and may be signaling a more competitive environment for the Company in
the future.
SEASONAL EFFECTS
The Company has positioned itself to handle any seasonal aspect of
the exploration business by locating properties in differing climatic zones,
thus allowing field work on a near year-round basis. Problems of access and
inclement weather will be minimized through strategic planning of fieldwork.
CAPITAL EQUIPMENT
The only capital equipment the Company plans to purchase in the next
twelve months will be field vehicles and computer equipment. The field vehicles
will be for staff professionals only, all contractors will provide their own
vehicles. The computer equipment will aid in the analysis of geologic data and
in the preparation of reports for shareholders. The Company will be able to
evaluate and make decisions on the economic viability of a mineral property more
efficiently
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with the appropriate computer equipment and software.
STAFFING
The Company has expanded its staffing level with three professionals
to cover land issues, resource evaluation and project evaluation during the last
three months of 1997. The Company does not anticipate adding any further
permanent staff in the next twelve months of operation. The Company will employ
independent contractors to fulfill short-term needs and obligations.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS
The Company is required to comply with numerous environmental laws
and regulations imposed by federal and state authorities. At the federal level,
legislation such as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the RCRA, CERCLA and
the National Environmental Policy Act impose effluent and waste standards,
performance standards, air quality and emissions standards and other design or
operational requirements for various components of mining and mineral
processing, including gold ore mining and processing. In 1997, the BLM amended
its surface management regulations to require bonding of all hardrock and
exploration operations greater than casual use. Until the EPA formally proposes
the new regulatory program, there is not a sufficient basis on which to predict
the potential impacts of such regulations on the Company.
Many states, including the State of Nevada (where a majority of the
Company's properties are located), have also adopted regulations that establish
design, operation, monitoring, and closing requirements for mining operations.
Under these regulations, mining companies are required to provide a reclamation
plan and financial assurance to insure that the reclamation plan is implemented
upon completion of mining operations. Additionally, Nevada and other states
require mining operations to obtain and comply with environmental permits,
including permits regarding air emissions and the protection of surface water
and groundwater.
The Company's compliance with federal and state environmental laws
may necessitate significant capital outlays or delays, may materially and
adversely affect the economics of a given property, or may cause material
changes or delays in the Company's intended exploration, development and
production activities. Further, new or different environmental standards imposed
by governmental authorities in the future could adversely affect the Company's
business activities.
PROPOSED LEGISLATION AFFECTING THE MINING INDUSTRY
During the past several years, the United States Congress considered
a number of proposed amendments to the General Mining Law of 1872, as amended
(the "General Mining Law") which governs mining claims and related activities on
federal lands. In 1992, a holding fee of US$100 per claim was imposed upon
unpatented mining claims located on federal lands. Beginning in October 1994, a
moratorium on processing of new patent applications was approved. In addition, a
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variety of legislation is now pending before the United States Congress to amend
further the General Mining Law. The proposed legislation would, among other
things, change the current patenting procedures, limit the rights obtained in a
patent, impose royalties on unpatented claims, and enact new reclamation,
environmental controls and restoration requirements. The royalty proposal ranges
from a two percent royalty on "net profits" from mining claims to an eight
percent royalty on modified gross income/net smelter returns. The extent of any
such changes that may be enacted is not presently known, and the potential
impact on the Company as a result of future congressional action is difficult to
predict. If enacted, the proposed legislation could adversely affect the
economics of development of operating mines on the federal unpatented mining
claims held by the Company because many of the Company's properties consist of
unpatented mining claims on federal lands. The Company's financial performance
could therefore be materially and adversely affected by passage of all or
pertinent parts of the proposed legislation.
UNCERTAINTY OF DEVELOPMENT AND PROPERTY ECONOMICS
Exploration for and production of minerals is highly speculative and
involves greater risks than are inherent in many other industries. 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. Also, because of the uncertainties in determining
metallurgical amenability of any minerals discovered, the mere discovery of
mineralization may not warrant the mining of the minerals on the basis of
available technology.
The Company's decision, as to whether any of the mineral properties
it now holds or which it may acquire in the future contain commercially minable
deposits, and whether such properties should be brought into production, depends
upon the results of its exploration programs and/or feasibility analyses and the
recommendations of engineers and geologists. The decision will involve the
consideration and evaluation of a number of significant factors, including, but
not limited to, the: (i) receipt of government permits; (ii) costs of bringing
the property into production, including exploration and development work,
preparation of feasibility studies and construction of production facilities
costs; (iii) availability and costs of financing; (iv) ongoing costs of
production; (v) market prices for the metals to be produced; and (vi) estimates
of reserves or mineralization. No assurance can be given that any of the
properties the Company owns, leases or acquires contain (or will contain)
commercially minable mineral deposits, and no assurance can be given that the
Company will ever generate a positive cash flow from production operations on
such properties.
UNCERTAINTY OF TITLE
A majority of the Company's properties consist of unpatented mining
claims, which the Company owns or leases. These claims are located on federal
land or involve mineral rights that are subject to the claims procedures
established by the General Mining Law. Under this law, if a claimant complies
with the statute and the regulations for the location of a mining claim or mill
site claim, the claimant
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obtains a valid possessory right to the land or the minerals contained therein.
To preserve an otherwise valid claim, the claimant must also make certain
additional filings with the county in which the land or mineral is situated and
with the Bureau of Land Management and pay an annual holding fee of US$100 per
claim. If a claimant fails to make the annual holding payment or make the
required filings, the mining claim is void or voidable.
Because mining claims are self-initiated and self-maintained rights,
they are subject to unique vulnerabilities not associated with other types of
property interests. It is difficult to ascertain the validity of unpatented
mining claims from public property records and, therefore, it is difficult to
confirm that a claimant has followed all of the requisite steps for the
initiation and maintenance of a claim. The General Mining Law requires the
discovery of a valuable mineral on each mining claim in order for such claim to
be valid, and mining claims may be challenged by rival mining claimants and the
United States. Under judicial interpretations of the rule of discovery, the
mining claimant has the burden of proving that the mineral found is of such
quality and quantity as to justify further development, and that the deposit is
of such value that it can be mined, removed and disposed of at a profit. The
burden of showing that there is a present profitable market applies not only to
the time when the claim was located, but also to the time when such claim's
validity is challenged. It is therefore conceivable that, during times of
falling metal prices, claims that were valid when they were located could become
invalid if challenged.
Title to unpatented claims and other mining properties in the
western United States typically involves certain other inherent risks due to the
frequently ambiguous conveyance history of those properties, as well as the
frequently ambiguous or imprecise language of mining leases, agreements and
royalty obligations. No generally applicable title insurance is available for
mining. As a result, some of the titles to the Company's properties may be
subject to challenge.
MINING RISKS AND INSURANCE
The Company's operations are subject to all of the operating hazards
and risks normally incident to exploring for and developing mineral properties,
such as unusual or unexpected geological formations, environmental pollution,
personal injuries, flooding, cave-ins, changes in technology or mining
techniques, periodic interruptions because of inclement weather and industrial
accidents. Although the Company currently maintains insurance within ranges of
coverage consistent with industry practice to ameliorate some of these risks, no
assurance can be given that such insurance will continue to be available at
economically feasible rates, or that the Company's insurance is adequate to
cover the risks and potential liabilities associated with exploring, owning and
operating its properties. Insurance against environmental risks is not generally
available to the Company or to other companies in the mining industry.
UNKNOWN ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES FOR PAST ACTIVITIES
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Mining operations involve a potential risk of releases to soil,
surface water and groundwater of metals, chemicals, fuels, liquids having acidic
properties and other contaminants. In recent years, regulatory requirements and
improved technology have significantly reduced those risks. However, those risks
have not been eliminated, and the risk of environmental contamination from
present and past mining activities exists for mining companies. Companies may be
liable for environmental contamination and natural resource damages relating to
properties, which they currently own or operate or at which environmental
contamination occurred while or before they owned or operated the properties.
However, no assurance can be given that potential liabilities for such
contamination or damages caused by past activities at these properties do not
exist.
DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL
The Company is dependent on the services of certain key executives,
including Michael R. Fitzsimonds, President and Chairman of the Board of
Directors; Donald J. McDowell, Executive Vice President; and Daniel T. Taylor
Vice President of Exploration. The loss of any of these individuals could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business and operations. The Company
currently does not have key person insurance on these individuals.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH POSSIBLE ACQUISITIONS
The Company periodically considers the acquisition of mining claims,
properties and businesses. In connection with any such future acquisitions, the
Company may incur indebtedness or issue equity securities, resulting in dilution
of the percentage ownership of existing stockholders. The Company intends to
seek stockholder approval for any such acquisitions only to the extent required
by applicable law, regulations or stock market listing rules.
Item 2. - PROPERTY
The Company owns, or controls through leases and mining claims,
99,540 acres of mining and mineral exploration properties within the states of
Nevada, California and Alaska. The properties are categorized into project
areas. Table 2.1 provides an overview of the Company's projects in terms of
acreage and the nature of the property holding. The Long Canyon and Monarch
project areas were evaluated during the 1997 field season and were determined to
not be viable and were subsequently dropped.
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TABLE 2.1 - COMPANY PROPERTIES AND PROJECTS
Alaska Federal
State Unpatented
Mineral Mining
Leases Claims
Company Project Geographical Region (Acres) (Acres)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Borealis J.V.* Mineral County, NV 10,330
High Grade** Modoc County, CA 1,760
Garamendi Elko County, NV 260
Long Canyon*** Elko County, NV 0
Medicine Man Elko County, NV 2,000
Exxon Elko County, NV 2,000
McNew Elko County, NV 1,360
Blue Basin Elko County, NV 1,200
Monarch*** Elko County, NV 0
Contact Elko County, NV 5,440
Mount Hamilton White Pine, County NV 2,960
Paxson Area
Chisna Alaska 2,080
Chisna West Alaska 2,240
Chistochina Alaska 2,270
PG&E Alaska 2,560
North Delta Alaska 1,280
Richardson District Alaska 15,360
Stone Boy Alaska 1,920
Healy-Cantwell
Sugarloaf Alaska 2,240
Panorama Alaska 1,600
Caribou Alaska 1,280
Revine Alaska 2,560
Circle Alaska 5,760
Bonnifield District
Grizzly Peak Alaska 1,280
Kansas Gold Alaska 2,400
Chute Rogers Alaska 2,400
Mystic Mountain Alaska 1,232
Glacier Creek Alaska 3,200
Forgotten Creek Alaska 1,920
Glory Creek Alaska 3,360
Cirque Alaska 2,161
Big Mac Alaska 1,280
West Dry Creek Alaska 720
East Dry Creek Alaska 960
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Slide Creek Alaska 2,990
Grubstake Creek Alaska 3,726
Gossan Peak Alaska 1,280
Divide Alaska 1,920
Patty Alaska 2,560
* Joint Venture operated by Cambior USA
** Joint Venture with Kennecott Exploration (Rio Tinto)
*** Dropped after 1997 evaluation
The following sections discuss the existing exploration projects
owned or controlled by the Company.
BOREALIS JOINT VENTURE MINERAL COUNTY, NV
Tenneco Resources put the Borealis mine property into production in
the early 1980s as a low-cost oxide heap-leach mining operation. Tenneco
Resources and its successor, Echo Bay Minerals, Inc., produced more than 600,000
ounces of oxide gold from Borealis in the 1980s with an average grade of 0.059
ounce per ton (opt) gold. The sulfides were never mined, although significant
resources were encountered. After mine closure, Santa Fe Pacific Gold Corp.
conducted additional sulfide exploration and development on the property.
Cambior USA and Golden Phoenix Minerals currently control the property. Cambior
USA, as operator of the property, is earning a 70 percent interest in the
project from Golden Phoenix Minerals by spending US$7 million over seven years
with 1998 marking the second year of the joint venture. Golden Phoenix Minerals
will not be required to contribute any funds prior to a positive feasibility
report.
The current land position consists of over 500 unpatented mining
claims encompassing approximately 10,000 acres.
The property is a volcanic-hosted epithermal system marked by large
areas of silicification, hydrothermal brecciation and advanced argillic
alteration. The stratigraphy consists of primarily Tertiary andesite flows and
tuffs.
Cambior USA completed the data compilation and the planned
geological, geochemical and geophysical work programs on the property during
1997. They are currently reviewing the engineering, resource modeling and
metallurgical data. Cambior USA has completed a plan of operations and an
environmental assessment of the property. The plan of operations outlines the
location of 66 drill sites that will be utilized during the evaluation program.
Cambior USA plans to commence their exploration and pre-development drilling
program in the early spring of 1998. This exploration and development drilling
program will include the continued exploration and development of the Freedom
Flats/Graben sulfide resource area that is reported to contain an estimated
205,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 0.22 opt gold utilizing a cut-off
grade of 0.10 opt gold. A separate exploration program is designed to test
additional anomalies and expand existing
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resources elsewhere on the property.
HIGH GRADE PROJECT MODOC COUNTY, CA
The High Grade district is located in the Warner Mountains
approximately 30 miles northeast of Alturas in Modoc County, California. The
Company can earn a 100 percent interest in the property from Kennecott by
spending US$1 million in work commitments over three years commencing in 1997.
Kennecott has retained a buy-back right at the time a positive feasibility study
has been completed. Should Kennecott exercise the buy-back option, it would
become mine operator, if not, Kennecott would reduce their interest to a two
percent (2%) net smelter returns royalty (NSR).
A group in Spokane, Washington originally staked the property in the
late 1970s. Nord Resources was the first major company to lease the property and
drilled 34 holes from 1981 to 1983. FMC completed a 34-hole drill program from
1983 to 1985. Nord Resources drilled an additional 30 holes in 1986. Over the
next seven years the property sat idle, although the unpatented claims were
maintained. In 1994 the claim rental fee requirement resulted in significant
claim abandonment. In 1995 Kennecott became interested in the property and
obtained the claims from Donald J. McDowell who had relocated the claims. The
current land position consists of 86 unpatented mining claims. Two small, but
strategically important, adjacent land positions need to be acquired. They
consist of four claims and one patented claim, respectively. Kennecott initiated
and advanced negotiations with the landowners late in 1996 but did not complete
any agreements. The Company is negotiating with the owners of those properties
for a lease with option to purchase. An independent surveying company has
completed a survey of the entire land package to ensure the integrity of the
land status over the resource/exploration area.
The High Grade district is a gold bearing volcanic-hosted epithermal
system that outcrops along a three-mile long, one-mile wide northeast trending
belt. Post-mineral basalt and colluvium to the northeast and southeast conceal
mineralized lithologies. Disseminated gold is hosted in Tertiary rhyolitic
domes, flows and tuffaceous sediments, while high-grade mineralization is
associated with veins, breccias and fault zones. The 98 holes drilled on the
property prior to acquisition by Kennecott are confined to two small areas with
the average hole depth less than 200 feet and the maximum depth 445 feet. More
than one-half of the existing drill holes intersected ore-grade gold
mineralization; many were terminated in greater than 1 ppm gold material. Some
of the higher-grade intercepts include 50 feet averaging 0.051 opt gold, 40 feet
of 0.102 opt gold, and 20 feet at 0.165 opt gold; all of which occur at depths
less than 100 feet. Surface rock geochemistry has identified many areas with
values greater than 3 ppm (0.087 opt) gold that have never been drill tested.
The target objective is to develop the existing gold resource by
stepping-out from known high-grade mineralization to develop a bulk-minable
multi-million ounce gold reserve. A review of the geology, structure, alteration
and
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mineralization indicate that many favorable targets remain untested on the
property. This suggests that a large minable reserve could be developed similar
to that found at the Rawhide deposit in Nevada, which contains over 30 million
tons of ore with an average grade of 0.04 opt gold and 0.36 opt silver.
GARAMENDI PROJECT ELKO COUNTY, NV
The Garamendi project area is located approximately 25 miles north
of Elko, Nevada at the northern end of the Adobe Range in northeastern Nevada.
The project area is located within a checkerboard of fee land and U.S.
Government (BLM) lands in Elko County, Nevada. The property consists of 13
unpatented mining claims.
Texasgulf Western, Inc. explored the area around the Garamendi
project area for stratiform sediment-hosted massive sulfide deposits during the
late 1970s and early 1980s. Their drilling in 1981 outlined a small lead-zinc
resource in and around the Garamendi mine. Prospecting conducted in the area in
late 1996 and early 1997 focused on similarities in rock types and gold
mineralization to those observed at the Twin Creeks Mine and other mineralized
areas in northern Nevada. Based on these similarities the land was staked.
The geology of the Garamendi project area is complicated. The
Ordovician-Silurian sediments strike northeast-southwest and are exposed along
an oblique belt cutting across the Adobe Range. Exposures are covered to the
west under alluvium. These sediments were subsequently folded and thrust to the
southeast over younger Mississippian shales and sandstones and are locally
covered by Tertiary volcanic rocks. Mineralization occurs in a highly
silicified, partially brecciated calcareous unit and in replacement zones
parallel to the east-west structures. Previous operators reported assays of up
to 0.11 opt gold and 1.25 opt silver from drill hole samples. Surface rock
geochemistry also indicates anomalous local gold and silver values. The trace
amounts of gold in the drill hole and rock chip samples occur in silicified
breccias, jasperoids, jasperoid breccias and calcareous siltstones that are the
result of structural preparation prior to the introduction of the mineralizing
fluids. The hydrothermal fluids traveled up these structures and mineralized the
receptive host rocks as they were encountered. The occurrence of the
resilicified jasperoid breccias and silica stockworks within jasperoids and
jasperoid breccias suggest that there was more than one pulse of mineralization.
The trace amounts of precious metals associated with the base metal deposit is
also indicative of a multi-episodic hydrothermal event with the precious
metal-bearing fluids overprinting the base metal occurrence.
The exploration target on the Garamendi property is a large-tonnage,
sediment-hosted or Carlin type gold occurrence. The favorable stratigraphy,
structural preparation, hydrothermal alteration, plus evidence of a
multi-episodic hydrothermal event indicate the presence of an extensive and
unevaluated hydrothermal system.
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LONG CANYON PROJECT ELKO COUNTY, NV
The Long Canyon project underwent preliminary evaluation during the
1997 field season. The results of the evaluation were not encouraging so the
property was dropped from the Company's portfolio.
MEDICINE MAN PROJECT ELKO COUNTY, NV
The Medicine Man project is located approximately 36 miles southeast
of Elko, Nevada in the Medicine Mountain Range. The project currently consists
of 100 unpatented mining claims encompassing approximately 2,000 acres.
USMX originally located the property in 1980 and explored the area
for many years. USMX drilled 105 reverse-circulation rotary drill holes and
delineated a small gold-silver resource grading 2-3 opt silver and low-grade
gold.
The Permian and Pennsylvanian stratigraphy consists of silty
limestones, calcareous siltstones and minor calcareous conglomerates. Alteration
in the form of silicification, hydrothermal brecciation and quartz veining
covers an area in excess of two square miles and extends under shallow cover to
the northeast. Similar jasperoid silicification is located on a small hill
exposed in the pediment. This could suggest the presence of an extensive,
unexplored mineralized system extending into and covered by a thin pediment.
The exploration target on the Medicine Man property is a
large-tonnage, sediment-hosted or Carlin-type gold target. The favorable
stratigraphy, structural preparation and hydrothermal alteration found on the
property indicate the presence of a potentially extensive and poorly understood
hydrothermal system.
EXXON PROJECT ELKO COUNTY, NV
The Exxon project area is located approximately 40 miles southeast
of the city of Elko, Nevada at the southwest end of the Delcer Buttes Range. The
project area currently consists of 100 unpatented mining claims encompassing
approximately 2,000 acres.
Exxon Corporation and Newmont previously controlled the property.
Exxon's exploration target was reportedly a poorly exposed copper porphyry
system. Newmont was probably pursuing the exposed skarn related mineralization.
Exxon Corp. drilled one core hole on the property with less than encouraging
results. The extent and nature of the Newmont exploration program is not known
at the present time. Based on the Company's experience with the skarn-related
gold deposit at Newmont's (Santa Fe Pacific Gold) Elkhorn property in Montana
(2-million ounces gold) the mineral potential at the Exxon project has not been
thoroughly drill tested.
The Pennsylvanian-Permian stratigraphy consists of silty limestones,
calcareous siltstones and calcareous conglomerates. The alteration is spatially
related to a Jurassic granodiorite intrusive. Limited field examination has
revealed highly altered diorite forming dikes and sills within altered
sedimentary host rocks.
<PAGE>
The area contains several exposures of hydrothermally altered and mineralized
rock consisting of extensive skarn-related silicification, disseminated
sulfides, copper oxide bearing jasperoids, gossans and quartz veining.
Alteration in the rocks covers a two square mile area and is concealed by
pediment cover to the west, south and east. Surface geology and alteration
suggest the presence of a large, unexplored pediment covering a mineralized
porphyry copper-gold system.
The exploration target on the Exxon property is a large tonnage
porphyry/skarn-related copper-gold system. The favorable host rocks, structural
preparation and alteration found on the property, indicate the presence of an
extensive mineralized system of intrusive and sedimentary rocks.
MCNEW PROJECT ELKO COUNTY, NV
The McNew project area is located approximately 40 miles southeast
of Elko, Nevada in the West Buttes of the Cherry Creek Range. The project area
consists of 68 unpatented mining claims encompassing approximately 1360 acres.
Pegasus Gold Company held the property in the mid-1980s. Pegasus
explored the property and outlined several areas of anomalous gold
mineralization. The Pegasus program consisted of surface sampling and subsequent
drilling of some of the anomalous areas. The Company has reviewed the Pegasus
data package as part of the initial evaluation of the project. No other
significant exploration activity is known to have been undertaken on the
property since that time.
A sequence of limestones, limey shales, and siltstones reportably
Permian in age underlie the property. However, the geology as mapped by Pegasus
Gold suggests that the rocks are older and similar to the host rocks at
Alligator Ridge and other similar gold deposits in the Cherry Creek Range. The
sedimentary package has been intruded by a Tertiary granitic pluton. Much of the
area was covered by a Tertiary rhyolite flow which has subsequently been eroded,
exposing the older sediments and intrusive in the project area. The area geology
has been further complicated by a series of northwest-striking high-angle faults
that have been offset by a younger series of faults striking east-west. Gold
mineralization is found adjacent to the northwest and east-west striking
structures with a disseminated aureole surrounding the higher-grade zones.
Surface sampling by Pegasus Gold shows values of 0.02 opt gold in rock chip
samples. Pegasus also conducted a limited drill program with drill intercepts of
0.05 opt gold. Most of this mineralization is confined in zones adjacent to
structures.
The exploration program undertaken by Pegasus Exploration outlined
several areas of anomalous gold mineralization, of which only a few were
drill-tested. Several more areas were never drill-tested and remain to be
evaluated. Future work by the Company will include enlarging and further
delineating the anomalous areas as well as testing other near surface targets on
the property.
<PAGE>
BLUE BASIN PROJECT ELKO COUNTY, NV
The Blue Basin project is located 20 miles northwest of the city of
Elko, Nevada in the Swales Mountain mining district. It covers approximately
three-square miles in which 60 unpatented mining claims have been staked
encompassing approximately 1,200 acres.
Texasgulf Western, Inc. explored the Blue Basin project area for
stratiform sediment-hosted massive sulfide deposits during the late 1970s and
early 1980s. Newmont Gold is presently exploring the adjacent sections to the
Company's property for a large tonnage, sediment-hosted or Carlin-type gold
deposit. Texasgulf drilled at least one hole on this property, the results of
which are unknown. Newmont has drilled several holes on their property to
evaluate the resource potential but no data have been released.
The Blue Basin project area is about five miles north of the Roberts
Mountains window mapped at Swales Mountain in a sequence of highly silicified
Ordovician and Silurian sediments. Cherts, calcareous siltstones, limestones and
shales of the Ordovician Vinini Formation are present in the upper plates of the
thrust fault covering the Roberts Mountains Formation. The lower plate consists
of Roberts Mountain limestones, shales, cherts and tuffaceous siltstones of
Silurian and Devonian age. The thrust fault is thought to be Mississippian in
age. An important fault marking the margin of a volcanic-filled graben adjacent
to the sediments is also covered by the Company's claims. Numerous siliceous,
semi-massive sulfide horizons appear throughout the stratigraphy of both units,
as do several large areas of hydrothermal silicification (jasperoid). A field
investigation of these areas indicates the jasperoids may be structurally
related with mineralization associated with areas of hydrothermal alteration.
The exploration target on the Blue Basin property is a large
tonnage, sediment-hosted or Carlin-type gold target. The favorable stratigraphy,
structural preparation and hydrothermal alteration found on the property provide
a good host for gold mineralization.
MONARCH PROJECT ELKO COUNTY, NV
The Monarch project underwent preliminary evaluation during the 1997
field season. The results of the evaluation were not encouraging so the property
was dropped from the Company's portfolio.
CONTACT PROJECT ELKO COUNTY, NV
The Contact project area is located in the Salmon River (Contact)
mining district near Contact, Nevada approximately fifteen miles south of
Jackpot, Nevada. The project area is comprised of 272 unpatented mining claims
that cover approximately 5440 acres of BLM administered lands and are adjacent
to the land positions of International Enexco Limited and the F.W. Lewis, Inc.
Golden Phoenix
<PAGE>
Minerals holds the patented and unpatented mining claims of F.W. Lewis, Inc. and
recently acquired the right to earn a 60 percent interest in the Enexco patented
mining claims through a combination of work commitments on the Contact property
and payments to Enexco totaling US$2,913,000 over seven years. Golden Phoenix
Minerals then has the option to acquire Enexco's 40 percent in the joint venture
for an additional US$5 million for the first 20 percent and US$10 million for
the remaining 20 percent. The approximately 7,000-acre property is unburdened by
royalties except for a 0.25 percent net smelter return royalty to which Golden
Phoenix Minerals holds the rights.
Historical production amounted to 5.75 million pounds of copper,
126,000 ounces of silver and minor amounts of gold, lead, zinc and tungsten.
Phelps Dodge and Coralta Mines were active in the main part of the district in
the 1970s. Considerable drilling was completed and eight million tons of
material averaging 2.3 percent copper were delineated. Limited underground work
has been completed.
A 16,000-foot thick sequence of Mississippian-Permian sedimentary
rocks has been domed and tilted by the intrusion of a Jurassic granodiorite
stock. The stock is 16 miles long in an east-west direction and eight miles
wide. Sediments within 2,000 feet of the stock have been metamorphosed to skarn
and hornfels. The pre-Tertiary rocks are unconformably overlain by Miocene
rhyolite flows and tuffs and by lacustrine deposits of the Pliocene Humboldt
Formation. Between 1908 and 1965 the district produced 5.75 million pounds of
copper, 126,000 ounces of silver and minor amounts of gold, lead, zinc and
tungsten. The most productive occurrences have been copper deposits in quartz
veins along the contact zone of the stock, near the original townsite of
Contact.
One of the main zones in the district extends 12,000 feet along
strike and crosses claims held by Golden Phoenix Minerals. Very little drilling
has been done to test this zone. The potential exists for developing relatively
large high-grade copper deposits with silver and possible molybdenum credits.
HAMILTON PROJECT WHITE PINE COUNTY, NV
The Hamilton project is located approximately 35 miles west of Ely
in the White Pine mining district on the east slope of Mount Hamilton. The
project area is comprised of 148 unpatented mining claims that encompass
approximately 2960 acres. The claims have established a buffer around and have
consolidated the disarticulated F.W. Lewis, Inc. patented properties.
Rich silver ores were discovered in the Treasure Hill area in 1868
that resulted in a large influx of people into the area. Through 1996, the
district is credited with producing 21 million ounces of silver, 203 million
pounds of lead and lesser amounts copper, zinc and gold. The district has also
seen exploration and mining for gold in the skarns around the Seligman and Monte
Cristo stocks.
The district geology consists of 18,000 feet of sedimentary rocks,
mostly limestones and dolomites, which have been folded and domed along
north-south
<PAGE>
trending axes. The package has been intruded by two or more igneous stocks and
displaced by at least five sets of faults. Stratigraphy and major faults control
mineralization in the district. Mineral zonation is well developed evolving
outward from the Monte Cristo quartz monzonite stock with the silver-rich ores
being further out from the gold-rich center.
With the exception of exploration for gold around the Seligman and
Monte Cristo stocks, very little serious exploration has been done in the
district since the 1960s. Rea Gold Corporation was producing from its Mt.
Hamilton Mine until late 1997. The district has potential for large
argentiferous lead-zinc replacement occurrences along with additional gold skarn
mineralization adjacent to the intrusive bodies.
PAXSON AREA ALASKA
The Chisna, Chisna West, Chistochina, and PG&E project areas are
located approximately 20 miles northeast of Paxson, Alaska in the vicinity of
the Slate Creek placer operation. Placer mining occurred from the 1960s through
the 1980s. The projects consist of prospecting sites encompassing approximately
12 square miles of land.
The geology in the area is characterized by multiple phases of
diorite, quartz monzonite and granodiorite intrusions into the Chisna volcanic
sequence and the Mankomen Formation. The volcanic sequence contains andesite and
dacite with associated tuffs and flows. The Mankomen Formation consists of
Permian limestone, argillite, hornfels, schist, amphibolite, greenstone breccia,
basalt and diabase. Pyrite alteration is pervasive within the intrusive contact
zones. Locally, quartz-sulfide veinlets in the intrusive rocks crop out along
the pediment. One area is associated with an ultramafic peridotite and dunite
considered to be part of the Wrangellia terrane.
The State of Alaska studied the area in 1964 and again in 1992. The
State reports gold values up to 0.04 ounces per ton, as high as 0.75 percent
copper, and 0.2 percent nickel. Platinum placer occurrences are also found in
the vicinity of the PG&E Prospect.
Exploration is planned to define the potential for a copper-gold
porphyry deposit or other sulfide-related mineralization.
NORTH DELTA PROJECT ALASKA
The North Delta district is located approximately six miles
west-northwest of the Delta district on the Robertson River west of Tok, Alaska.
The property consists of eight prospecting sites covering two square miles of
acquired mineral rights.
The general geology of the area consists of a series of
meta-volcanic rocks of the Jarvis Creek Glacier subterrane. These rocks are cut
by a series of mafic dikes with an extensive amount of high-angle structure and
fracture related
<PAGE>
mineralization. Mineralized grab samples taken by a State of Alaska geologist
contained both disseminated and massive sulfides. These samples assayed as high
as 0.17 opt gold, 2.9 opt silver and 1.4 percent lead.
The State of Alaska briefly studied the area in 1981. A large amount
of general geologic, geophysical and geochemical data is available. No drilling
has been done on the Company's land. Adjacent lands in the Delta district have
been the focus of extensive exploration for many years by numerous companies.
The Company plans to explore and evaluate the intrusive and
structure-related mineralization and alteration within the district. Initial
geologic and geochemical work will outline the extent of the alteration and
mineralization to refine the target models and better define the initial drill
targets.
RICHARDSON DISTRICT ALASKA
The Richardson district is located approximately 70 miles southeast
of Fairbanks, Alaska. The property is accessible from the Richardson Highway,
which passes through the southwestern part of the district. The property
consists of prospecting sites and state mining claims encompassing over 26
square miles of acquired and leased mineral rights. The Company has two leases
which include the Hansen lease for seven state-select mining claims and the Mack
Rife lease for 11 state select mining claims.
The bedrock geology of the Richardson district is composed of
sedimentary and igneous rocks that have been metamorphosed and subsequently
intruded by Mesozoic plutons. The most common lithologies in the area are
biotite and muscovite schists. Coarse-grained meta-granite crops out near the
head of Buckeye Creek adjacent to several outcrops of hornfelsed sediments.
Meta-granite is also reported to outcrop in the Rose Creek drainage. Altered
quartz porphyry is exposed in Democrat Creek and Hinkley Gulch and was
encountered in the placer workings in Susie Creek. This porphyry unit has been
the focus of gold exploration efforts in the past. Recent exploration in the
area has determined that gold mineralization also occurs in the granite and
schistose units in the district. The quartz porphyry exposed in Democrat Creek
is oxidized with quartz veins and disseminated sulfides. The hydrothermally
altered portions of this unit have been the focus of recent drilling adjacent to
the Company's land position.
The area was studied by the state of Alaska in 1964, 1977 and in
1992. A large volume of general geologic, geophysical and geochemical data is
available. No drilling appears to have been done on the Company's land; however,
adjacent lands have been the focus of limited exploration for many years.
Several major mining companies have recently undertaken exploration activities
including trenching, geophysics, drilling, and claim staking. Reportedly, gold
mineralization has been encountered along rhyolite dikes, which trend towards
and presumably through the Company's property. This suggests the possibility
that similar mineralized rhyolite will be encountered on the Golden Phoenix
Minerals, Inc. property as well.
<PAGE>
The Company plans to explore and evaluate the gold porphyry and
structure-related gold potential within the district.
STONE BOY PROJECT ALASKA
The Stone Boy (Uncle Sam Creek) project area encompasses
approximately three square miles of ground, eight miles northeast of the
Richardson district and 25 miles west of the New Pogo discovery (4.5 million
contained ounces). The Pogo deposit, controlled by a joint venture between Tech
Resources, Inc. and Sumitomo Mining Co., is confined to a series of en-echelon
thrust faults in the Yukon-Tanana metamorphic-gneissic terrain. The Stone Boy
geochemical signature includes anomalous gold, bismuth, tungsten and tellurium
and is very similar to Fort Knox, although at a geologically higher level.
The Golden Phoenix Minerals, Inc. target on the Stone Boy project is
the granitic intrusive that has provided material for the gold placers in the
lower elevations of the property and may be related to the same mineralizing
event that formed the Pogo deposit.
HEALY-CANTWELL ALASKA
The Healy-Cantwell project area is composed of four properties
covering approximately 12-square miles.
The Sugarloaf property is located approximately four miles southeast
of Healy, Alaska in the historic Valdez Creek mining district. The property is
situated in the Birch Creek Schist belt; an east-west trending belt of rocks
Precambrian or early Paleozoic in age. Lithologies within the unit consist of
various types of schist, quartzite and impure marble. Tertiary rhyolite, latite
and basalt plugs and dikes have intruded the Birch Creek Schist. The entire area
has been gently warped and folded. Epithermal gold-silver mineralization is
found associated with Tertiary rhyolitic rocks. These rocks manifest themselves
as flow domes and related tuff breccias. Mineralization is found in quartz
veins, veinlets and stockworks and in hydrothermal breccias.
The Panorama property is located 10 miles northeast of Cantwell and
covers two and one-half square miles. The geology of the prospect consists of
Paleozoic argillites, slates and conglomerates that are unconformably overlain
by sediments of the Tertiary Cantwell formation. Minor occurrences of copper and
gold mineralization are found in the Paleozoic rocks on the property. The
property was staked adjacent to a large porphyry copper-gold system located on
Ahtna Native Corporation land. Negotiations are underway with the Ahtna group
for exploration and mining leases on selected native lands.
The Caribou project is located 15 miles south of the town of
Cantwell along East Fork Creek. The property covers two square miles. The
geology of the Caribou prospect area consists of Tertiary volcanic flows,
pyroclastics and sub-volcanic
<PAGE>
intrusives. A mineralized copper-gold breccia pipe reportedly underlies the
prospect. The breccia pipe target will be further defined by geological mapping
and geochemical sampling to identify the most appropriate drill sites to test
the target.
The Revine project is located 16 miles northeast of Cantwell and
covers four square miles of land. The geology in the Revine area consists of
Tertiary volcanic and sedimentary rocks. The volcanic rocks are rhyolitic dikes,
sills and small intrusive bodies that cut older sedimentary rocks of the
Cantwell Formation. Gold and silver mineralization is found in at least two
breccia bodies associated with rhyolite intrusive rocks.
Detailed geological mapping and geochemical sampling will be
undertaken in the Healy-Cantwell area during 1998 to delineate the mineralized
areas and define the target areas for future drilling programs.
CIRCLE PROJECT ALASKA
The Circle project is located in the Circle mining district
approximately 72 miles northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. The project area is
composed of prospecting sites and mining claims covering approximately nine
square miles of land. The Circle district is one of the oldest mining districts
in interior Alaska and has produced approximately 850,000 ounces of gold from
placer deposits.
The geology consists of a belt of metamorphosed Paleozoic sediments
that have been intruded by Cretaceous and Tertiary granitic plutons, forming a
portion of the Yukon Tanana Uplands. The region is transected by regional-scale,
northeast-trending shear zones and northeast-striking mafic dikes.
Mineralization in the district occurs as gold-arsenopyrite-quartz veins and
stockworks in massive, hornfelsed, micaceous quartzite and schist near the
intrusive contact and within Cretaceous granitic rocks.
The district contains numerous gold anomalies and prospects that
will be evaluated during the 1998 field season.
BONNIFIELD DISTRICT ALASKA
The Bonnifield project area lies on the north flank of the Alaska
Range in south-central Alaska. The area is about 60 miles south of Fairbanks and
200 miles north of Anchorage. The Parks Highway and Alaska Railroad bound the
district on the west and the West Fork of the Little Delta River bounds the
district on the east. At present, Golden Phoenix Minerals, Inc. controls
approximately 33,000 acres in 16 separate land blocks.
Prospectors from Fairbanks discovered gold in the Bonnifield
district in 1903. Mining and prospecting were confined primarily to placer
deposits where approximately 50,000 ounces of gold were produced. Lode
discoveries were very limited and probably produced less than 10,000 ounces of
gold and minor silver. Exploration in the Bonnifield District peaked during the
period 1975 through 1982
<PAGE>
when a number of major mining companies conducted stream sediment sampling and
follow-up programs. Volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits were the primary
targets, however, a number of gold, silver, antimony and uranium prospects were
investigated. By the mid-1980s base metal exploration efforts had nearly ceased
and were replaced by sporadic precious metal exploration. By the 1990s, several
exploration companies showed renewed interest in the district and established
land positions throughout the district.
The general geology in the Bonnifield district shows a basal
sequence of predominantly Precambrian and Paleozoic clastic and shallow marine
meta-sediments grading upward through Mississippian meta-volcanics and capped by
Mesozoic granitic intrusives and Tertiary mafic to felsic hypabyssal intrusives.
The northern margin of the district is disconformably overlain by Tertiary and
Quaternary clastic and coal-bearing sedimentary rocks. Volcanogenic massive
sulfides occur primarily in felsic volcanic schists and carbonaceous schists in
the Mississippian sequence of the meta-volcanic rocks. Several unrelated types
of mineralization are present in the Bonnifield district. The most widespread
mineralization is related to volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) horizons in
units of schist. Polymetallic copper-lead-zinc-silver mineralization is
accompanied by peripheral silicification and sericitic alteration inboard of
massive pyritic lenses in unaltered or weakly altered host rocks. Gold
mineralization identified in the Bonnifield district represents genetically
separate targets from the VMS deposits. Gold is commonly associated with
arsenopyrite and/or stibnite and may or may not be associated with elevated
lead, silver, copper, or zinc.
The Company has completed a district-wide compilation of all
available geologic information and plans to conduct additional mapping and
sampling to define and delineate mineralized areas to determine initial drill
targets and areas in need of further evaluation. The Company intends to define
the epithermal and porphyry-related mineralization to evaluate the potential of
a bulk minable gold deposit.
F.W. LEWIS, INC. AND MINA GOLD, INC.
Golden Phoenix Minerals, Inc. has acquired an exclusive option on
the mining assets of F.W. Lewis, Inc. and Mina Gold, Inc. The assets include 51
mining properties, mostly located in the state of Nevada. One of the properties,
the Lewis Mine, has been in production for 15 years by Hycroft Resources &
Development, Inc. and has paid US$3.5 million in royalties to Lewis. Two other
properties are currently leased to other companies and provide income to Lewis.
Geologic resources exist on several of the properties.
The total acreage is estimated at 24,889 with 9,019 acres being
patented lands. Lewis owns all of the 51 properties, with few exceptions, 100
percent. The majority of these properties are in Nevada with one property
located in Colorado. Also included in the land package are oil rights
aggregating approximately four acres in Los Angeles County, California and some
fee land in Humboldt County, Nevada.
<PAGE>
INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY DESCRIPTIONS
Six of the Lewis properties are discussed in the following text and
include: The Lewis Mine, Battle Mountain project, Wonder project, Mina Gold
project, Contact project and the Hamilton project.
LEWIS MINE HUMBOLDT COUNTY, NV
The Lewis Mine property is located 50 miles west of Winnemucca,
Nevada. The property consists of five patented placer tracts and approximately
440 unpatented claims totaling 10,200 acres. The property is leased to Hycroft
Resources & Development, Inc. and is part of the Crofoot-Lewis Mine owned by
Vista Gold Corp. The mine has been in production for 15 years by the lessee and
has generated US$3.5 million in royalties to F.W. Lewis, Inc.
Mining is done by open pit methods at an annual rate of 13 million
tons of ore and 20 million tons of waste. Cyanide heap-leaching processes both
run of mine and crushed oxidized ore. The mine has produced over 800,000 ounces
during the last 15 years. Current mine plans call for producing 16.5 million
tons with an average recoverable grade of 0.013 opt gold from the Lewis portion
of the mine over the next four years. Lewis receives a five percent royalty on
this production. Direct cash costs for the operation were US$274 per ounce in
1996.
The Crofoot-Lewis Mine is a Pliocene to Pleistocene low-sulfur hot
springs deposit. Fanglomerates, eruption breccias, felsic volcanic units and
silica sinters host low-grade gold mineralization. A series of north-striking,
west-dipping normal faults control the extent and intensity of alteration as
well as the grade of mineralization. An acid-sulfate alteration blanket 200 to
800 feet thick caps the system. Siliceous sinter deposits are locally common in
the area.
There is potential for additional oxide deposits and for deeper,
high-grade sulfide mineralization below the oxidized near-surface deposits. The
sulfide potential has not been evaluated nor has the potential for bonanza-type
gold-bearing quartz veins.
BATTLE MOUNTAIN PROJECT LANDER COUNTY, NV
The Battle Mountain property consists of 381 unpatented and seven
patented mining claims located in the Battle Mountain mining district, near
Battle Mountain, Nevada. The property is currently under lease to United Tex-Sol
Mines, Inc.
Mineral deposits in the Battle Mountain district are spatially and
genetically related to Cretaceous and Tertiary intrusive stocks. Metal zonation
is observed laterally from the stocks. Major north-south regional structures and
local stratigraphy are also important controls for mineralization. The Virgin
Fault system control which mineralization in Battle Mountain Gold's Fortitude
Mine
<PAGE>
extends onto the Lewis property. The Fortitude open pit has produced in excess
of 2.6 million ounces of gold.
Hart Resources conducted exploration activities on the property over
a five-year period from 1980 to 1985. In 1986 and 1987, Barrick Resources
conducted extensive exploration activities in the Virgin target area adjacent to
the Fortitude Open Pit and performed limited work in other target areas. Between
1988 and 1993 Lewis enlarged an existing drift in the Buena Vista Mine with the
intent of intersecting mineralization encountered in the Hart Resources
drilling. Before the target was reached, Santa Fe Pacific Gold acquired the
property and formed a joint venture operating the property in 1994 to 1995. In
1997, United Tex-Sol drilled 16 drill holes on the Virgin Deposit. As a result
of this additional drilling, resources have been announced which include 1.9
million tons averaging 0.122 opt gold on six current target areas as well as
942,268 tons averaging 0.169 opt gold in the Virgin Deposit.
The existing target areas have not been fully tested and have the
potential for additional ounces of gold mineralization.
WONDER PROJECT CHURCHILL COUNTY, NV
The Wonder property is located near Fallon, Nevada and consists of
45 patented and 67 unpatented mining claims. The property is presently optioned
to Arizuma Resources, Inc.
Miocene volcanic tuffs and flows underlie most of the district.
These units have been intruded by dacite plugs and rhyolite, andesite and basalt
dikes. Mineralization occurs in quartz veins, mostly within the extrusive rocks.
The most productive deposit has been the Nevada-Wonder vein, which occurs at the
contact between the extrusive rocks and the large dacite stock. The veins occupy
shear zones and are separated from the country rock by a tabular sheet of gouge
varying from several inches to several feet in width. Locally the gouge is
mineralized. The Nevada-Wonder vein has been mined historically to a depth in
excess of 2,000 feet. Oxidation persists to a depth of 1,300 feet. The district
has produced 418,729 tons of ore averaging 0.176 opt gold and 16.4 opt silver
from 1897 to 1955.
Several drilling programs and some open pit mining have taken place
on the property. Belmont Resources carried out a heap-leach program in the
mid-1980s on low-grade open pit ore and mixed oxide and sulfide dump material.
In 1996, Arizuma became involved in the district and conducted a drilling
program. Arizuma has announced a resource based on preliminary analysis of
previous drill data. They report a drill indicated resource of 2.3 million tons
averaging 2.64 opt silver and 0.013 opt gold.
Potential for additional mineralization exists in several of the old
mine areas along the strike of the Wonder vein. Deeper underground potential
also exists along the Wonder vein for oxide and sulfide mineralization.
<PAGE>
MINA GOLD PROJECT MINERAL COUNTY, NV
The Mina Gold property consists of five patented and 30 unpatented
lode mining claims situated in the Bell mining district 16 miles northeast of
Mina, Nevada.
Gold mineralization is hosted in a Tertiary feldspar porphyry
andesite, which, in the vicinity of Mina Hill, has been extensively altered and
has been referred to locally as the Mina rhyolite. The andesite flows are
thought to overlie the Triassic Luning Limestone Formation. Other volcanic units
are in fault contact with the andesite unit in the northern part of the
property. In the Mina Hill area, the andesite is surrounded on the south, east
and west by outcrops of the Esmeralda Formation. Mineralization occurs along
several subparallel fault zones that strike northwesterly and dip steeply to the
north. In areas of intense alteration, clay development is common with variable
amounts of silicification. The mineralized zones pinch and swell change
orientation both along strike and down dip.
A total of 177 exploration drill holes and 400 airtrack rotary holes
are reported on the property as well as 1,300 feet of underground development.
In 1996, Glamis Gold undertook a development-evaluation program and reported a
geologic resource of 1.7 million tons averaging 0.055 opt gold at a 0.01 opt
cutoff grade. Lewis reported 1.09 million tons averaging 0.076 opt gold from a
manual pit design drawn from cross sections.
A total of 12 target areas have been identified on the property,
some of which have been only partially tested by drilling. Potential for
additional mineralization may exist in areas covered by the Esmeralda Formation.
CONTACT PROJECT ELKO COUNTY, NV
The Contact Property is located near Contact, Nevada and consists of
111 patented and two unpatented mining claims in the Salmon River (Contact)
mining district.
A 16,000-foot thick sequence of Mississippian-Permian sedimentary
rocks has been domed and tilted by the intrusion of a Jurassic granodiorite
stock. The stock is 16 miles long in an east-went direction and eight miles
wide. Sediments within 2,000 feet of the stock have been metamorphosed to skarn
and hornfels. The pre-Tertiary rocks are unconformably overlain by Miocene
rhyolite flows and tuffs and by lacustrine deposits of the Pliocene Humboldt
Formation. Between 1908 and 1965 the district produced 5.75 million pounds of
copper, 126,000 ounces of silver and minor amounts of gold, lead, zinc and
tungsten. The most productive occurrences have been copper deposits in quartz
veins along the contact zone of the stock, near the original townsite of
Contact.
Phelps Dodge and Coralta Mines were active in the main part of the
district in the 1970s. Considerable drilling was done and eight million tons of
material averaging 2.3 percent copper were delineated. Most of the developed
mineralization
<PAGE>
is on the Enexco property adjacent to the Lewis ground and in which he has a
royalty interest. Some underground work has been completed.
One of the main zones in the district extends 12,000 feet along
strike. Very little drilling has been done to test this zone. The potential
exists for developing relatively large high-grade copper deposits with silver
and possible molybdenum credits.
HAMILTON PROJECT WHITE PINE COUNTY, NV
The Hamilton project is located approximately 35 miles west of Ely,
Nevada and consists of 104 patented and 20 unpatented mining claims. The claims
are located in the White Pine mining district on the east slope of Mount
Hamilton.
The district geology consists of 18,000 feet of sedimentary rocks,
mostly limestones and dolomites, which have been folded and domed along
north-south trending axes. The package has been intruded by two or more igneous
stocks and displaced by at least five sets of faults. The major faults as well
as stratigraphy control mineralization in the district. Mineral zonation is
developed evolving outward from the Monte Cristo quartz monzonite stock.
Rich silver ores were discovered in the Treasure Hill area in 1868
and there was a large influx of people into the area. Through 1996, the district
is credited with producing 21 million ounces of silver, 203 million pounds of
lead and lesser amounts copper, zinc and gold. In 1980 the Hamilton property was
leased to Treasure City Mines, Inc. and was subleased to a company called SSH&K.
During this time a heap leach operation was established to process old waste
dumps on Treasure Hill. An undetermined amount of silver was recovered, however,
the lease was terminated due to non-payment of royalties.
Very little serious exploration has been done in the district since
the 1960s. A compilation of information and a prioritization of target areas are
in the process of being completed.
Item 3. - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None
Item 4. - SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY
HOLDERS
None.
<PAGE>
PART II
Item 5. - MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The Company's common stock has been traded since August 6,1997;
before that time there was no activity. As of October 13, 1997 the following
brokerage firms were making a market in the Company's common stock: Fahnestock &
Co., Wien Securities, Mayer & Schwitzer, Herzog Heine Geduld, Inc., J. B. Oxford
& Co., Hill Thompson Magid & Co., Wm V. Frankel & Co, Inc., Fidelity Capital
Markets, GVR Co., Sharpe Capital, Inc., Nash Weiss & Co., Paragon Capital Corp.,
and Protective Group Securities.
The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the range
of high and low closing bid quotations per share as reported by the
over-the-counter market. These quotations represent inter-dealer prices, without
retail markups, markdowns or commissions and may not necessarily represent
actual transactions.
Price per Share
---------------
High Low
---------------
Fiscal year 1997 $5.875 $0.05
Third Quarter (June 30, 1997 - September 30, 1997) $5.875 $0.05
Fourth Quarter (September 30, 1997 -
December 31, 1997) $4.625 $0.8125
There are 46 holders of the common and preferred stock of the
Company. There have never been any dividends, cash or otherwise, paid on the
common shares of the Company.
Item 6. - SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
1997
Other Income
Net Loss $1,452,393
Loss per share common stock $(0.13)
Total Assets $2,728,771
Shareholders Equity $1,620,264
<PAGE>
Item 7. - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Summary.
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 provides a "safe
harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included herein
contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements regarding
management's expectations about future production and development activities as
well as other capital spending, financing sources and the effects of regulation.
Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that
could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly,
such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements
made herein. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to,
those relating to the market price of metals, production rates, production
costs, the availability of financing, the ability to obtain and maintain all of
the permits necessary to put and keep properties in production, development and
construction activities and dependence on existing management. The Company
cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking
statements, and such statements speak only as of the date made.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
No operational revenue has been generated in the initial operating
period ended December 31, 1997, of development. All Company activities have been
directed toward exploration activities and acquisition of properties. The
Company has exploration properties in Alaska, Nevada and California.
The Company has entered into a joint venture agreement with
Kennecott Exploration, ("Kennecott") Inc. on its High Grade property located in
Modoc County, California. The agreement was signed on September 19, 1997 and
gives the Company the option to acquire a 100 percent interest in the property
over a three year period. The agreement calls for Golden Phoenix to spend
US$200,000 the first year, US$300,000 the second year, and US$500,000 the last
year for a total of US$1,000,000 in exploration work commitments on the
property. The Company will also pay Kennecott US$200,000 in cash or the
equivalent hereof in the Company's stock to complete the exercise of the option.
Kennecott has reserved the right to buy back a 51 percent interest in the
property at the time of a positive feasibility study for 150 percent of 51
percent of all exploration expenses at the time of such feasibility study. If
Kennecott chooses not to exercise the right to buy back into the property,
Kennecott will retain a 2 percent net smelter return royalty on the property.
The Company entered into an agreement on August 21, 1997 with J. D.
Welsh & Associates to purchase an interest in a mineral property, situated in
Mineral County, Nevada, known as the Borealis property ("Borealis Property").
The Welsh interest in the Borealis property is presently a joint venture with
Cambior USA.
<PAGE>
The Company can purchase Welsh's interest in Borealis over thirteen months for a
total of US$1,250,000 in payments. The initial payments to Welsh and Cambior USA
secure 25 percent of Welsh's interest in Borealis or approximately 8 percent of
the joint venture. The Company will be carried through positive mining
feasibility by Cambior USA, the operator of the project. Cambior USA must spend
US$7,000,000 over seven years to earn a 70 percent interest in the property.
The Company acquired on September 18, 1997 an option to purchase 100
percent of the issued and outstanding stock of F. W. Lewis, Inc. and Mina Gold
Mine, Inc. (collectively "Lewis Companies") for an option payment of US$250,000.
The Lewis Companies control in excess of 25,000 acres of mining properties
consisting of patented and unpatented mining claims, patented and unpatented
mill sites, and fee lands in Nevada, Colorado, and certain oil and gas interests
in California. These companies also own various pieces of mining equipment, and
structures located on the mineral properties in Nevada. The purchase price for
the Lewis Companies and all their real and personal property assets is
US$20,000,000. The option to purchase expired on December 31, 1997, but has been
extended to December 31, 1998, for an additional US$250,000. The company is
actively seeking funding for this acquisition and is also involved in
negotiations with other companies to share the cost of, and thereby acquire an
interest in, the Lewis Companies and their mining properties and other assets.
The Company believes it will be successful in raising the $20,000,000 purchase
price. However, should the Company and any joint venture partner be unable to
raise the $20,000,000 in funding to acquire those companies, the option to
purchase will expire without any value retained by the Company.
The Company, in order to establish the value of the properties it
has acquired, commissioned an independent valuation of the property portfolios.
Two separate values were established; a value for the Company's wholly-owned
properties and a value for the properties owned by the Lewis Companies and to be
acquired by the Company pursuant to the Lewis Companies option agreement. These
two sets of properties were valued separately by Watts, Griffis and McQuat
Limited ("WGM") consulting geologists and engineers based in Denver, Colorado.
A valuation opinion was prepared for the 50 properties and property
interests that the Company controls in California, Nevada and Alaska, USA. The
Company's wholly-owned properties and property interests total approximately
112,000 acres. It is WGM's opinion that the fair market value of the Company's
wholly-owned property and property interest in the portfolio of properties is in
the range of US$6.0 to US$7.0 million. The properties and their values are
presented in the following table.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number Valuation Valuation
District or of Approx. Interest From To
Property Name State Properties Acres (%) US$(1,000) US$(1,000)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
High Grade Dist. CA 2 1,550 100 $950 $1,270
Borrelis District NV 1 11,000 15 525 615
Contact District NV 1 800 60 527 552
Medicine Man NV 1 2,000 100 325 350
Exxon NV 1 2,000 100 300 350
McNew NV 1 1,360 100 230 260
Garamendi NV 1 260 100 450 470
Blue Basin NV 1 1,200 100 70 90
Hamilton Dist NV 1 1,500 100 55 65
Circle District AK 7 11,800 100 785 910
Richardson Dist. AK 8 22,428 100 1,020 1,145
Bonnefield Dist. AK 17 35,660 100 580 705
Ultramafic Belt AK 4 12,800 100 95 115
Other Areas AK 4 7,200 100 75 95
</TABLE>
As stated, the second valuation opinion that WGM was retained for
was the Lewis Companies valuation. This study was commissioned to determine if
the cost of the option was in the range of the fair market value of Lewis
Companies properties subject to the option. The results of the valuation showed
that the Lewis Companies Fair Market Value was between US$15 and US$20 million.
The major Lewis Companies properties and their values are presented in the
following table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low Value High Value
Property/Item US($1,000,000) US($1,000,000)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Hycroft Royalty (Lewis-Crawfoot Mine) 6.9 7.3
Wonder 1.5 2.4
Battle Mountain 2.8 3.8
Contact 0.9 1.7
Hamilton 1.1 1.9
Mina 0.7 1.0
Other Properties 1.0 1.3
Equipment 0.3 0.6
---------------------------
Totals 15.2 20.0
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
It should be noted that it is the opinion of the Company that the
valuations in the WGM reports are conservative. The Company is confident that
with improved metal markets that the value of the Lewis Companies properties
will increase, particularly for the base metal properties which were heavily
discounted.
Exploration costs have been incurred in connection with the
properties in California, Alaska and Nevada. These costs have been incurred for
the location of prospect sites and mining claims, and field examinations to
determine the potential occurrence of economic mineralization on the different
properties. Other exploration costs include the compilation of historic data on
the properties to assist in the evaluation of the properties and the planning of
further exploration.
No provision for income taxes was recognized for the initial
operating period; development ended December 31, 1997, due to net operating
losses accrued.
Interest income was minimal for the initial operating period of
development that ended December 31, 1997.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
As of December 31,1997 the company had current assets of
US$2,456,327 compared to current liabilities of US$1,108,507 for a current ratio
of 2.2 to 1.
During fiscal 1997, liquidity needs were met from: (i) sale of 504
exempt shares totaling US$999,988, (ii) private placement of 144 restricted
shares and (iii) cash receipts from the exercising of options of US$1,254,030.
As of December 31, 1997 the Company had US$760,498 in working
capital. A significant portion of the working capital is allocated to the joint
venture with Cambior Exploration USA, Inc., involving the Borealis Property. The
total Borealis Property interest acquisition cost is US$1,250,000. An initial
payment of US$350,000 was paid, the current portion of the debt owed on this
investment is US$700,000 with no long term portion, all of which would be due if
the investment were liquidated.
The Company anticipates total expenditures for fiscal 1998 for
general and administrative expenses to be approximately US$950,000 and for
exploration and property holding cost to be approximately US$3,000,000.
Exploration and holding expenditures include US$750,000 for the F. W. Lewis Inc.
option, US$100,000 for the International Enxeco limited joint venture,
US$200,000 for the High Grade joint venture, US$72,200 for the Richardson
District leases, US$87,180 for the Circle District leases, US$700,000 to buy out
the remaining interest in the Borealis project from J. D. Welsh & Associates,
US$61,600 for Nevada land holding cost, US$630,000 for Alaska claim holding
costs and US$100,000 for generative exploration. These amounts could increase or
decrease significantly, at any time during the fiscal year, based on exploration
results and decisions about releasing or acquiring additional properties, among
other factors.
The company will continue to explore its remaining properties and
intends to acquire new properties, all with the view to enhancing the value of
such properties
<PAGE>
prior to possible joint ventures with major mining company partners.
The ability of the Company to satisfy the cash requirements of its
development and operations will be dependent upon future financing. The Company
anticipates that additional financing will be obtained, although no assurance
can be made that funds will be available on terms acceptable to the Company.
INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
The Company is investigating potential financing sources and is
conducting discussions with potential joint venture partners to acquire the
Lewis Companies, however, the Company has not yet finalized commitments for such
financing or joint ventures. No assurance can be given that the Company will
obtain all of the financing to purchase the Lewis Companies.
OUTLOOK
The Company has the option to issue common shares of Golden Phoenix
Minerals, Inc, at current market price to J. D. Welsh & Associates in full
consideration of all future payments for the remaining 75 percent interest in
the joint venture with Cambior Exploration USA, Inc. The issuances are scheduled
to be made monthly beginning January 15, 1998, in US$100,000 market value
increments. The Company will remain obligated to pay Cambior USA US$100,000 on
or before January 5, 1998. These transactions will eliminate US$700,000 of short
term debt.
Item 8. - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The financial statements are attached following Item 14.
Item 9. - DISAGREEMENTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE.
None.
PART III
Item 10. - DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.
The executive officers and directors of the company, with a brief
description are as follows:
<PAGE>
Name Age Position
- ---- --- --------
Michael R. Fitzsimonds 41 President, Director
Daniel T. Taylor 41 Vice President, Director
Donald J. McDowell 37 Executive Vice President, Director
Dennis J. McDowell 37 Secretary, Director
David A. Caldwell 36 Director
Michael R. Fitzsimonds, Mr. Fitzsimonds is the President, and a
Director of the Company. He is a Geological Engineer. He has been associated
with Santa Fe Gold Corporation for the past 10 years. He was responsible for
resource evaluation and due diligence on corporate acquisition projects
worldwide. He has experience in the minerals industry with project development
ranging from grass roots exploration to advanced project development and
expertise in resource evaluation.
Daniel T. Taylor, Mr. Taylor is Vice President and a Director. Mr.
Taylor is a Geologist. He has been associated with Santa Fe Gold Corporation for
the past 10 years in managing exploration and development projects in the
Western United States. He has experience in the minerals industry with project
development ranging from grass roots exploration to advanced project
development.
Donald J. McDowell, Mr. McDowell is Executive Vice President and a
Director. Mr. McDowell is a professional land surveyor and geologic explorations
with more than 19 years of surveying, mineral exploration and development
experience. He was associated with Santa Fe Gold Corporation for more than 10
years and most recently was a geologic consultant conducting project generation
for the Kennecot/RTZ exploration team.
Dennis J. McDowell, Mr. McDowell is Secretary and a Director. Mr.
McDowell is Vice President, Regional Director of Stores for Fred Meyer, Inc. and
has worked for that company for the past 12 years.
David A. Caldwell, Mr. Caldwell is a Director. Mr. Caldwell is a
geologist and geophysicist. He has more than 10 years experience in the minerals
exploration industry, with experience in sulfur, base metal and gold exploration
and development. He had roles in project management and development for Santa Fe
Gold Corporation and Gold Fields Mining Company in Nevada, New Mexico and Texas.
He was a project geologist with Santa Fe Pacific Gold Corporation and is
currently an Officer and Director with Nevada Pacific Gold (US), Inc.
<PAGE>
Item 11. - EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
There is no employee that was paid as much as $60,000 per year as
salary. There is no contract for the payment of a salary to any employee. There
are no employment agreements. The Company has agreed to pay Michael R.
Fitzsimonds, Donald J. McDowell and Daniel T. Taylor the sum of $60,000 per year
each.
Item 12. - SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
AND MANAGEMENT.
The following table sets forth the information as to the ownership
of each person who owns of record, or is known by the Company to own
beneficially, more than five per cent of the Company's common and preferred
stock, and the officers and directors of the Company.
Common Stock
Name Shares Percent Converted*
---- ------ ------- ----------
Michael R. Fitzsimonds 1,750,000 14% 23%
Donald J. McDowell 2,000,000 16% 25%
Dennis J. McDowell 500,000 4%
All officers and directors as a group 4,250,000 34% 46%
* Shows the per cent of common shares owned if preferred shares are converted.
There are options outstanding to purchase 4,000,000 shares of common
stock. Donald McDowell holds 225,000 at $.10, 250,000 at $.20, 125,000 at $.50,
125,000 at $.75, 500,000 at $2.00 and 500,000 at $3.00. Michael Fitzsimonds
holds 225,000 at $.10, 250,000 at $.20, 125,000 at $.50, 125,000 at $.75,
500,000 at $2.00 and 500,000 at $3.00. Dennis McDowell holds 50,000 at $.10.
Daniel Taylor holds 300,000 at $.10. Angelette McGovern holds 100,000 at $.10.
David Caldwell holds 100,000 at $.10.
Preferred Stock
Shares Percent
------ -------
Andrea Albanesse 66,667 13%
Stephan Maurer 25,000 5%
<PAGE>
Paul Dickson 25,000 5%
Dave Venchus 25,000 5%
Jason Kolpec 25,000 5%
Fiona Lattanzi 66,667 13%
Peter Shepherd 33,333 6%
Terry Shepherd 33,333 6%
Donald J. McDowell 100,000 20%
Michael R. Fitzsimonds 100,000 20%
All officers and directors as a group 200,000 40%
Item 13. - CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.
As part of the agreement between Mr. McDowell and the other
principles of the Company who make up the Board of Directors, Mr. McDowell
agreed to make available to the Company any of the properties he had located
prior to the formation of the Company. The only property, which was located and
filed with the Federal Government and subsequently, QUIT CLAIMED to the company
by Mr. McDowell is the Garamendi property. Four other properties, Long Canyon,
Blue Basin, Chisna, and Chistochina were allowed to lapse and were subsequently
staked for mineral location by the Company. As part of the agreement to bring
these properties into the Company Mr. McDowell would not be compensated
monetarily but would retain a 2% NSR on each of the properties if they were put
into production.
PART IV
Item 14. - EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND
REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.
(a) Attached are the Financial Statements and Independent Auditor's
Report on Examination of Financial Statements for the year ended
December 31, 1997.
(b) Attached are the following Financial Statement Schedules and
Auditors
<PAGE>
Report on Schedules,
Independent Auditors Report on Schedules
All other schedules are omitted because they are not required or not
applicable or the information is shown in the consolidated financial
statements or notes thereto.
(c) No report was filed on Form 8-K.
(d) There are no exhibits.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 the registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated March 31,1998
GOLDEN PHOENIX MINERALS, INC.
by /s/ Michael R. Fitzsimonds
-----------------------------------
Michael R. Fitzsimonds
<PAGE>
GOLDEN PHOENIX MINERALS, INC.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
From June 2, 1997 (Date of Inception) To December 31, 1997
GARY A. LaPALME, C.P.A.
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Minneapolis, Minnesota
<PAGE>
GOLDEN PHOENIX MINERALS, INC.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONTENTS
FROM JUNE 2, 1997 (DATE OF INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 1997
Page
----
Independent Auditor's Report 2
Financial Statements
Balance Sheet 3
Statement of Operations - During the Exploration Stage 4
Statement of Cash Flows 5
Statement of Stockholders' Equity 6
Notes to Financial Statements 7-10
<PAGE>
[GARY A. LaPALME, C.P.A. LETTERHEAD]
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
MAPLE GROVE EXECUTIVE CENTRE
7200 HEMLOCK LANE, SUITE 110
MAPLE GROVE, MINNESOTA 55369
--------------
(612) 424-5330
FAX (612) 424-2601
MEMBER
MINNESOTA SOCIETY OF C.P.A.s
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF C.P.A.s
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
GOLDEN PHOENIX MINERALS, INC.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
I have audited the accompanying balance sheet of GOLDEN PHOENIX MINERALS, INC.,
(An Exploration Stage Company) as of DECEMBER 31, 1997 and the related
statements of operations - during the exploration stage, and cash flows for the
period from JUNE 2, 1997 (date of inception) to DECEMBER 31, 1997. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. My
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
my audit.
I conducted my audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Those standards require that I plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and the significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
I believe that my audit provides a reasonable basis for my opinion.
In my opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of GOLDEN PHOENIX MINERALS, INC., (An
Exploration Stage Company) as of DECEMBER 31, 1997 and the results of its
operations and its cash flows from JUNE 2, 1997 (date of inception) to DECEMBER
31, 1997 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company
will continue as a going concern. As Discussed in Notes A and B to the financial
statements, the Company has incurred losses from operations, has insufficient
cash flow from operations, and has substantial non-earning assets. These items
raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.
Management's plans regarding those matters are also discussed in Notes A and B.
The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from
the outcome of these uncertainties.
/s/ Gary A. LaPalme, C.P.A.
GARY A. LaPALME, C.P.A.
Certified Public Accountants
March 20, 1998
Minneapolis, Minnesota
-2-
<PAGE>
GOLDEN PHOENIX MINERALS, INC.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
BALANCE SHEET
DECEMBER 31, 1997
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 280,973
Investments 1,250,000
Prepaid expenses 35,354
Stock subscription receivable 890,000
-----------
Total Current Assets 2,456,327
-----------
VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT
Vehicles and equipment 138,135
Less accumulated depreciation 3,478
-----------
134,657
-----------
MINING PROPERTIES AND CLAIMS
Options/leases 40,000
Deferred exploration costs 70,967
Mining property and claims 10,000
-----------
120,967
-----------
OTHER ASSETS
Refundable deposits 15,781
Incorporation costs, net of
amortization of $116 1,039
-----------
16,820
-----------
TOTAL ASSETS $ 2,728,771
===========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current portion of long-term debt $ 700,000
Accounts payable 95,890
Accrued liabilities 17,617
Amount due to shareholders 295,000
-----------
Total Current Liabilities 1,108,507
-----------
CONTINGENCIES --
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock, no par value,
50,000,000 shares authorized and
500,000 shares issued and
outstanding at December 31, 1997 2,000
Common stock, no par value,
150,000,000 shares authorized,
13,369,480 issued and
outstanding at December 31,
1997 (including 2,000,000 of
144 restricted shares for
organizational services) 3,080,657
Additional paid-in capital (10,000)
Deficit accumulated during exploration stage (1,452,393)
-----------
Total Stockholders' Equity 1,620,264
-----------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 2,728,771
===========
The Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
are an integral part of these statements
-3-
<PAGE>
GOLDEN PHOENIX MINERALS, INC.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS-DURING THE EXPLORATION STAGE
FROM JUNE 2, 1997 (DATE OF INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 1997
REVENUES $ --
-----------
Exploration 890,073
General and administrative 558,896
Depreciation and amortization 3,594
-----------
1,452,563
-----------
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS (1,452,563)
OTHER INCOME
Interest and other income 170
-----------
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES (1,452,393)
INCOME TAXES --
-----------
LOSS DURING THE EXPLORATION STAGE $(1,452,393)
===========
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE $ (0.13)
===========
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING 11,609,358
===========
The Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
are an integral part of these statements
-4-
<PAGE>
GOLDEN PHOENIX MINERALS, INC.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FROM JUNE 2, 1997 (DATE OF INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 1997
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss $(1,452,393)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to
cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization 3,594
(Increase) in investments (1,250,000)
(Increase) in prepaid expenses (35,354)
(Increase) in deposits (15,781)
Increase in accounts payable 95,890
Increase in accrued liabilities 17,617
Increase in incorporation costs (1,155)
-----------
Net Cash (Used) by Operating Activities (2,637,582)
-----------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of mining properties and claims (50,000)
Purchase of equipment and furniture (138,135)
Increase in deferred exploration costs (70,967)
-----------
Net Cash (Used) by Investing Activities (259,102)
-----------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from Issuance of debt 1,782,000
Payment of debt (787,000)
Proceeds from issuance of stock 2,182,657
-----------
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities 3,177,657
-----------
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND EQUIVALENTS 280,973
-----------
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD --
-----------
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD $ 280,973
===========
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash Paid during the period for interest,
net of amount of capitalized $ --
Cash paid during the period for income taxes $ --
The Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
are an integral part of these statements
-5-
<PAGE>
GOLDEN PHOENIX MINERALS, INC.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
FROM JUNE 2, 1997 (DATE OF INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Additional
Common Preferred Paid In Accumulated
Shares Shares Capital Deficit Total
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balances, June 2,
1997 (Date of
inception) -- -- $ -- $ -- $ --
Issuance of Stock
Reg D rule 504
stock offering
June 23, 1997,
for cash, less
issue costs of
$6,000 10,000,000 -- (6,000) -- 44,000
Issuance of Stock
Section 144
restricted
shares, June 23,
1997, for
services 2,000,000 -- (2,000) -- --
Issuance of Stock
Section 144
restricted
shares, June 23,
1997, for
services -- 500,000 (2,000) -- --
Sale of 499,480
shares held in
treasury 424,480 -- -- -- 943,657
Issuance of 50,000
section 144 stock
for joint venture
purchase 50,000 -- -- -- 100,000
Issuance of stock
October-December
1997 relating to
the exercise of
options 895,000 -- -- -- 1,985,000
Net loss for
the period -- -- -- (1,452,393) (1,452,393)
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Balance,
December 31, 1997 13,369,480 500,000 $ (10,000) $(1,452,393) $ 1,620,264
========== ========== =========== =========== ===========
</TABLE>
The Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
are an integral part of these statements
-6-
<PAGE>
GOLDEN PHOENIX MINERALS, INC.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FROM JUNE 2, 1997 (DATE OF INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 1997
NOTE A ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Organization and Operations - This Company was incorporated in the State
of Minnesota on June 2, 1997, and is engaged primarily in the
exploration for minerals. The Company is a mineral explorations
corporation, dedicated to the discovery and development of precious and
base metals in the western United States and Alaska. The Company is
planning exploration and development of selected properties to positive
economic feasibility. The Company will also provide joint venture
opportunities to other large mining companies. As an exploration stage
company the Company has generated no mining revenues and has been funded
through stock sales and loans by officers and shareholders.
Basis of Presentation - The financial statements are presented assuming
the Company will continue as a going concern which contemplates the
realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal
course of business. The Company has incurred losses since its inception
and there is no guarantee that the Company will generate sufficient
revenues from its proposed products and operations to generate a profit.
The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be
necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern. Also
see Note B.
Cash and Cash Equivalents - For purposes of the statement of cash flows,
the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with
an original maturity of three months or less to be cash and/or cash
equivalents.
Depreciation - The Company records acquisitions of furniture and
equipment at cost and provides for depreciation utilizing the straight
line method over estimated useful lives of three to seven years.
Earnings (Loss) per Share - Earnings (loss) per share are based on the
weighted average shares outstanding during the year. The preferred
stock, and stock options have not been factored into the computation of
loss per share because their effect is anti-dilutive.
Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the
date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues
and expenses during the reporting period.
NOTE B GOING CONCERN
As shown in the accompanying financial statements, the Company has
losses from operations. The ability of the Company to have ongoing
operations is dependent upon its ability to achieve profitable
operations from its exploration and mining operations. The Company is an
exploration stage company and has been financing its activities through
stock sales and loans from its officers and shareholders. The Company
intends to have an ongoing program to obtain outside financing for its
exploration and development activities.
-7-
<PAGE>
GOLDEN PHOENIX MINERALS, INC.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FROM JUNE 2, 1997 (DATE OF INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 1997
NOTE C OPERATIONS - JOINT VENTURES
The Company has entered into agreements to obtain mining exploration
rights, and has also entered into joint venture agreements for the
production of mining properties.
The Company has acquired the mineral exploration rights in various
locations in the western United States and Alaska. These rights allow
the Company to explore the properties for precious and base metal
deposits for possible production.
Cambior Exploration USA, Inc. - The Company has a 30% interest in a
joint venture known as the Borealis Mine Property. The joint venture is
with Cambior Exploration USA, Inc. which has a 70% interest in the joint
venture. The joint venture covers 222 unpatented lode mining claims in
Mineral County, Nevada. Cambior is required to make $7,000,000 in
exploration development expenditure over a seven year period ending on
January 24, 2004. If Cambior does not make these required expenditures,
the mineral rights in total revert to Golden Phoenix Minerals Inc.
The Company purchased the 30% interest in the joint venture for
$1,250,000. The Company paid $550,000 to J. D. Welsch & Associates, Inc.
in 1997 and has a balance due of $700,000 with seven monthly payments of
$100,000 starting January 15, 1998 through July 15, 1998. The Company's
percentage of ownership increases proportionately with each installment.
There is no charge for interest in the agreement. The $100,000 monthly
payments can be in cash or unrestricted common stock of Golden Phoenix
Minerals, Inc., or any combination thereof. The common stock is to be
valued at the bid price on the last trading day before the fifteenth of
the month, or the trading day before the earlier date upon which the
installment is delivered.
Kennecott Exploration Company - On September 19, 1997 the Company
entered with an option to purchase 100% of Kennecott Exploration
Company's right, title and interest to certain unpatented mining claims
(the property) located in Modoc County, California. The Company is
required to make exploration expenditures for the benefit of the
property. These expenditures are $200,000 by September 19, 1998, an
additional $300,000 by September 19, 1999, and an additional $500,000 by
September 19, 2000 for $1,000,000 in total required expenditures. Upon
completing the work commitment, the Company is to transfer $200,000
worth of its common stock to Kennecott Exploration Company. The total
purchase price is $1,200,000 to be paid in cash, less any amounts paid
on the exploration expenditures and less any amount paid in common stock
as required.
Tri-Valley Corporation - On December 10, 1997 the Company had a
partially binding letter of intent from Tri-Valley Corporation (TVC) to
enter into a joint venture to develop property known as TVC Richardson
Alaska property. The Company had paid $25,000 (nonrefundable) to TVC to
bind the parties to reach an agreement on the joint venture or until
January 15, 1998 at which time discussions will terminate unless
mutually extended. The Companies were still negotiating at the date of
the accountant's report, March 20, 1998.
-8-
<PAGE>
GOLDEN PHOENIX MINERALS, INC.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FROM JUNE 2, 1997 (DATE OF INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 1997
NOTE C OPERATIONS - JOINT VENTURES, continued
Lewis Companies - On September 18, 1997 the Company acquired an option
to purchase 100% of the issued and outstanding stock of F. W. Lewis,
Inc. and Mina Gold Mine, Inc. (Lewis Companies) for an option payment of
$250,000. The purchase price of the Lewis Companies' and all their real
and personal property assets is $20,000,000. The option to purchase
expired on December 31, 1997 but was renewed on January 6, 1998 for an
additional $250,000.
NOTE D VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT
Vehicle and equipment is summarized as follows:
Vehicles $ 84,497
Equipment 53,638
----------
$ 138,135
==========
NOTE E OPTIONS/LEASES
The Company had the following options at December 31, 1997:
Erik Hansen Banner Creek $ 10,000
Mark Rife Banner Creek 5,000
Tri-Valley Corporation - joint venture 25,000
----------
$ 40,000
==========
Mineral Property - The Company purchased mineral rights on property in
the Richardson Mining District for $10,000. The Company has not assigned
any value to these rights.
NOTE F COMMON STOCK
The authorized number of common shares is 150,000,000 of which
13,369,480 shares were issued and outstanding at December 31, 1997.
Included in this amount is 2,000,000 section 144 restricted shares
issued for organizational services.
NOTE G PREFERRED STOCK
The authorized number of preferred shares is 50,000,000 of which 500,000
of section 144 restricted shares were issued and outstanding as of
December 31, 1997. Preferred stock is convertible to ten common shares
for every one preferred share, at a conversion rate of $ .10 per common
share for a period of ten years from June 12, 1997. At December 31, 1997
the Company was offering to buy back the preferred shares from the
shareholders.
-9-
<PAGE>
GOLDEN PHOENIX MINERALS, INC.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FROM JUNE 2, 1997 (DATE OF INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 1997
NOTE H STOCK OPTIONS
The Company has issued 4,000,000 non-qualified incentive stock options
to employees, directors and investors to buy common stock at the
following prices:
1,000,000 at $ .10
500,000 at $ .20
250,000 at $ .50
250,000 at $ .75
750,000 at $ 2.00
1,000,000 at $ 3.00
250,000 at $ 4.00
The options have a three year life and are due to expire on June 1,
2000. During 1997, 895,000 options were exercised to purchase stock in
the Company.
NOTE I LEASE COMMITMENTS
The Company's corporate headquarters are leased pursuant to an operating
lease expiring July 31, 2000. Future lease payments at December 31, 1997
are as follows:
Year Ending
December 31,
------------
1998 $ 51,417
1999 55,140
2000 33,439
---------
$ 139,996
=========
NOTE J INCOME TAXES-NET OPERATING LOSS
The Company had a net operating loss that can be carried forward to
offset future taxable income approximating $1,400,000. The net operating
loss will expire in the year 2012.
NOTE K RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During 1997, various employees exercised 820,000 options to purchase
stock in the Company. Also, during 1997 various officers loaned the
Company $532,000. In November 1997 $237,000 of these loans were paid
back with Company stock. The balance outstanding at December 31, 1997 is
$295,000. The four notes are due June 1, 1998.
NOTE L STOCK SUBSCRIPTIONS RECEIVABLE
At December 31, 1997 the Company had stock subscriptions receivable on
the issue of stock from the exercise of stock options in the amount of
$890,000. There were two exercises of the options for stock: 400,000
shares at $2.00 per share for $800,000, and 30,000 shares at $3.00 per
share for $90,000. On February 3, 1998 the 30,000 share issue was
cancelled along with the corresponding stock subscription receivable of
$90,000.
-10-
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<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> JUN-02-1997
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997
<CASH> 280,973
<SECURITIES> 0
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<PP&E> 134,657
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<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,108,507
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<COMMON> 3,080,657
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<CGS> 1,452,563
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