16. Operating Costs

Operating expenses include exploration and evaluation expense, development expense, general and administration (“G&A”) expense, and mineral property write-offs. Exploration and evaluation expense consists of labor and the associated costs of the exploration and evaluation departments as well as land holding and exploration costs including drilling and analysis on properties which have not reached the permitting or operations stage. Development expense relates to properties that have reached the permitting or operations stage and include costs associated with exploring, delineating, and permitting a property.  Once permitted, development expenses also include the costs associated with the construction and development of the permitted property that are otherwise not eligible to be capitalized. G&A expense relates to the administration, finance, investor relations, land, and legal functions, and consists principally of personnel, facility, and support costs.

Operating costs consist of the following: