Mineral property expenditures were $1,125,316 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $536,603 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $588,713 is primarily due to work completed toward the updated PFS for the Livengood Gold Project of $548,085, timing variance of baseline environmental costs of $24,188, and land-related legal costs of $16,440 during the three months ended June 30, 2021.
Excluding share-based costs of $374,178 and $300,927 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020, respectively, consulting costs were $47,486 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $39,649 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $7,837 is primarily due to increased investor relations support services.
Regulatory costs were $32,983 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $19,083 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $13,900 is primarily due to increased costs of $7,540 related to the annual general shareholders meeting and additional TSX listing fees of $6,360.
Professional fees were $50,019 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $37,040 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $12,979 is primarily due to increased legal costs.
Insurance costs were $47,027 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $35,662 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $11,365 is primarily due to premium increases.
Excluding share-based costs of $5,462 and $3,155 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020, respectively, investor relations costs were $36,238 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $28,403 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $7,835 is primarily due to investor relations conferences and services.
Share-based payment charges
Share-based payment charges for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 were allocated as follows:
| | | | | | |
Expense category: | | June 30, 2021 | | June 30, 2020 |
Consulting | | $ | 374,178 | | $ | 300,927 |
Investor relations | | | 5,462 | | | 3,155 |
Wages and benefits | | | 76,469 | | | 44,170 |
Total | | $ | 456,109 | | $ | 348,252 |
Share-based payment charges were $456,109 during the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $348,252 during the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $107,857 is mainly the result of the DSUs issued on May 25, 2021 being expensed at a closing price of C$1.40 as compared to the DSUs issued on May 27, 2020 being expensed at a closing price of C$0.90 ($73,233) and the stock options for common shares of the Company issued to its employees and consultants issued on May 27, 2020 and May 25, 2021 vesting over a period of two years, with only one-third being exercisable upon grant ($34,624).
Other items amounted to total other expense of $143,987 during the three-month period ended June 30, 2021, compared to total other expense of $206,462 during the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. As a result of the impact of exchange rates on certain of the Company’s U.S. dollar cash balances, the Company had a foreign exchange loss of $157,829 during the three-month period ended June 30, 2021, compared to a loss of $225,095 during the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. The average exchange rate during the three-month period ended June 30, 2021 was C$1 to US$0.8144 compared to C$1 to US$0.7221 during the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. Interest income was $3,842 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2021, compared to $13,341 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. The decrease of $9,499 is primarily due to short-term investment certificates being re-invested upon maturity at a lower interest rate.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2020
The Company had a net loss of $3,315,886 for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to a net loss of $1,421,379 for the six months ended June 30, 2020.
Mineral property expenditures were $1,665,070 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $652,023 for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase of $1,013,047 is primarily due to work completed toward the updated PFS for the Livengood Gold Project