Share-based payment charges
Share-based payment charges for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 were allocated as follows:
| | | | | | |
Expense category: | | June 30, 2022 | | June 30, 2021 |
Consulting | | $ | 317,245 | | $ | 374,178 |
Investor relations | | | 3,993 | | | 5,462 |
Wages and benefits | | | 55,903 | | | 76,469 |
Total | | $ | 377,141 | | $ | 456,109 |
Share-based payment charges were $377,141 during the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $456,109 during the three months ended June 30, 2021. The decrease of $78,968 is mainly the result of the deferred share units (“DSUs”) issued on May 24, 2022 being expensed at a closing price of C$0.92 as compared to the DSUs issued on May 25, 2021 being expensed at a closing price of C$1.40 ($54,827) partially offset by the stock options for common shares of the Company issued to its employees and consultants on May 27, 2020 being fully vested during the three months ended June 30, 2022 ($24,141).
Other items amounted to total other income of $201,705 during the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, compared to total other expense of $143,987 during the three-month period ended June 30, 2021. 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 gain of $190,165 during the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, compared to a loss of $157,829 during the three-month period ended June 30, 2021. The average exchange rate during the three-month period ended June 30, 2022 was C$1 to $0.7834, compared to C$1 to $0.8144 during the three-month period ended June 30, 2021. Interest income was $1,540 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, compared to $3,842 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2021. The decrease of $2,302 is primarily due to short-term investment certificates being re-invested upon maturity at a lower interest rate. Other income was $10,000 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, compared to $10,000 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2021.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2021
The Company had a net loss of $1,914,252 for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to a net loss of $3,315,886 for the six months ended June 30, 2021.
Mineral property expenditures were $765,038 for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $1,665,070 for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The decrease of $900,032 is primarily due to work completed toward the updated PFS for the Livengood Gold Project of $904,802 and reduced baseline environmental costs due to timing variances of $39,756, partially offset by increased land claim rentals of $21,994 and land-related legal costs of $22,532.
Excluding share-based costs of $319,420 and $376,410 for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, respectively, consulting fees were $113,345 for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $105,255 for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The increase of $8,090 is primarily due to increased consulting services.
Excluding share-based costs of $81,149 and $92,092 for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, respectively, wages and benefits were $303,784 for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $334,320 for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The decrease of $30,536 is primarily due to a timing variance of payroll-related benefits.
Regulatory costs were $98,685 for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $133,006 for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The decrease of $34,321 is primarily due to reduced SEDAR filings fees of $20,423, reduced TSX listing fees of $19,576, and reduced NYSE listing fees of $890, partially offset by increased EDGAR filings fees of $3,239 and transfer agent fees of $3,329 related to material mailing costs related to the 2022 annual general meeting of shareholders on May 24, 2022.
Excluding share-based payments, all other operating expense categories reflected only moderate changes period over period.