| Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies | NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Use of Estimates The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) 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 dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. These estimates and assumptions include valuing equity securities issued in share based payment arrangements, determining the fair value of our common stock, the collectability of accounts receivable and deferred taxes and related valuation allowances. Certain of our estimates, including evaluating the collectability of accounts receivable, could be affected by external conditions, including those unique to our industry, and general economic conditions. It is possible that these external factors could have an effect on our estimates that could cause actual results to differ from our estimates. We re-evaluate all of our accounting estimates at least quarterly based on these conditions and record adjustments when necessary. Cash and Cash equivalents The Company maintains cash with financial institutions in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) which are not insured or otherwise protected. Should any of these institutions holding the Company’s cash become insolvent, or if the Company is unable to withdraw funds for any reason, the Company could lose the cash on deposit with that institution. Cash Restricted cash Restricted cash is related to deposits required by bank for banker’s acceptance notes and loans. The balance of total restricted cash was $0 and $1,147,224 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Accounts Receivable We have a policy of reserving for uncollectible accounts based on our best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in our existing accounts receivable. We extend credit to our customers based on an evaluation of their financial condition and other factors. We generally do not require collateral or other security to support accounts receivable. We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers and maintain an allowance for potential bad debts if required. We determine whether an allowance for doubtful accounts is required by evaluating specific accounts where information indicates the customers may have an inability to meet financial obligations. In these cases, we use assumptions and judgment, based on the best available facts and circumstances, to record a specific allowance for those customers against amounts due to reduce the receivable to the amount expected to be collected. These specific allowances are re-evaluated and adjusted as additional information is received. The amounts calculated are analyzed to determine the total amount of the allowance. We may also record a general allowance as necessary. Direct write-offs are taken in the period when we have exhausted our efforts to collect overdue and unpaid receivables or otherwise evaluate other circumstances that indicate that we should abandon such efforts. Inventories Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value with cost determined on the weighted-average method. Work in progress and finished goods are composed of direct material, direct labor and a portion of manufacturing overhead. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less estimated costs to complete and dispose. Property, machinery and mining assets Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Once placed in service, depreciation is provided in amounts sufficient to amortize the cost of the related assets over their useful lives using the straight line method. The land use right is amortized over the lease period. Maintenance, repairs and minor renewals are charged to expense when incurred. Replacements and major renewals are capitalized. Expenditures for new facilities or equipment and expenditures that extend the useful lives of existing facilities or equipment are capitalized and depreciated using the straight-line method at rates sufficient to depreciate such costs over the estimated productive lives. Mineral exploration costs are expensed according to the term of the license granted to the Company by the PRC. Extraction rights are stated at the lower of cost and recoverable amount. When extraction rights are obtained from the government according to the mining industry practice in the PRC, no development costs will be capitalized, or subsequently amortized, until the company determines the existence of reserves pursuant to Industry Guide 7. At the Company’s underground mines, these costs include the cost of building access ways, shaft sinking and access, lateral development, drift development, ramps and infrastructure development. Impairment of long-lived assets Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment when circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. For assets that are to be held and used, impairment is recognized when the estimated undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset or group of assets is less than their carrying value. If impairment exists, an adjustment is made to write the asset down to its fair value, and a loss is recorded as the difference between the carrying value and fair value. Fair values are determined based on quoted market values, discounted cash flows or internal and external appraisals, as applicable. Assets to be disposed of are carried at the lower of carrying value or estimated net realizable value. The Company reviewed the carrying value of long-lived assets and recorded $2,441,724 and $0 impairment loss at December 31, 2014 and 2013. Investments The Company accounts for non-marketable investments (including investment in Joint Venture) using the equity method of accounting if the investment gives us the ability to exercise significant influence over, but not control of, an investee. Significant influence generally exists if the Company has an ownership interest representing between 20% and 50% of the voting stock of the investee. Under the equity method of accounting, investments are stated at initial cost and are adjusted for subsequent additional investments and our proportionate share of earnings or losses and distributions. The Company records its share of the investee’s earnings or losses in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated entities, net of income taxes in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The Company evaluates its equity method investment for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate, in management’s judgment, that the carrying value of such investment may have experienced other than temporary decline in value. When evidence of loss in value has occurred, management compares the estimated fair value of the investment to the carrying value of the investment to determine whether an impairment has occurred. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value and management considers the decline in value to be other than temporary value, the excess of the carrying value over the estimated fair value is recognized in the financial statements as an impairment. The Company accounts for non-marketable investment using the cost method of accounting if the Company has an ownership interest below 20% and does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over an investee. Convertible Instruments We evaluate and account for conversion options embedded in convertible instruments in accordance with ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging Activities”. Applicable GAAP requires companies to bifurcate conversion options from their host instruments and account for them as free standing derivative financial instruments according to certain criteria. The criteria include circumstances in which (a) the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative instrument are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract, (b) the hybrid instrument that embodies both the embedded derivative instrument and the host contract is not re-measured at fair value under other GAAP with changes in fair value reported in earnings as they occur and (c) a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative instrument would be considered a derivative instrument. We account for convertible instruments (when we have determined that the embedded conversion options should not be bifurcated from their host instruments) as follows: We record when necessary, discounts to convertible notes for the intrinsic value of conversion options embedded in debt instruments based upon the differences between the fair value of the underlying common stock at the commitment date of the note transaction and the effective conversion price embedded in the note. Debt discounts under these arrangements are amortized over the term of the related debt to their stated date of redemption. Stock-Based Compensation We recognize compensation expense for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718. For employee stock-based awards, we calculate the fair value of the award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes method for stock options and the quoted price of our common stock for unrestricted shares; the expense is recognized over the service period for awards expected to vest. For non-employee stock-based awards, we calculate the fair value of the award on the date of grant in the same manner as employee awards, however, the awards are revalued at the end of each reporting period and the pro rata compensation expense is adjusted accordingly until such time the nonemployee award is fully vested, at which time the total compensation recognized to date equals the fair value of the stock-based award as calculated on the measurement date, which is the date at which the award recipient’s performance is complete. The estimation of stock-based awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment, and to the extent actual results or updated estimates differ from original estimates, such amounts are recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period estimates are revised. We consider many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, employee class, and historical experience. Deferred income taxes We use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes.” Under this method, income tax expense is recognized for the amount of: (i) taxes payable or refundable for the current year and (ii) deferred tax consequences of temporary differences resulting from matters that have been recognized in an entity’s financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the results of operations in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the deferred tax assets reported if based on the weight of the available positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. ASC Topic 740.10.30 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. ASC Topic 740.10.40 provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. We have no material uncertain tax positions for any of the reporting periods presented. Currency translation Since the Company operates in the PRC, the Company’s functional currency is the RMB. Revenue and expense accounts are translated at the average rates during the period, and assets and liabilities are translated at year-end rates and equity accounts are translated at historical rate. Translation adjustments arising from the use of different exchange rates from period to period are included as a component of stockholders’ equity. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are recognized in current operations. Fair value of financial instruments We have adopted the provisions of ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”, which defines fair value as used in numerous accounting pronouncements, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure of fair value measurements. The estimated fair value of certain financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses are carried at historical cost basis, which approximates fair values because of the short-term maturing of these instruments. The carrying amounts of our short and long term credit obligations approximate fair value because the effective yields on these obligations, which include contractual interest rates which are comparable to rates of returns for instruments of similar credit risk and because of the short term maturity of these instruments. ASC 820 defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. ASC 820 describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value: Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 – quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable Level 3 – inputs that are unobservable (for example cash flow modeling inputs based on assumptions) We have no financing assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Segment reporting The Company is using “management approach” model for segment reporting. The management approach model is based on the way a company’s management organized segments within the company for making operating decisions and assessing performance. Reportable segments are based on products and services, geography, legal structure, management structure, or any other manner in which management disaggregates a company. Revenue recognition Revenue is recognized at the date of shipment to customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the delivery is completed, no other significant obligations of the Company exist, and collectability is reasonably assured. Payments received before all of the relevant criteria for revenue recognition are satisfied are recorded as advances from customers. No revenues have been recognized in the mining segment or manufacturing segment. Research and development Research and development expenditures are charged to operations as incurred, net with any government grant for specific research projects. Research and development expenditures were $973,851, less $423,705 of government subsidy and $625,000 previously accrued research and development cost that was forgiven in the year ended December 31, 2013. Research and development expenditures were $444,706, less $414,123 of government grant received in the year ended December 31, 2014. Advertising expense Advertising and promotional costs are expensed as incurred. Comprehensive income Comprehensive income is defined to include all changes in equity except those resulting from investments by shareholders and distributions to shareholders. Among other disclosures, all items that are required to be recognized under current accounting standards as components of comprehensive income are required to be reported in a financial statement that is presented with the same prominence as other financial statements. Comprehensive income includes net income and the foreign currency translation gain, net of tax. Loss per share Basic losses per share are computed by dividing losses available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted losses per share are computed similar to basic earnings per share, except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the potential common shares had been issued and if the additional common shares were dilutive. As a result of the net loss in 2014 and 2013, the calculation of diluted loss per share does not include the dilutive effect to stock options. |
