UAMY United States Antimony Corp

UNITED STATES

 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

☒ Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 Or 15(d) Of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2023

 ☐ Transition Report Under Section 13 Or 15(d) Of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period ________ to ________

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 001-08675

(406) 827-3523

(Registrant’s telephone number) 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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 ☐     No ☒

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post filed). Yes ☒     No ☐

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “Accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐     No ☒

As of October 4, 2023, there were 107,647,317 shares outstanding of the registrant’s $0.01 par value common stock.

Contents

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS AND PLAN OF OPERATION.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This quarterly report and the exhibits attached hereto contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such forward-looking statements concern the Company’s anticipated results and developments in the Company’s operations in future periods, planned exploration and development of its properties, plans related to its business and other matters that may occur in the future. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.

Any statement that expresses or involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always using words or phrases such as “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “estimates”, or “intends”, or states that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation risks related to:

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company’s forward-looking statements. Some of the important risks and uncertainties that could affect forward-looking statements are described further under the sections titled “Risk Factors”, “Description of Business” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Plan of Operation” of this Quarterly Report. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. United States Antimony Corporation disclaims any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, except as required by law. The Company advises readers to carefully review the reports and documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), particularly the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

As used in this Quarterly Report, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “United State Antimony Corporation,”, “US Antimony,” “USAC,” and the “Company”, mean United States Antimony Corporation, unless otherwise indicated. All dollar amounts in this Quarterly Report are expressed in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis is intended to be read in conjunction with the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and the integral notes (“Notes”) thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. The following statements may be forward-looking in nature and actual results may differ materially.

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

History

United States Antimony Corporation was incorporated in Montana in January 1970 to mine and produce antimony products. In December 1983, the Company suspended antimony ore mining operations in the U.S. but continued to produce antimony products using foreign sources of antimony ore. In April 1998, the Company formed United States Antimony Mexico SA de CV (“USAMSA”) to smelt antimony in Mexico, and, in August 2005, the Company formed Antimonio de Mexico, S. A. de C. V. (“ADM”) to explore and develop antimony and silver deposits in Mexico. The Company formed Bear River Zeolite Company (“BRZ”) in 2000 for the purpose of mining and producing zeolite in southeastern Idaho. Our principal business is the production and sale of antimony, silver, gold, and zeolite products. In May 2012, our shares of common stock started trading on the NYSE MKT (now NYSE AMERICAN) under the symbol UAMY.

Although we extract minerals from the Los Juarez, Mexico antimony property and the Bear River, Idaho zeolite property that we later process and sell, each of our mining properties is classified under Regulation S-K Item 1300 as an exploration stage property and the Company is classified as an exploration stage issuer because we have not prepared a technical report summary for any of our properties making a determination that the property contains proven mineral reserves or probable mineral reserves.

Antimony Division

The Burns Mining District of Sanders County, MT, which is approximately 15 miles west of Thompson Falls, MT, is the location of one of our antimony smelters and precious metals plants. We hold 2 patented claims, meaning owned claims, where the plant is located. Mining was suspended at this site in December 1983, because antimony ore could be purchased more economically from foreign sources; currently, environmental restrictions preclude mining at this site.

Since 1983, we have relied on foreign sources for antimony ore, and there are risks of interruption in procurement from these sources and/or volatile changes in world market prices for these materials that are not controllable by us. We have sources of antimony in Mexico, but we also depend on foreign companies for antimony ore. We expect to continue to receive antimony from our owned and leased properties in Mexico and from foreign suppliers in Canada, Mexico, and Central America. 

In Montana, we produce antimony oxide, antimony metal, and precious metals. Our antimony oxide is used in conjunction with a halogen to form a synergistic flame-retardant system for plastics, rubber, fiberglass, textile goods, paints, coatings, and paper. Our antimony oxide is also used as a color fastener in paint and as a phosphorescent agent in fluorescent light bulbs. Our antimony metal is used in bearings, storage batteries and ordnance.

We estimate (but have not independently confirmed) that our present share of the domestic market and international market for antimony oxide products is approximately 4% and less than 1%, respectively. We are the only significant U.S. producer of antimony products, while China supplies 92% of the world antimony demand. We believe we are competitive both domestically and worldwide due to the following factors:

Zeolite Division

We own 100% of BRZ. BRZ has a lease with Zeolite LLC (f/k/a Webster Farm, L.L.C.) that entitles BRZ to surface mine and process zeolite on property located near Preston, Idaho, in exchange for a royalty payment. The annual royalty payment is the greater of: (1) the minimum annual royalty of $60,000, adjusted annually for the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers, or (2) $11.00 per ton for the first ten thousand tons, $9.90 per ton for tons in excess of ten thousand up to twenty thousand, and $8.80 per ton for tons in excess of twenty thousand. This Zeolite LLC lease also requires BRZ to pay $10,000 to the lessor on March 1 of each year during the term of the lease which ends March 1, 2025. BRZ also pays other royalties on the sale of zeolite products. In total, royalties vary from 8% to 13% of sales. In addition, BRZ can surface mine and process zeolite on property owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management that is adjacent to the Company’s Preston, Idaho property. Also, given the mining difficulties in the winter season, BRZ constructed warehouses to store mined zeolite prior to the winter season to remain in production during the winter season.

“Zeolite” refers to a group of industrial minerals that consist of hydrated aluminosilicates that hold cations such as calcium, sodium, ammonium, various heavy metals, and potassium in their crystal lattice. Water is loosely held in cavities in the lattice. BRZ zeolite is regarded as one of the best zeolites in the world due to its high cation exchange capacity (CEC) of approximately 180-220 meq/100 gr. (which predicts plant nutrient availability and retention in soil), its hardness and high clinoptilolite content (which is an effective barrier to prevent problematic radionuclide movement), its absence of clay minerals, and its low sodium content. Our zeolite is used in:

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

Results of Operations:

Balance Sheet Information:

Operational and financial performance by Segment:

Antimony

Financial and operational performance of antimony for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, total antimony revenue decreased $1,216,291, or 43%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022.  The decrease was primarily due to the lower sales price per pound, which was largely in line with the market rates for antimony, coupled with a decrease in the pounds of antimony sold in 2023 compared to 2022. The volume decrease was primarily attributable to antimony ore supply shortages related to a third-party supplier due to the supplier’s machinery and equipment failures during the three months ended March 31, 2023. These third-party machinery and equipment failures were fixed during the first quarter of 2023.

Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was lower by $1,709,062 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022 primarily due to the lower sales price per pound, the decrease in pounds sold, processing of antimony ore with less antimony percentage concentrate, and supplier and labor cost increases in 2023 compared to 2022.

Zeolite

Financial and operational performance of zeolite for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, zeolite revenue decreased $191,949, or 28%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022.  The decrease was primarily due to production downtime during approximately two months of the three months ended March 31, 2023 due to a significant equipment failure, which was rectified prior to March 31, 2023, partially offset by an increase in the average sales price in 2023 compared to 2022. The cone of BRZ’s main cone crusher failed and production was curtailed until a new cone could be sourced, delivered, and installed. The new cone is equipped with performance monitoring features that are expected to enhance our preventive maintenance program, contribute to longer and more reliable run times, and enable a material increase in production. The failure of the original cone curtailed production for approximately two months in the first quarter of 2023 until completion of the new cone acquisition and installation. The curtailment of production resulted in lower revenue. The new cone has operated significantly more reliably since installation was completed and production rates have increased.

Precious Metals

Financial and operational performance of precious metals for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows: