Question

In 2021, the Marion Company purchased land containing a mineral mine for $1,150,000. Additional costs of $448,000 were incurred to develop the mine. Geologists estimated that 310,000 tons of ore would be extracted. After the ore is removed, the land will have a resale value of $110,000.

To aid in the extraction, Marion built various structures and small storage buildings on the site at a cost of $102,300. These structures have a useful life of 10 years. The structures cannot be moved after the ore has been removed and will be left at the site. In addition, new equipment costing $51,500 was purchased and installed at the site. Marion does not plan to move the equipment to another site, but estimates that it can be sold at auction for $5,000 after the mining project is completed.

In 2021, 41,000 tons of ore were extracted and sold. In 2022, the estimate of total tons of ore in the mine was revised from 310,000 to 397,500. During 2019, 71,000 tons were extracted, of which 51,000 tons were sold.

Required:

a. Compute depletion and depreciation of the mine and the mining facilities and equipment for 2018 and 2019. Marion uses the units-of-production method to determine depreciation on mining facilities and equipment.
b. Compute the book value of the mineral mine, structures, and equipment as of December 31, 2019.

Answer 1

Marion Company

a1) Depletion of the Mine for two years:

2018: 41,000/310,000 * $1,488,000 = $196,800

2019: 51,000/397,500 * $1,488,000 = $190,913

a2) Depreciation of Mining Facilities:

2018: 41,000/310,000 *$102,300 = $13,530

2019: 51,000/397,500 * $102,300 = $13,125

a3) Depreciation of Mining Equipment

2018: 41,000/310,000 *$46,500 = $6,150

2018: 51,000/397,500 * $46,500 = $5,966

b) Book Values December 31, 2019:

1) Mineral Mine:

Cost = $1,598,000

Accumulated Depletion $387,713 (2018 & 2019)

Book Value = $1,210,287

b2) Structures:

Cost = $102,300

Accumulated Depreciation $26,655 (2018 & 2019)

Book Value = $75,645

b3) Equipment:

Cost = $51,500

Accumulated Depreciation $12,116

Book Value = $39,384

Step-by-step explanation:

a) Cost of Mine:

Land $1,150,000

Development $448,000

Less Resale ($110,000)

Total cost = $1,488,000

b) Cost of Facilities or Structure:

Building cost = $102,300

c) Cost of Equipment = $51,500 - $5,000 = $46,500

d) Depletion is an accrual accounting technique used to allocate the cost of extracting natural resources. It is like depreciation and amortization, which lower the cost value of an asset incrementally through periodic charges to income.

e) Depreciation is an accounting method for allocating the cost (the value used up) of a tangible or physical asset over its useful life.