| Schedule of Operating Expense |
Operating expense during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 consists of the following expenses by nature: | | | | | | | | | | 2025 | 2024 | | Raw materials and consumables | $ | 336,083 | | $ | 236,496 | | Salaries and employee benefits(1) | 184,473 | | 126,910 | | | Contractors | 214,531 | | 140,774 | | | Repairs and maintenance | 78,376 | | 46,593 | | | Site administration | 71,603 | | 81,966 | | | Royalties | 39,879 | | 15,644 | | | 924,945 | | 648,383 | | | Change in inventories | (90,356) | | (51,462) | | | Total operating expense | $ | 834,589 | | $ | 596,921 | |
(1) Total salaries and employee benefits, excluding share-based compensation, for the year ended December 31, 2025, including amounts recognized within care and maintenance expense, exploration and evaluation expense and general and administration expense, was $268.7 million (2024 – $146.3 million)
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