COVID-19 restrictions mandated by the Mexican government. Also, Hecla terminated the Lease Agreement in accordance with the terms of the Third Amendment one month early, effective November 30, 2020.
Exploration Expense. Our exploration expense, including work at the Rodeo, Sand Canyon, Yoquivo and other properties, totaled $5.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Our exploration expense, including work at the Sand Canyon, Yoquivo, Santa Maria and other properties, totaled $4.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Exploration expense for both years was incurred primarily in Mexico and includes property holding costs, costs incurred by our local exploration offices, and allocated corporate administrative expenses. The increase in exploration expense during 2020 is primarily related to exploration and mining activities at our Rodeo project, which comprised approximately $0.9 million of the total, in preparation for the commencement of processing mined material from Rodeo beginning in January 2021.
Velardeña shutdown and care and maintenance costs. We recorded $1.2 million and $1.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, for expenses related to care and maintenance at our Velardeña Properties as the result of the suspension of mining and processing activities in November 2015. The higher care and maintenance costs in 2019 are related to increased maintenance costs.
El Quevar Project Expense. As discussed above, during April 2020, we entered into the Earn-In Agreement with Barrick, pursuant to which Barrick has acquired an option to earn a 70% interest in the El Quevar project. During the earn in period Barrick has and will continue to reimburse us for certain holding and maintenance costs related to the project. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we recorded an expense of approximately $0.6 million primarily related to exploration, holding and evaluation costs for the Yaxtché deposit at the El Quevar project, net of costs reimbursed. During the year ended December 31, 2019 we recorded an expense of approximately $2.0 million primarily related to exploration, holding and evaluation costs for the Yaxtché deposit at the El Quevar project. The decrease in costs for 2020 are primarily related to the reimbursement of costs by Barrick and an increase in costs during 2019 related to a drilling program conducted during the year. For both years, additional nominal costs incurred in Argentina and not related to the El Quevar project are included in “Exploration Expense”, discussed above.
Administrative Expense. Administrative expenses totaled $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Administrative expenses, including costs associated with being a public company, are incurred primarily by our corporate activities in support of the Rodeo project, Velardeña Properties, El Quevar project and our exploration portfolio. The $3.7 million of administrative expenses we incurred during 2020 is comprised of $1.4 million of employee compensation and directors’ fees, $1.3 million of professional fees, and $1.0 million of insurance, rents, travel expenses, utilities and other office costs. The $3.6 million of administrative expenses we incurred during 2019 is comprised of $1.5 million of employee compensation and directors’ fees, $1.2 million of professional fees and $0.9 million of insurance, rents, travel expenses, utilities and other office costs.
Stock based compensation. During the year ended December 31, 2020 we incurred expense related to stock-based compensation in the amount of $0.9 million compared to $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Stock based compensation varies from period to period depending on the number and timing of shares granted, the type of grant, the market value of the shares on the date of grant and other variables.
Reclamation and accretion expense. During each of the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we incurred $0.2 million of reclamation expense related to the accretion of an asset retirement obligation at the Velardeña Properties.
Other Operating Income, Net. We recorded only a nominal amount of other operating income for the year ended December 31, 2020, consisting of the sale of surplus equipment. We recorded other operating income of $3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, consisting of $3.0 million for the sale of the Mogotes and Pistachon properties in Mexico and $0.2 million for the sale of surplus equipment in Argentina and property in Peru.