On March $31,2024,$ a company purchased the right to remove gravel from an old rock quarry. The gravel is to be sold as roadbed for highway construction. The cos of the quarry rights was $$291,600,$ with estimated salable rock of $36,000$ tons. During $2024.$ The company loaded and sold $4,800$ tons of rock and estimated that $31,200$ tons remained on December $31,2024.$ On January $1,2025,$ the company estimated that $9,600$ tons still remained. During $2025,$ the company loaded and s$014,400$ tons. The company uses the units$-$of$-$production method.

The company would record depletion in $2024$ in the amount of:

Note: Do not round depletion rate per ton.

Multiple Choice

$$44,862$

$$40,555$

$$38,880$

$$29,160$