Equity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Additional information
Compensation expense	$ 257,000	$ 558,000	$ 587,000	$ 979,000
Restricted Stock Units R S U [Member]
Additional information
Compensation expense			300,000
Additional compensation expense expected to be recognized	200,000		200,000
Period for recognition of additional compensation expense			12 months
Number of unrestricted common shares that the Director is entitled to receive for each vested RSU, upon termination from board service			1
Equity Incentive Plan2009 [Member] | E C U Silver Mining Inc [Member]
Number of Shares
Outstanding at end of year (in shares)	126,000		126,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share
Exercise price (in dollars per share)			$ 16.00
Equity Incentive Plan2009 [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]
Number of Shares
Outstanding at beginning of year (in shares)			915,971
Restrictions lifted during the year (in shares)			(118,667)
Outstanding at end of year (in shares)	797,304		797,304
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share
Outstanding at beginning of year (in dollars per share)			$ 2.47
Restrictions lifted during the year (in dollars per share)			$ 2.39
Outstanding at end of year (in dollars per share)	$ 2.48		$ 2.48
Additional information
Compensation expense			300,000
Additional compensation expense expected to be recognized	$ 400,000		$ 400,000
Period for recognition of additional compensation expense			24 months
Equity Incentive Plan2009 [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | Officers And Employees [Member]
Number of Shares
Restrictions lifted during the year (in shares)			118,667
Equity Incentive Plan2009 [Member] | Employee And Directors Stock Options [Member]
Number of Shares
Outstanding at beginning of period (in shares)			110,810
Forfeited or expired during period (in shares)			(15,000)
Outstanding at end of year (in shares)	95,810		95,810
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	95,810		95,810
Granted and vested (in shares)	95,810		95,810
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share
Outstanding at beginning of year (in dollars per share)			$ 8.02
Forfeited or expired during year (in dollars per shares)			$ 8.02
Outstanding at end of year (in dollars per share)	$ 8.02		$ 8.02
Exercisable at end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 8.02		$ 8.02
Granted and vested (in dollars per share)	$ 8.02		$ 8.02
Non Employee Directors Deferred Compensation And Equity Award Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock Units R S U [Member]
Number of Shares
Outstanding at beginning of year (in shares)			585,285
Granted during the period (in shares)			350,000
Outstanding at end of year (in shares)	935,285		935,285
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share
Outstanding at beginning of year (in dollars per share)			$ 2.97
Granted during the year (in dollars per share)			$ 0.58
Outstanding at end of year (in dollars per share)	$ 2.08		$ 2.08
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share
Granted during the year (in dollars per share)			$ 0.58