Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Contingencies
Loss contingency		$ 0	$ 400,000
Office space
Leases and Purchase Commitments
2016		284,000
2017		293,000
2018		272,000
Lease payments		224,000	227,000
Reduction in space (as a percent)	46.00%
Reduction in cost (as a percent)	44.00%
El Quevar Project
Leases and Purchase Commitments
2016		115,000
2017		115,000
2018		115,000
2020		115,000
2021		115,000
Thereafter		115,000
Lease payments		112,000	40,000
Velardena properties
Leases and Purchase Commitments
2016		75,000
2017		75,000
2018		75,000
2020		75,000
2021		75,000
Thereafter		75,000
Lease payments		74,000	$ 24,000
Surface right agreement with local ejido
Leases and Purchase Commitments
Lease payments		$ 25,000