Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Information
Number of reportable segments | segment			2
Revenue	$ 1,944	$ 1,900	$ 5,852	$ 5,267
Mineral Extraction Processing and Marketing Costs	594	657	1,804	1,685
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	270	337	814	897
Exploration, El Quevar, Velardena and Administrative Expense	2,681	2,542	8,878	7,899
Pre-tax (gain) loss	1,751	(1,586)	6,560	835
Total Assets	11,233	14,229	11,233	14,229	$ 12,644
Capital Expenditures	1	3	$ 28	61
Velardena properties
Segment Information
Number of reportable segments | segment			1
Revenue	1,944	1,900	$ 5,852	5,267
Mineral Extraction Processing and Marketing Costs	594	657	1,804	1,685
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	195	243	587	616
Exploration, El Quevar, Velardena and Administrative Expense	686	561	1,962	1,754
Pre-tax (gain) loss	(276)	(312)	(959)	(1,038)
Total Assets	4,502	6,084	4,502	6,084
Capital Expenditures		3	1	31
Corporate, Exploration & Other
Segment Information
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	75	94	227	281
Exploration, El Quevar, Velardena and Administrative Expense	1,995	1,981	6,916	6,145
Pre-tax (gain) loss	2,027	(1,274)	7,519	1,873
Total Assets	6,731	$ 8,145	6,731	8,145
Capital Expenditures	$ 1		$ 27	$ 30