Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,000,811	$ 5,427
Certificates of deposit	243,616
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,031 and $7,600, respectively	456,159	1,438,564
Inventories	1,192,189	1,066,813
Other current assets	170,529	56,208
Deferred tax asset	39,824	396,558
Total current assets	3,103,128	2,963,570
Properties, plants and equipment, net	10,576,406	6,047,004
Restricted cash for reclamation bonds	75,251	74,777
Deferred tax asset	189,627
Other assets	498,496	54,766
Total assets	14,442,908	9,140,117
Current liabilities:
Checks issued and payable		113,908
Accounts payable	1,181,223	994,940
Due to factor	23,536	146,589
Accrued payroll, taxes and interest	89,541	141,928
Other accrued liabilities	30,220	119,292
Payables to related parties	17,522	101,974
Deferred revenue		43,760
Long-term debt, current	461,354	79,631
Total current liabilities	1,803,396	1,742,022
Long-term debt, net of current portion	1,044,140	158,218
Stock payable to directors for services		230,004
Asset retirement and accrued reclamation costs	249,540	241,500
Total liabilities	3,097,076	2,371,744
Commitments and contingencies (Note 4 and 12)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock $0.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized: Series A: -0- shares issued and outstanding
Series B: 750,000 shares issued and outstanding (liquidation preference $885,000 and $877,500, respectively)	7,500	7,500
Series C: 177,904 shares issued and outstanding (liquidation preference $97,847 both years)	1,779	1,779
Series D: 1,751,005 shares issued and outstanding (liquidation preference $4,755,582 and $4,714,433, respectively)	17,509	17,509
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 90,000,000 shares authorized; 61,896,726 and 59,349,300 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	618,966	593,492
Additional paid-in capital	30,745,650	25,635,129
Accumulated deficit	(20,045,572)	(19,487,036)
Total stockholders' equity	11,345,832	6,768,373
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 14,442,908	$ 9,140,117