13. Business Segments (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Revenues	$ 2,270,143	$ 2,954,677	$ 5,222,457	$ 5,921,451
Production costs	2,221,233	2,769,162	5,038,614	5,614,145
Depreciation and amortization	187,766	187,427	372,819	371,355
Other operating costs	285,447	320,973	601,705	670,750
Total operating expenses	2,694,446	3,277,562	6,013,138	6,656,250
Income (loss) from operations	(424,303)	(322,885)	(790,681)	(734,799)
Other income (expense):	31	128	8,239	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	(424,272)	(322,757)	(782,442)	(731,582)
Income tax provision	0	229,451	0	229,451
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(424,272)	(552,208)	(782,442)	(961,033)
United States Antimony [Member]
Revenues	1,774,249	2,408,837	4,068,114	4,823,060
Production costs	956,644	1,331,080	2,514,217	2,851,554
Depreciation and amortization	15,585	15,307	31,750	30,601
Other operating costs	251,805	243,381	529,626	549,763
Total operating expenses	1,224,034	1,589,768	3,075,593	3,431,918
Income (loss) from operations	550,215	819,069	992,521	1,391,142
Other income (expense):	31	128	1,614	2,055
Income (loss) before income taxes	550,246	819,197	994,135	1,393,197
Income tax provision	0	(229,451)	0	(229,451)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	550,246	589,746	994,135	1,163,746
Mexico Antimony [Member]
Revenues		3,000	0	6,000
Production costs	904,029	1,001,454	1,683,987	1,910,089
Depreciation and amortization	116,879	117,185	230,865	232,069
Other operating costs	17,082	66,068	39,140	96,817
Total operating expenses	1,037,990	1,184,707	1,953,992	2,238,975
Income (loss) from operations	(1,037,990)	(1,181,707)	(1,953,992)	(2,232,975)
Other income (expense):	0	0	5,450	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	(1,037,990)	(1,181,707)	(1,948,542)	(2,232,975)
Income tax provision	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(1,037,990)	(1,181,707)	(1,948,542)	(2,232,975)
Zeolite [Member]
Revenues	495,894	542,840	1,154,343	1,092,391
Production costs	360,560	436,628	840,410	852,502
Depreciation and amortization	55,302	54,935	110,204	108,685
Other operating costs	16,560	11,524	32,939	24,170
Total operating expenses	432,422	503,087	983,553	985,357
Income (loss) from operations	63,472	39,753	170,790	107,034
Other income (expense):	0	0	1,175	1,162
Income (loss) before income taxes	63,472	39,753	171,965	108,196
Income tax provision	0	0	0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$ 63,472	$ 39,753	$ 171,965	$ 108,196