CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 19,060,378	$ 21,363,048
Certificates of deposit	259,857	259,210
Accounts receivable	784,457	891,314
Inventories (Note 6)	1,375,068	1,055,420
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (Note 4)	137,599	0
Total current assets	21,617,359	23,568,992
Properties, plants and equipment, net (Note 7)	12,128,124	11,133,733
Restricted cash for reclamation bonds	57,288	57,281
IVA receivable and other assets	897,679	242,721
Total assets	34,700,450	35,002,727
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	628,803	1,385,752
Accrued liabilities	201,149	273,785
Accrued liabilities - officers and directors	72,963	51,845
Royalties payable	435,075	346,242
Dividends payable	787,730	0
Long-term debt, current portion (Note 9)	94,150	13,230
Total current liabilities	2,219,870	2,070,854
Long-term debt, net of current portion (Note 9)	217,855	201,920
Stock payable to directors for services	61,459	62,501
Asset retirement obligation and accrued reclamation costs (Note 8)	332,011	298,649
Total liabilities	2,831,195	2,633,924
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, $.001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 106,373,341 and 106,240,361 shares issued and outstanding	1,063,732	1,062,402
Additional paid-in capital	64,052,630	63,991,459
Shares to be returned to treasury	(202,980)	0
Accumulated deficit	(33,070,332)	(32,711,263)
Total stockholders' equity	31,869,255	32,368,803
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	34,700,450	35,002,727
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock value	0	0
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock value	7,500	7,500
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock value	1,779	1,779
Series D Preferred Stock [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock value	$ 16,926	$ 16,926