Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	Related Party Transactions Northern Comstock LLC On October 20, 2010, the Company entered into an operating agreement to form Northern Comstock LLC (“Northern Comstock”) with Mr. Winfield, a shareholder of the Company and Chairman of the Board of Directors since June 2011, and an entity controlled by Mr. Winfield, DWC Resources, Inc. (DWC). As part of the operating agreement, the Company obtained the exclusive rights of production and exploration on certain parcels in Storey County, Nevada. The terms of the operating agreement provide that on each anniversary of the operating agreement, up to and including the thirty-nine (39th) anniversary, the Company will make contributions in the amount of $862,500, in the form of Series A-1 convertible preferred stock or cash upon request of Northern Comstock. If any event of default occurs under the operating agreement, the additional capital contributions can be accelerated and the entire unpaid amount of the Company’s capital contributions, up to the remaining 30,188 shares of A-1 convertible preferred stock (approximately 46.4 million shares of common stock as converted), could become issuable immediately. Under certain circumstances, the additional capital contributions can be accelerated. The operating agreement further requires the Company to make certain capital expenditures of not less than $750,000 over five years with respect to each parcel. An up to 8% net smelter royalty is payable to Northern Comstock and distributable to Mr. Winfield and DWC. Under the terms of the operating agreement, all operating activities from the minerals or finished products produced from the parcels of property are conducted by the Company and recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company has no right to receive periodic or liquidating distributions related to any amounts contributed to Northern Comstock. The payments to the Northern Comstock do not result in the acquisition of any equity interest in Northern Comstock as there is no entitlement to receive future distributions or changes in the fair value of the net assets of Northern Comstock. The annual mineral rights payments are considered equity-based payments to non-employees and measured at fair value. During the year ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company made payments on the operating agreement described above via the issuance of Series A-1 convertible preferred stock valued at $2,047,575, $2,466,750 and $1,931,999 respectively. These amounts were capitalized as prepaid expenses and are amortized over a one year period. During the year ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company recognized amortization expense of $2,328,367, $2,027,325 and $2,092,382, respectively. Tax Indemnification On October 20, 2010, the Company exchanged all of its senior secured convertible and senior indebtedness owed to members of the Winfield Group, shareholders of the Company, for newly created Series A-1 preferred stock. As part of the exchange, the Company has agreed to indemnify the Winfield Group for any amounts as part of the exchange that are determined to be taxable as ordinary income to each member of the Winfield Group. Such indemnified amounts would include (i) any federal, state and local income tax, penalties and interest such member is actually obligated to pay out-of-pocket as a result of such determination, after taking into account (a) all increases in federal, state and local income taxes actually payable as a result of the receipt of any such indemnity payment and (b) the deduction to which such member would be entitled for federal income tax purposes for state and local income taxes paid. The Company may at its option, pay the indemnity amount either in cash or in a number of common shares equal to the indemnity amount divided by the average of the volume weighted average closing prices of common shares for the five consecutive trading days ending on the trading day that is immediately prior to the date of such payment. Loss contingency provisions are recorded for probable losses at management’s best estimate of a loss, or when a best estimate cannot be made, a minimum loss contingency amount is recorded. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had a liability of $4,094,349 and $4,007,024, respectively, for this tax indemnification at the estimated amount that is probable of being indemnified by the Company. While management believes that the assumptions and estimates used to determine this liability are reasonable, the ultimate outcome of those matters cannot presently be determined. Revisions in estimates of the potential liability could materially affect our operations in the period of adjustment. KCA Laboratory During 2013, the Company paid to Kappes, Cassiday & Associates, a related party of Daniel Kappes, a member of the Board of Directors since April 2012, for services related to processing consulting. Kappes, Cassiday & Associates received cash payments totaling $49,504 in 2013. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company paid Kappes, Cassiday & Associates cash payments totaling $332,532 and issued shares of common stock for total consideration of $300,000 for the purchase of a modular laboratory.

Related Party Transactions

Northern Comstock LLC

On October 20, 2010, the Company entered into an operating agreement to form Northern Comstock LLC (“Northern Comstock”) with Mr. Winfield, a shareholder of the Company and Chairman of the Board of Directors since June 2011, and an entity controlled by Mr. Winfield, DWC Resources, Inc. (DWC). As part of the operating agreement, the Company obtained the exclusive rights of production and exploration on certain parcels in Storey County, Nevada. The terms of the operating agreement provide that on each anniversary of the operating agreement, up to and including the thirty-nine (39th) anniversary, the Company will make contributions in the amount of $862,500, in the form of Series A-1 convertible preferred stock or cash upon request of Northern Comstock. If any event of default occurs under the operating agreement, the additional capital contributions can be accelerated and the entire unpaid amount of the Company’s capital contributions, up to the remaining 30,188 shares of A-1 convertible preferred stock (approximately 46.4 million shares of common stock as converted), could become issuable immediately. Under certain circumstances, the additional capital contributions can be accelerated. The operating agreement further requires the Company to make certain capital expenditures of not less than $750,000 over five years with respect to each parcel. An up to 8% net smelter royalty is payable to Northern Comstock and distributable to Mr. Winfield and DWC. Under the terms of the operating agreement, all operating activities from the minerals or finished products produced from the parcels of property are conducted by the Company and recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company has no right to receive periodic or liquidating distributions related to any amounts contributed to Northern Comstock. The payments to the Northern Comstock do not result in the acquisition of any equity interest in Northern Comstock as there is no entitlement to receive future distributions or changes in the fair value of the net assets of Northern Comstock. The annual mineral rights payments are considered equity-based payments to non-employees and measured at fair value. During the year ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company made payments on the operating agreement described above via the issuance of Series A-1 convertible preferred stock valued at $2,047,575, $2,466,750 and $1,931,999 respectively. These amounts were capitalized as prepaid expenses and are amortized over a one year period. During the year ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company recognized amortization expense of $2,328,367, $2,027,325 and $2,092,382, respectively.

Tax Indemnification

On October 20, 2010, the Company exchanged all of its senior secured convertible and senior indebtedness owed to members of the Winfield Group, shareholders of the Company, for newly created Series A-1 preferred stock. As part of the exchange, the Company has agreed to indemnify the Winfield Group for any amounts as part of the exchange that are determined to be taxable as ordinary income to each member of the Winfield Group. Such indemnified amounts would include (i) any federal, state and local income tax, penalties and interest such member is actually obligated to pay out-of-pocket as a result of such determination, after taking into account (a) all increases in federal, state and local income taxes actually payable as a result of the receipt of any such indemnity payment and (b) the deduction to which such member would be entitled for federal income tax purposes for state and local income taxes paid. The Company may at its option, pay the indemnity amount either in cash or in a number of common shares equal to the indemnity amount divided by the average of the volume weighted average closing prices of common shares for the five consecutive trading days ending on the trading day that is immediately prior to the date of such payment.

Loss contingency provisions are recorded for probable losses at management’s best estimate of a loss, or when a best estimate cannot be made, a minimum loss contingency amount is recorded. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had a liability of $4,094,349 and $4,007,024, respectively, for this tax indemnification at the estimated amount that is probable of being indemnified by the Company. While management believes that the assumptions and estimates used to determine this liability are reasonable, the ultimate outcome of those matters cannot presently be determined. Revisions in estimates of the potential liability could materially affect our operations in the period of adjustment.

KCA Laboratory

During 2013, the Company paid to Kappes, Cassiday & Associates, a related party of Daniel Kappes, a member of the Board of Directors since April 2012, for services related to processing consulting. Kappes, Cassiday & Associates received cash payments totaling $49,504 in 2013. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company paid Kappes, Cassiday & Associates cash payments totaling $332,532 and issued shares of common stock for total consideration of $300,000 for the purchase of a modular laboratory.