CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
CURRENT ASSETS:
Accounts receivable	$ 204,715	$ 14,629
Inventories	508,128	591,961
Cash and cash equivalents	12,226,293	2,409,446
Stockpiles and mineralized material on leach pads	610,010	547,480
Prepaid expenses	1,933,522	2,396,747
Total current assets	15,482,668	5,960,263
MINERAL RIGHTS AND PROPERTIES, Net	7,406,780	7,470,780
PROPERTIES, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, Net	24,472,100	25,275,440
RECLAMATION BOND DEPOSIT	3,316,785	2,742,804
RETIREMENT OBLIGATION ASSET	1,989,146	2,491,956
OTHER ASSETS	45,814	58,753
TOTAL ASSETS	52,713,293	43,999,996
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	2,537,323	3,131,029
Accrued expenses	6,837,267	7,043,335
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations - current portion	7,602,025	2,675,800
Derivative liabilities	529,170	250,000
Total current liabilities	17,505,785	13,100,164
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations	5,090,721	5,231,674
Long-term reclamation liability	5,596,353	5,424,410
Total long-term liabilities	10,687,074	10,656,084
Total liabilities	28,192,859	23,756,248
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock, $.000666 par value, 3,950,000,000 shares authorized, 80,556,241 and 70,188,937 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	53,591	46,746
Additional paid-in capital	210,650,712	199,167,304
Accumulated deficit	(186,183,901)	(178,970,335)
Total stockholders' equity	24,520,434	20,243,748
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	52,713,293	43,999,996
7.5% Series A-1 convertible preferred stock; $.000666 par value, 1,500,000 shares authorized; 24,362 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Convertible Preferred Stock; 50,000,000 shares authorized	16	16
7.5% Series A-2 convertible preferred stock, $.000666 par value, 250,000 shares authorized; 1,610 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Convertible Preferred Stock; 50,000,000 shares authorized	1	1
7.5% Series B convertible preferred stock, $.000666 par value, 600,000 shares authorized; 22,975 and 24,193 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Convertible Preferred Stock; 50,000,000 shares authorized	$ 15	$ 16