CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$ (7,213,566)	$ (11,287,356)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	3,299,133	2,126,279
Stock payments and stock-based compensation	1,193,265	1,317,400
Accretion of reclamation liability	171,943	146,413
Loss on sale of properties, plant, and equipment	45,499	1,015,496
Amortization of debt discounts and issuance costs	300,924	547,913
Write down of inventories and stockpiles and mineralized material on leach pad		986,600
Net change in fair value of derivatives	279,170	(519,601)
Gain on settlement of debt obligations		(286,535)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(190,086)	(2,340,924)
Inventories	83,833	(83,757)
Stockpiles and mineralized material on leach pads	(62,530)	(306,120)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(213,291)	78,235
Other assets	12,939	12,941
Accounts payable	191,462	211,732
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(180,049)	(14,795)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(2,281,354)	(8,396,079)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sale of properties, plant and equipment	155,120	571,820
Purchase of properties, plant and equipment	(1,450,794)	(1,001,136)
Increase in reclamation bond deposit	(600,000)	(650,000)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(1,895,674)	(1,079,316)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Principal payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(1,529,648)	(3,752,916)
Proceeds from long-term debt obligations	4,626,289
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock	10,993,283	10,000,000
Common stock issuance costs	(96,049)	(306,647)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	13,993,875	5,940,437
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	9,816,847	(3,534,958)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	2,409,446	5,973,079
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	12,226,293	2,438,121
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest	375,389	189,632
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Conversion of convertible preferred stock to common stock (par value)	1	2,273
Reclamation bond deposit included in accrued expenses and other liabilities	973,982	1,400,000
Settlement of long-term debt obligations from gold transfers		2,723,107
Settlement of long-term debt obligations through transfer of properties, plant and equipment		1,028,180
Dividends paid in common stock (par value)	767	639
Issuance of long-term debt obligations for purchase of mineral rights and properties, plant and equipment	1,314,644
Vested restricted common stock (par value)	517	84
Properties, plant and equipment purchases in current liabilities	87,060	400,152
Debt Obligation Payment [Member]
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Issuance of common stock for settlement of long-term debt obligations		50,000
Acquisition of Mineral Property [Member]
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Issuance of common stock for settlement of long-term debt obligations	$ 149,332