Interim Financial Statements (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 14, 2014	May 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014 oz	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 oz	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 09, 2014 Revolving Credit Facility [Member] Subsequent Event [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, borrowing capacity									$ 5,000,000
Ounces of gold sold during the period			4,997		14,267
Gold revenue			6,513,348	6,607,132	18,098,395	17,086,569
Ounces of silver sold during the period			61,001		158,731
Silver sales			1,200,000		3,100,000
Accumulated deficit			(187,232,660)		(187,232,660)		(178,970,335)
Net loss			(1,048,758)	(4,518,260)	(8,262,325)	(15,805,617)
Net cash used in operating activities					(2,594,280)	(11,589,062)
Cash and cash equivalents			9,262,254	5,860,193	9,262,254	5,860,193	2,409,446	5,973,079
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, gross	11,900,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of expenses		$ 11,000,000			$ 10,993,283	$ 18,750,001
Shares underwritten in public offering (in shares)		7,475,000
Price of shares underwritten (in usd per share)	$ 1.59