CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 5,308,804us-gaap_CashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	$ 2,409,446us-gaap_CashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Accounts receivable	322,406us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	14,629us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent
Inventories	428,235us-gaap_InventoryNet	591,961us-gaap_InventoryNet
Stockpiles and mineralized material on leach pad	1,743,053	547,480
Prepaid expenses	833,360	2,396,747
Total current assets	8,635,858us-gaap_AssetsCurrent	5,960,263us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
MINERAL RIGHTS AND PROPERTIES, Net	7,318,175us-gaap_MineralPropertiesNet	7,470,780us-gaap_MineralPropertiesNet
PROPERTIES, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, Net	26,207,062us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	25,275,440us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
RECLAMATION BOND DEPOSIT	2,642,804us-gaap_DepositsAssetsNoncurrent	2,742,804us-gaap_DepositsAssetsNoncurrent
RETIREMENT OBLIGATION ASSET	1,619,101	2,491,956
OTHER ASSETS	32,872us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent	58,753us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent
TOTAL ASSETS	46,455,872us-gaap_Assets	43,999,996us-gaap_Assets
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	2,265,723us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent	3,131,029us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent
Accrued expenses	4,408,568us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	7,043,335us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Long-term debt obligations and capital lease – current portion	5,897,219	2,675,800
Derivative liabilities	33,298us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	250,000us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent
Total current liabilities	12,604,808us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent	13,100,164us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations	5,701,264	5,231,674
Long-term reclamation liability	5,908,700	5,424,410
Total long-term liabilities	11,609,964us-gaap_LiabilitiesNoncurrent	10,656,084us-gaap_LiabilitiesNoncurrent
Total liabilities	24,214,772us-gaap_Liabilities	23,756,248us-gaap_Liabilities
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock, $.000666 par value, 3,950,000,000 shares authorized, 82,480,600 and 70,188,937 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively	54,932us-gaap_CommonStockValue	46,746us-gaap_CommonStockValue
Additional paid-in capital	210,795,244us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital	199,167,304us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital
Accumulated deficit	(188,609,108)	(178,970,335)
Total stockholders’ equity	22,241,100us-gaap_StockholdersEquity	20,243,748us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	46,455,872	43,999,996
7.5% Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Convertible Preferred Stock	16	16
7.5% Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Convertible Preferred Stock	1	1
7.5% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Convertible Preferred Stock	$ 15	$ 16

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682