Stockholders' Equity (Convertible Preferred Stock) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	May 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014 convertible_preferred_stock_series	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jan. 29, 2015
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of Convertible Preferred Stock Series		3
Shares issued	7,475,000
Equity-based payment to non-employees		$ 1,875,792	$ 3,271,511	$ 7,914,918
Prepaid mineral leases		38,130	1,739,633
Deemed dividend on beneficial conversion			304,724	1,242,927
Dividend rate, percentage		7.50%
Dividend in arrears, per share		$ (0.02)
Percentage of preferred stock outstanding		25.00%
Northern Comstock, LLC
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Prepaid mineral leases			1,706,313
Additional Paid-in Capital
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Deemed dividend on beneficial conversion			304,724	1,242,927
Common Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock shares issued as a result of conversion of Preferred stock		919,381
7.5% Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, stated value per share		$ 1,000
Conversion of convertible preferred stock, shares		1,536
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock, per Share		$ 0.651
Shares issued				862.5
Convertible Preferred Stock Conversion Ratio		500.00%
7.5% Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock | Northern Comstock, LLC
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares issued					862.5	862.5
Equity-based payment to non-employees		2,328,367	2,027,323
7.5% Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, stated value per share		$ 1,000
Conversion of convertible preferred stock, shares		1,536
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock, per Share		$ 0.651
Minimum average common stock price for which Each shares of convertible preferred stock automatically converts into shares of common stock		$ 4.5
Number of consecutive trading days for which each shares of convertible preferred stock automatically converts into shares of common stock		20 days
Number of trading days for which Each shares of convertible preferred stock automatically converts into shares of common stock		30 days
7.5% Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock | Common Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock, shares			3,661	1,401
Common stock shares issued as a result of conversion of Preferred stock			5,623,003	2,152,217
7.5% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, stated value per share		$ 1,000
Conversion of convertible preferred stock, shares		606
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock, per Share		$ 1.65
Minimum average common stock price for which Each shares of convertible preferred stock automatically converts into shares of common stock		$ 4.5
Number of consecutive trading days for which each shares of convertible preferred stock automatically converts into shares of common stock		20 days
Number of trading days for which Each shares of convertible preferred stock automatically converts into shares of common stock		30 days
7.5% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock | Common Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock, shares		1,517	4,206	1,508
Common stock shares issued as a result of conversion of Preferred stock			2,548,908	913,910
Subsequent Event | Common Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock, shares							50
Common stock shares issued as a result of conversion of Preferred stock							30,303
Subsequent Event | Convertible preferred stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends in arrears, amount							2,000,000