CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Loss	$ (10,454,427)	$ (9,638,773)	$ (21,347,020)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	7,727,433	6,876,322	4,821,575
(Gain)/Loss on sale of properties, plant, and equipment	(158,148)	45,499	0
Loss on disposal of mineral rights and properties, plant, and equipment	0	0	1,015,496
Gain on settlement of debt	0	0	(286,535)
Stock payments and stock-based compensation	443,036	1,875,792	3,271,511
Accretion of reclamation liability	259,573	343,717	295,484
Write down of inventories and stockpiles, mineralized material on leach pad	0	0	1,514,574
Amortization of debt discounts and issuance costs	566,723	621,196	818,780
Net change in fair values of derivatives	0	963,169	(454,681)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	297,764	(307,777)	(2,103,093)
Inventories	(22,716)	163,726	(291,351)
Stockpiles and mineralized material on leach pads	420,842	(1,195,573)	2,580,929
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(158,523)	(115,926)	26,851
Other assets	20,872	25,881	25,882
Accounts payable	38,891	(333,320)	(200,431)
Accrued expenses	(1,977,933)	(1,744,638)	32,776
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(2,996,613)	(2,420,705)	(10,279,253)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of mineral rights and properties, plant and equipment	(5,770,715)	(2,624,691)	(5,990,941)
Proceeds from sale of mineral rights and properties, plant and equipment	754,040	150,415	596,820
Change in reclamation bond deposit	(100,000)	(800,000)	(1,282,000)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(5,116,675)	(3,274,276)	(6,676,121)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Principal payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(10,855,345)	(6,993,213)	(4,898,744)
Proceeds from long-term debt obligations	9,419,392	4,626,289	0
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock	6,000,000	10,993,282	18,750,000
Common stock issuance costs	(96,393)	(32,019)	(459,515)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	4,467,654	8,594,339	13,391,741
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(3,645,634)	2,899,358	(3,563,633)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR	5,308,804	2,409,446	5,973,079
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR	1,663,170	5,308,804	2,409,446
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest	1,099,306	736,320	349,390
Cash paid for income taxes	0	0	0
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing
Conversion of Series A-1, A-2 and Series B convertible preferred stock	35,723	612	5,443
Dividends paid in common stock (par value)	7,887	1,502	1,443
Issuance of common stock for properties, plant and equipment	1,024,790	1,014,957	0
Additions to reclamation liability and retirement obligation asset	659,295	140,573	531,770
Effective repurchase of common stock with issuance of long-term debt obligation	0	783,118	0
Reduction of derivative with issuance of long term debt obligation	0	1,170,000	0
Reclamation bond deposit included in accrued expenses and other liabilities	0	100,000	1,000,000
Settlement of long-term debt obligations from gold transfers	0	0	2,723,107
Settlement of long-term debt obligations through transfer of properties, plant and equipment	0	0	1,028,180
Properties, plant and equipment purchases in current liabilities	531,985	402,803	934,789
Issuance of common stock for long-term debt obligations payment
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing
Issuance of stock	0	274,119	1,915,000
Issuance of Series A-1 convertible preferred stock for mineral lease capitalized in prepaid expenses
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing
Issuance of stock	0	0	2,047,575
Issuance of long-term debt and capital lease obligations for purchase of mineral rights and properties, plant and equipment
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing
Issuance of long-term debt	$ 2,046,745	$ 3,730,163	$ 4,472,840