CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$ (4,051,395)	$ 1,289,114
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	1,692,631	1,913,505
Stock payments and stock-based compensation		44,400
Accretion of reclamation liability	46,445	63,959
Gain on sale of properties, plant, and equipment	(539,370)	(12,723)
Amortization of debt discounts and issuance costs	188,305	86,973
Payment of interest expense and sales tax with common stock	98,736	0
Loss on payment of debt obligation with common stock	150,166	0
Net change in fair values of derivatives		14,055
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(130,806)	281,304
Inventories	248,338	(72,326)
Stockpiles and mineralized material on leach pads	522,138	(76,993)
Prepaid expenses	(170,415)	(357,457)
Other assets		6,471
Accounts payable	1,805,740	24,480
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(565,478)	(2,995,264)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(704,965)	209,498
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sale of properties, plant and equipment	787,421	77,035
Purchase of mineral rights and properties, plant and equipment	(178,025)	(3,083,301)
Decrease/(increase) in reclamation bond deposit	20,260	(100,000)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES	629,656	(3,106,266)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Principal payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(1,836,058)	(2,652,164)
Proceeds from long-term debt obligations	925,000	$ 4,419,392
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock	3,500,000
Common stock issuance costs	(589,454)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	1,999,488	$ 1,767,228
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	1,924,179	(1,129,540)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	1,663,170	5,308,804
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	3,587,349	4,179,264
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest	276,729	177,141
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Additions to reclamation liability and retirement obligation asset	0	659,295
Issuance of common stock for properties, plant and equipment	0	$ 16,049
Issuance of common stock for settlement of long-term debt obligations	2,235,000
Dividends paid in common stock (par value)		$ 1,723
Issuance of long-term debt obligations for purchase of mineral rights and properties, plant and equipment		175,015
Vested restricted common stock (par value)		40
Properties, plant and equipment purchases in accounts payable		588,890
Property sold as payment of accounts payable	$ 500,000	$ 0