CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($)	Total	7.5% Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock	7.5% Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock	7.5% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock 7.5% Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock 7.5% Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock 7.5% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Common Stock 7.5% Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock	Common Stock 7.5% Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock	Common Stock 7.5% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Additional Paid-in Capital 7.5% Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital 7.5% Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital 7.5% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock	Accumulated Deficit
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 20,243,748				$ 16	$ 1	$ 16	$ 46,746				$ 199,167,304				$ (178,970,335)
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2013					24,362	1,610	24,193	70,188,937
Common stock issued for:
Public offering, shares								7,475,000
Public offering	10,993,282							$ 4,978				10,988,304
Public offering issuance costs	(32,019)											(32,019)
Vested restricted stock, shares								1,777,000
Vested restricted stock	0							$ 1,184				(1,184)
Payment of dividends, shares								2,254,599
Payment of dividends	0							$ 1,502				(1,502)
Purchase of properties, plant, and equipment, shares								728,578
Purchase of properties, plant and equipment	1,014,957							$ 485				1,014,472
Payment of long-term debt obligation, shares								137,105
Payment of long-term debt obligation	274,210							$ 91				274,119
Effective repurchase of common with issuance of long-term debt obligations, shares								(1,000,000)
Effective repurchase of common with issuance of long-term debt obligations	(783,784)							$ (666)				(783,118)
Conversion of convertible preferred stock into common stock, shares							(1,517)				919,381
Conversion of convertible preferred stock into common stock				$ 0			$ (1)				$ 612				$ (611)
Stock-based compensation	169,479											169,479
Net loss	(9,638,773)															(9,638,773)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2014	22,241,100				$ 16	$ 1	$ 15	$ 54,932				210,795,244				(188,609,108)
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2014					24,362	1,610	22,676	82,480,600
Common stock issued for:
Public offering, shares								10,169,492
Public offering	6,000,000							$ 6,773				5,993,227
Public offering issuance costs	(96,393)											(96,393)
Vested restricted stock, shares								60,000
Vested restricted stock	0							$ 40				(40)
Payment of dividends, shares								11,842,085
Payment of dividends	0							$ 7,887				(7,887)
Purchase of properties, plant, and equipment, shares								1,726,312
Purchase of properties, plant and equipment	1,024,790							$ 1,150				1,023,640
Conversion of convertible preferred stock into common stock, shares					(24,362)	(1,610)	(22,676)		37,422,416	2,473,597	13,743,209
Conversion of convertible preferred stock into common stock		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ (16)	$ (1)	$ (15)		$ 24,923	$ 1,647	$ 9,153		$ (24,907)	$ (1,646)	$ (9,138)
Stock-based compensation	44,400											44,400
Net loss	(10,454,427)															(10,454,427)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2015	18,759,470				$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 106,505				217,716,500				(199,063,535)
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2015					0	0	0	159,917,711
Common stock issued for:
Public offering, shares								13,335,300
Public offering	4,547,889							$ 8,882				4,539,007
Public offering issuance costs	(610,645)											(610,645)
Purchase of properties, plant, and equipment, shares								223,645
Purchase of properties, plant and equipment	59,390							$ 149				59,241
Payment of long-term debt obligation, shares								10,617,896
Payment of long-term debt obligation	4,123,764							$ 7,072				4,116,692
Payment for mineral lease (in shares)								1,215,124
Payment for mineral lease	482,525							$ 809				481,716
Stock-based compensation (in shares)											54,000
Stock-based compensation	18,900							36				18,864
Net loss	(12,964,704)															(12,964,704)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 14,416,589				$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 123,453				$ 226,321,375				$ (212,028,239)
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2016					0	0	0	185,363,676