CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$ (12,964,704)	$ (10,454,427)	$ (9,638,773)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	5,893,783	7,727,433	6,876,322
(Gain)/Loss on sale of properties, plant, and equipment	(357,037)	(158,148)	45,499
Stock payments and stock-based compensation	18,900	443,036	1,875,792
Accretion of reclamation liability	185,778	259,573	343,717
Amortization of debt discounts and issuance costs	456,757	566,723	621,196
Payment of interest expense and sales tax with common stock	337,863	0	0
Loss on payment of debt obligation with common stock	150,166	0	0
Change in fair value of shares issued to pay debt obligations	1,690,795	0	0
Net change in fair values of derivatives	0	0	963,169
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	24,642	297,764	(307,777)
Inventories	450,951	(22,716)	163,726
Stockpiles and mineralized material on leach pads	1,322,211	420,842	(1,195,573)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	76,297	(158,523)	(115,926)
Other assets	(273,342)	20,872	25,881
Accounts payable	472,165	38,891	(333,320)
Accrued expenses	(83,158)	(1,977,933)	(1,744,638)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(2,597,933)	(2,996,613)	(2,420,705)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of mineral rights and properties, plant and equipment	(746,536)	(5,770,715)	(2,624,691)
Proceeds from sale of mineral rights and properties, plant and equipment	3,287,811	754,040	150,415
Change in reclamation bond deposit	20,260	(100,000)	(800,000)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED) IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	2,561,535	(5,116,675)	(3,274,276)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Principal payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(6,304,657)	(10,855,345)	(6,993,213)
Proceeds from long-term debt obligations	925,000	9,419,392	4,626,289
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock	4,547,889	6,000,000	10,993,282
Common stock issuance costs	(610,645)	(96,393)	(32,019)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(1,442,413)	4,467,654	8,594,339
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(1,478,811)	(3,645,634)	2,899,358
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR	1,663,170	5,308,804	2,409,446
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR	184,359	1,663,170	5,308,804
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest	537,510	1,099,306	736,320
Cash paid for income taxes	0	0	0
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing
Issuance of common stock for properties, plant and equipment	16,265	1,024,790	1,014,957
Property transferred in satisfaction of accounts payable	1,100,000	0	0
Reduction of derivative with issuance of long term debt obligation	0	1,170,000	0
Effective repurchase of common stock with issuance of long-term debt obligation	0	783,118	0
Additions to reclamation liability and retirement obligation asset	340,000	659,295	140,573
Properties, plant and equipment purchases in current liabilities	0	531,985	402,803
Reclamation bond deposit included in accrued expenses and other liabilities	0	0	100,000
Conversion of Series A-1, A-2 and Series B convertible preferred stock	0	35,723	612
Dividends paid in common stock (par value)	0	7,887	1,502
Issuance of common stock for long-term debt obligations payment
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing
Issuance of stock	2,529,755	0	274,119
Issuance of Common stock for mineral lease
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing
Issuance of stock	482,525	0	0
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	$ 3,243,125	$ 2,046,745	$ 3,730,163