CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$ (2,774,180)	$ (4,051,395)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	1,155,302	1,692,631
Accretion of reclamation liability	16,083	46,445
Gain on sale of properties, plant, and equipment		(539,370)
Amortization of debt discounts and issuance costs	96,640	188,305
Payment of interest expense and sales tax with common stock	0	98,736
Loss on payment of debt obligation with common stock	0	150,166
Net loss on early retirement of long-term debt	126,997	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	0	(130,806)
Inventories	0	248,338
Stockpiles and mineralized material on leach pads	0	522,138
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	108,682	(170,415)
Accounts payable	(451,376)	1,805,740
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(237,962)	(565,478)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(1,959,814)	(704,965)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sale of properties, plant and equipment	0	787,421
Purchase of mineral rights and properties, plant and equipment	0	(178,025)
Decrease in reclamation bond deposit	0	20,260
NET CASH PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	0	629,656
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Principal payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(7,624,800)	(1,836,058)
Proceeds from long-term debt obligations (net of issuance costs)	9,479,446	925,000
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock	340,088	3,500,000
Common stock issuance costs	(30,708)	(589,454)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	2,164,026	1,999,488
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	204,212	1,924,179
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	184,359	1,663,170
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	388,571	3,587,349
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest	67,607	276,729
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Payment for purchase of property, plant and equipment with prepaid deposits	1,158,785	0
Issuance of debt to purchase of property, plant and equipment	247,494
Settlement of long-term debt obligations with a prepaid deposit	231,000	0
Issuance of common stock for settlement of long-term debt obligations	124,920	2,235,000
Property transferred in satisfaction of accounts payable	0	500,000
Issuance of common stock to purchase properties, plant and equipment	274,400	0
Debt issuance costs in accounts payable	$ 100,000	$ 0