CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
REVENUES
Total revenues	$ 150,289	$ 104,329	$ 5,070,217
COST AND EXPENSES
Mine claims and costs	124,047	1,003,070	1,125,989
Environmental and reclamation	258,507	787,496	1,389,362
General and administrative	3,403,833	2,595,331	3,518,071
Total cost and expenses	7,550,721	8,982,295	15,283,561
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS	(7,400,432)	(8,877,966)	(10,213,344)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense	(1,410,389)	(1,710,390)	(753,670)
Other income (expense)	(669,932)	12,178	(1,997,690)
Total other income (expense), net	(2,080,321)	(1,698,212)	(2,751,360)
NET LOSS	$ (9,480,753)	$ (10,576,178)	$ (12,964,704)
Net loss per common share - basic and diluted (in usd per share)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.37)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted (in shares)	59,629,805	41,127,245	35,324,947
Mineral
REVENUES
Total revenues	$ 0	$ 0	$ 4,944,627
COST AND EXPENSES
Costs of goods and services sold	2,765,324	3,392,092	4,505,811
Real Estate
REVENUES
Total revenues	150,289	104,329	125,590
COST AND EXPENSES
Costs of goods and services sold	40,935	73,739	182,423
Exploration and Mine Development
COST AND EXPENSES
Costs of goods and services sold	$ 958,075	$ 1,130,567	$ 4,561,905