CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($)	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit
Shares outstanding, beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		31,983,542
BEGINNING BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 18,759,470	$ 106,505	$ 217,716,500	$ (199,063,535)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Public offering (in shares)		2,667,060
Public offerings	4,547,889	$ 8,882	4,539,007
Public offering and common stock issuance costs	(610,645)		(610,645)
Purchase of properties, plant, and equipment (in shares)		44,729
Purchase of properties, plant and equipment	59,390	$ 149	59,241
Payment of debt obligations (in shares)		2,123,579
Payment of debt obligations	4,123,764	$ 7,072	4,116,692
Payment for mineral rights (in shares)		243,025
Payment for mineral rights	482,525	$ 809	481,716
Stock-based compensation (in shares)		10,800
Stock-based compensation	18,900	$ 36	18,864
Net loss	$ (12,964,704)			(12,964,704)
Shares outstanding, ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	37,072,735	37,072,735
ENDING BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 14,416,589	$ 123,453	226,321,375	(212,028,239)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Public offering (in shares)	8,686,828
Public offering and common stock issuance costs	$ (278,919)		(278,919)
Purchase of properties, plant, and equipment (in shares)	196,000	196,000
Purchase of properties, plant and equipment	$ 274,400	$ 653	273,747
Purchase of membership interest (in shares)	0
Payment for mineral rights (in shares)	502,604	502,604
Payment for mineral rights	$ 482,500	$ 1,674	480,826
Share reverse split adjustment	0	$ (125,892)	125,892
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		9,464,764
Issuance of common stock	7,346,707	$ 31,571	7,315,136
Issuance of share options with Tonogold at fair value	200,000		200,000
Net loss	$ (10,576,178)			(10,576,178)
Shares outstanding, ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	47,236,103	47,236,103
ENDING BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 11,865,099	$ 31,459	234,438,057	(222,604,417)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Public offering (in shares)	15,762,310
Public offering and common stock issuance costs	$ (329,385)		(329,385)
Purchase of properties, plant, and equipment (in shares)	0
Purchase of membership interest (in shares)	3,233,591	3,233,591
Purchase of membership interest	$ 369,000	$ 2,154	366,846
Payment for mineral rights (in shares)	2,774,490
Payment for mineral rights	$ 482,500	$ 1,847	480,653
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		22,094,089
Issuance of common stock	4,478,441	$ 14,715	4,463,726
Issuance of share options with Tonogold at fair value	2,000,000		2,000,000
Net loss	$ (9,480,753)			(9,480,753)
Shares outstanding, ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	75,338,273	75,338,273
ENDING BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 9,384,902	$ 50,175	$ 241,419,897	$ (232,085,170)