CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$ (9,480,753)	$ (10,576,178)	$ (12,964,704)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	3,147,892	4,187,683	5,893,783
Gain on sale of properties, plant, and equipment	(13,991)	(309,194)	(357,037)
Stock payments and stock-based compensation	0	0	18,900
Accretion of reclamation liability	23,411	64,334	185,778
Amortization of debt discounts and issuance costs	343,857	436,896	456,757
Payment of interest expense and sales tax with common stock	0	0	337,863
Loss on payment of debt obligation with common stock	0	0	150,166
Net loss on early retirement of long-term debt	193,711	294,569	0
Change in fair value of shares issued to pay debt obligation	0	0	1,690,795
Payment-in-kind interest expense	437,852	0	0
Loss on make-whole liability with Pelen, LLC	504,162	0	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Inventories	0	0	450,951
Stockpiles and mineralized material on leach pads	0	0	1,322,211
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(795,815)	69,700	100,939
Other assets	65,355	0	(273,342)
Accounts payable	83,844	(483,249)	472,165
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	1,463,332	(218,871)	(83,158)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(4,027,142)	(6,534,310)	(2,597,933)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of mineral rights and properties, plant and equipment	(1,655,820)	(130,166)	(746,536)
Proceeds from principal payment on note receivable	503	40	0
Proceeds from sale of mineral rights and properties, plant and equipment	26,000	1,109,388	3,287,811
Change in reclamation bond deposit	0	0	20,260
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED) IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(1,629,317)	979,262	2,561,535
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Principal payments on long-term debt	(2,070,658)	(9,209,827)	(6,304,657)
Proceeds from long-term debt obligations	0	9,379,446	925,000
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock	4,233,441	7,346,707	4,547,889
Common stock issuance costs	(84,385)	(278,919)	(610,645)
Proceeds from the issuance of share option with Tonogold	2,000,000	200,000	0
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	4,078,398	7,437,407	(1,442,413)
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(1,578,061)	1,882,359	(1,478,811)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR	2,066,718	184,359	1,663,170
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR	488,657	2,066,718	184,359
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest	112,050	1,228,140	537,510
Cash paid for income taxes	0	0	0
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Issuance of common stock for payment of mining right	482,500	482,500	482,525
Issuance of common stock to pay for common stock issuance costs	245,000	0	0
Issuance of common stock (in advance) to purchase membership interest	585,000	0	0
Issuance of long-term debt for purchase of mineral rights and properties, plant and equipment	0	247,494	3,243,125
Use of common stock for long-term debt obligations payment	0	124,920	2,529,755
Issuance of common stock for purchase of properties, plant and equipment	0	274,400	16,265
Property transferred in satisfaction of accounts payable	0	0	1,100,000
Additions to reclamation liability and retirement obligation asset	$ 0	$ 0	$ 340,000