CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($)	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			47,236,103
Common stock beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 11,865,099		$ 31,459	$ 234,438,057	$ (222,604,417)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			4,064,310
Issuance of common stock	1,185,452		$ 2,707	1,182,745
Common stock issuance costs (in shares)			615,605
Common stock issuance costs	(52,568)		$ 410	(52,978)
Purchase of membership interest (in shares)			1,475,410
Purchase of membership interests			$ 983	(983)
Net income (loss)	(2,484,903)				(2,484,903)
Common stock ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018			53,391,428
Common stock ending balance at Mar. 31, 2018	10,513,080		$ 35,559	235,566,841	(225,089,320)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			47,236,103
Common stock beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	11,865,099		$ 31,459	234,438,057	(222,604,417)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(6,945,346)
Common stock ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018			70,852,819
Common stock ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	11,101,420		$ 47,188	240,603,994	(229,549,762)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018			53,391,428
Common stock beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2018	10,513,080		$ 35,559	235,566,841	(225,089,320)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			2,365,000
Issuance of common stock	610,408		$ 1,575	608,833
Common stock issuance costs	(275)			(275)
Issuance of share options with Tonogold at fair value	2,000,000			2,000,000
Net income (loss)	(2,415,332)				(2,415,332)
Common stock ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018			55,756,428
Common stock ending balance at Jun. 30, 2018	10,707,881		$ 37,134	238,175,399	(227,504,652)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			12,060,273
Issuance of common stock	1,987,580		$ 8,032	1,979,548
Common stock issuance costs (in shares)			261,628
Common stock issuance costs	(31,432)		$ 174	(31,606)
Payment for mineral rights (in shares)			2,774,490
Payment for mineral rights	482,501		$ 1,848	480,653
Net income (loss)	(2,045,110)				(2,045,110)
Common stock ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018			70,852,819
Common stock ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 11,101,420		$ 47,188	240,603,994	(229,549,762)
Preferred stock beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	0
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	75,338,273		75,338,273
Common stock beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 9,384,902		$ 50,175	241,419,897	(232,085,170)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			5,452,000
Issuance of common stock	813,561		$ 3,631	809,930
Common stock issuance costs	(85,093)			(85,093)
Net income (loss)	(1,835,065)				(1,835,065)
Preferred stock ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		0
Preferred stock ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019		$ 0
Common stock ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019			80,790,273
Common stock ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 8,278,305		$ 53,806	242,144,734	(233,920,235)
Preferred stock beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	0
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	75,338,273		75,338,273
Common stock beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 9,384,902		$ 50,175	241,419,897	(232,085,170)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	$ (3,525,912)
Preferred stock ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019	0	0
Preferred stock ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019		$ 0
Common stock ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019	116,230,203		116,230,203
Common stock ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 8,888,947		$ 77,409	244,422,620	(235,611,082)
Preferred stock beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		0
Preferred stock beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2019		$ 0
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019			80,790,273
Common stock beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2019	8,278,305		$ 53,806	242,144,734	(233,920,235)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			3,643,949
Issuance of common stock	675,468		$ 2,427	673,041
Common stock issuance costs (in shares)			1,065,778
Common stock issuance costs	(125,595)		$ 710	(126,305)
Issuance of convertible preferred stock (in shares)		1,274
Issuance of convertible preferred stock	1,515,000	$ 1		1,514,999
Net income (loss)	(2,077,744)				(2,077,744)
Preferred stock ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		1,274
Preferred stock ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019		$ 1
Common stock ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019			85,500,000
Common stock ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	8,265,434		$ 56,943	244,206,469	(235,997,979)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			22,498,856
Issuance of common stock	2,778,838		$ 14,984	2,763,854
Common stock issuance costs	(60,772)			(60,772)
Preferred stock converted to common (in shares)		(1,274)
Preferred stock converted to common	(1,515,000)	$ (1)		(1,514,999)
Payment for mineral rights (in shares)			3,731,347
Payment for mineral rights	482,500		$ 2,485	480,015
Investment in Mercury Clean Up LLC (in shares)			4,500,000
Investment in Mercury Clean Up LLC	751,050		$ 2,997	748,053
Termination of share option with Tonogold	(2,200,000)			(2,200,000)
Net income (loss)	$ 386,897				386,897
Preferred stock ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019	0	0
Preferred stock ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019		$ 0
Common stock ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019	116,230,203		116,230,203
Common stock ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 8,888,947		$ 77,409	$ 244,422,620	$ (235,611,082)