CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($)	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Noncontrolling interest in Subsidiary	Corporate Joint Venture	Corporate Joint Venture Common Stock	Corporate Joint Venture Additional Paid-in Capital	Pelen LLC	Pelen LLC Additional Paid-in Capital
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		0	15,067,655
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 9,384,902	$ 0	$ 50,175	$ 241,419,897	$ (232,085,170)	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			1,090,400
Issuance of common stock	813,561		$ 3,631	809,930
Common stock issuance costs	(85,093)			(85,093)
Net loss	(1,835,065)				(1,835,065)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		0	16,158,055
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019	8,278,305	$ 0	$ 53,806	242,144,734	(233,920,235)	0
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		0	15,067,655
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	9,384,902	$ 0	$ 50,175	241,419,897	(232,085,170)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(3,912,809)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		1,274	17,100,000
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	8,265,434	$ 1	$ 56,943	244,206,469	(235,997,979)	0
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		0	16,158,055
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2019	8,278,305	$ 0	$ 53,806	242,144,734	(233,920,235)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			941,945
Issuance of common stock	924,758	$ 1	$ 3,137	921,621
Common stock issuance costs	(374,885)			(374,885)
Issuance of convertible preferred stock ( in shares)		1,274
Issuance of convertible preferred stock	1,515,000			1,514,999
Net loss	(2,077,744)				(2,077,744)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		1,274	17,100,000
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	8,265,434	$ 1	$ 56,943	244,206,469	(235,997,979)	0
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		0	27,236,489
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	23,492,560	$ 0	$ 18,139	259,095,152	(235,890,272)	269,541
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			638,511
Issuance of common stock	242,621		$ 425	242,196
Common stock issuance costs	(50,070)			(50,070)
Initial value of contingent forward	1,232,952			1,232,952
Sale of membership interests in Comstock Mining, LLC	100,000			100,000
Net loss	(263,212)				(263,212)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020		0	27,875,000
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2020	24,754,851	$ 0	$ 18,564	260,620,230	(236,153,484)	269,541
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		0	27,236,489
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	23,492,560	$ 0	$ 18,139	259,095,152	(235,890,272)	269,541
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	1,012,774
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020		0	28,815,000
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2020	27,634,773	$ 0	$ 19,190	262,198,924	(234,877,498)	294,157
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020		0	27,875,000
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2020	24,754,851	$ 0	$ 18,564	260,620,230	(236,153,484)	269,541
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Investment in affiliate (in shares)								625,000
Investment in affiliate							$ 314,687	$ 416	$ 314,271	$ 585,000	$ 585,000
Director Compensation (in shares)			315,000
Director compensation	176,400		$ 210	176,190
Employee share-based compensation	27,849			27,849
Sale of membership interests in Comstock Mining, LLC	500,000			475,384		24,616
Net loss	1,275,986				1,275,986
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020		0	28,815,000
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 27,634,773	$ 0	$ 19,190	$ 262,198,924	$ (234,877,498)	$ 294,157