Other Income and Expense (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 11, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Other Non Operating, Income And Expense [Line Items]
Gain on sale of membership interests in Comstock Mining LLC		$ 18,275,846	$ 0	$ 18,275,846	$ 0
Change in fair value of contingent forward asset		(647,502)	0	765,880	0
Interest expense		(164,448)	(179,588)	(306,692)	(822,632)
Interest income		142,365	11,136	328,391	73,411
Mining lease income		10,167	1,667	30,167	1,667
Realized gain on sale of shares of Tonogold common stock		743,535	0	767,275	0
Change in estimated fair value of Tonogold shares		(53,610)	(332,263)	1,282,319	(332,263)
Change in estimated fair value of Tonogold note receivable		256,000	0	256,000	0
Loss on early retirement of GF Comstock debenture				(67,127)	(284,647)
Preferred shares issuance cost		0	0	0	(432,000)
Make whole obligations		0	(517,558)	162,711	(417,341)
Recognition of PPP proceeds		67,624	0	261,170	0
Gain on sale of mineral rights and property, plant, and equipment		0	(6,250)	100,000
Reimbursements from Tonogold		84,944	0	234,944	0
Termination of Tonogold option agreement		0	2,200,000	0	2,200,000
Final settlement of outstanding amounts due		144,473	0	144,473	0
All other		3,673	2,136	6,175	17,864
Other income		1,347,738	1,358,868	3,522,192	1,111,338
Total other income (expense), net		18,811,634	1,179,280	22,257,226	288,706
Senior Secured Debenture (GF Comstock 2) - 11% interest, due Dec 2020
Other Non Operating, Income And Expense [Line Items]
Loss on early retirement of GF Comstock debenture	$ (51,000)	$ (51,433)	$ 0	$ (51,433)	$ 0