Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2024	Mar. 31, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss	$ (8,652,272)	$ (6,918,320)	$ (5,504,589)	$ (5,681,742)	$ (15,570,592)	$ (11,186,331)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization					1,285,746	1,336,375
Amortization of finance leases	12,810		13,159		24,043	23,652
Amortization on discount associated with finance leases					16,445	212,649
Amortization of debt discount and other debt-related items					910,992	479,065
Accretion of reclamation liability					203,088	186,107
Interest expense paid with common stock					240,066	107,507
Research and development expense paid with common stock					1,208,180	0
Gain on write-off of SSOF deposits					(400,000)	0
Gain on sale of Facility	0		0		0	(178,193)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	521,622		0		521,622	0
Loss on conversion of debt	1,278,544		(32,800)		1,472,067	237,656
Employee and director share based compensation					99,333	172,616
Change in fair value of derivative instruments					833,614	(2,263,212)
Change in fair value of investments					0	765,000
Share of net loss of equity-method investments					1,225,185	806,264
Other					302,167	(24,605)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses					(327,355)	(79,391)
Deposits - asset					0	289,485
Other assets					222,123	78,976
Accounts payable					1,301,050	213,124
Accrued expenses, other liabilities and deposits					327,761	720,226
Deferred gain					0	1,425,000
Deferred revenue					23,673	0
Other liabilities					249,998	0
Net cash used in operating activities					(5,830,794)	(6,678,030)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of mineral rights and properties, plant and equipment					(465,938)	(816,071)
Proceeds from sale of leased facility and related assets					0	21,000,000
Purchase of Aqua Metals Transfer LLC and Facility					0	(12,000,000)
Payments on contractual commitments associated with derivatives					(2,284,364)	(3,500,000)
Investment in SSOF					(530,000)	0
Funding of reclamation bond					(50,000)	0
Other					(68,000)	(47,288)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities					(4,663,938)	3,701,641
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Principal payments on financing leases	(25,065)		(25,066)		(50,131)	(352,050)
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock					5,213,710	2,650,000
Principal payments of debt					(200,000)	0
Issuances of debt					2,000,000	0
Common stock issuance costs					(140,120)	(257,620)
Net cash provided by financing activities					6,823,459	2,040,330
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents					(3,671,273)	(936,059)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		$ 3,785,577		$ 2,521,772	3,785,577	2,521,772	$ 2,521,772
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 114,304		$ 1,585,713		114,304	1,585,713	$ 3,785,577
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of common shares for debt conversion and accrued interest					(0)	121,193
Issuance of common shares with debt					250,000	0
Investment acquired with payable					1,285,961	0
Issuance of common shares for due diligence and commitment fees					85,000	350,000
Issuance of common stock in lieu of payment of marketing expense					162,693	0
Fair value of common stock held by GenMat transferred to GenMat Advances (see Note 2)					694,970	0
Return of common stock in connection with conversion of debt and accrued interest					0	(121,193)
Investment shares received on sale of Facility					0	9,365,000
Return of investment shares in lieu of escrowed funds					0	(1,500,000)
Haywood Lease Amendment [Member]
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of common stock for lease amendment					509,850	0
AST Lease Amendment [Member]
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of common stock for lease amendment					378,845	0
Debt and Accrued Interest Converted Into Common Shares [Member]
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of common shares for debt conversion and accrued interest					4,301,634	3,331,656
Return of common stock in connection with conversion of debt and accrued interest					(4,301,634)	(3,331,656)
RenFuel Note Receivable [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Funding of RenFuel note receivable					(1,030,000)	0
Sierra Springs Opportunity Fund, Inc. (SSOF) [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Advances to Affiliate					0	(935,000)
GenMat [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Advances to Affiliate					$ (235,636)	$ 0