Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Mar. 31, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	$ (14,994,583)	$ (6,918,320)	$ 13,741,164	$ (5,681,742)	$ (30,565,175)	$ 2,554,833
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization					1,833,878	1,979,740
Amortization of finance leases	12,810		9,307		36,853	32,960
Amortization on discount associated with finance leases					16,445	229,425
Amortization of debt discount and other debt-related items					1,178,105	659,743
Accretion of reclamation liability					308,276	282,119
Interest expense paid with common stock					384,241	152,877
Total intangible assets and goodwill, impairment	8,667,869		0		8,667,869	0
Impairment of properties, plant and equipment	324,047		0		324,047	0
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		(7,126,377)		0	(7,304,570)
Gain on investments	0		(14,074,875)		0	(13,309,875)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	222,634		0		744,256	0
Loss (gain) on conversion of debt	2,218,694		(289,512)		3,690,760	(51,856)
Employee and director share based compensation (recapture)					142,482	(67,605)
Change in fair value of derivative instruments					(516,756)	105,964
Loss on Pelen option					0	150,000
Share of net loss of equity-method investments					1,675,069	1,337,801
Other					(392,318)	(34,357)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses					(149,362)	(165,780)
Deposits - asset					0	289,485
Other assets					310,055	428,264
Accounts payable					1,510,114	(320,236)
Accrued expenses, other liabilities and deposits					(1,902)	581,456
Deferred revenue					1,900	0
Other liabilities					374,998	1,285,628
Net cash used in operating activities					(9,617,985)	(11,183,984)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of mineral rights and properties, plant and equipment					(804,949)	(1,515,553)
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					(2,464,364)	(5,625,000)
Investment in SSOF					(530,000)	0
Acquisition of intangible asset					(100,000)	0
Funding of reclamation bond					(274,711)	0
Other					(103,000)	(77,642)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities					(6,862,660)	6,457,386
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Principal payments on financing leases	(25,064)		(25,064)		(75,195)	(377,114)
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock					7,213,710	6,350,000
Principal payments of debt					(850,000)	0
Issuances of debt					8,000,000	0
Distribution paid to AQMS					0	(70,355)
Debt issuance costs					(90,000)	0
Common stock issuance costs					(140,120)	(257,620)
Net cash provided by financing activities					14,058,395	5,644,911
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents					(2,422,250)	918,313
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	$ 1,363,327		$ 3,440,085		1,363,327	3,440,085	$ 3,785,577
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of common shares for debt conversion and accrued interest					(0)	287,049
Issuance of common shares for Northern Comstock LLC mineral rights payments					482,500	482,500
Issuance of common shares with debt					385,875	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
Right of use asset and liability due to building operating lease					4,567,814	213,925
Transfer of derivative liability to accrued expenses					3,243,853	0
Return of common stock in connection with conversion of debt and accrued interest					0	(287,049)
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					9,523,870	4,499,598
Return of common stock in connection with conversion of debt and accrued interest					(9,523,870)	(4,499,598)
RenFuel Note Receivable [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Funding of RenFuel note receivable					(1,350,000)	0
Sierra Springs Opportunity Fund, Inc. (SSOF) [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Advances to Affiliate					0	(1,470,000)
GenMat [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Advances to Affiliate					(1,235,636)	0
American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sale of shares					0	5,365,981
Green Li-ion Pte, Ltd. [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sale of shares					$ 0	$ 779,600