Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended			175 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Activities
Net loss and comprehensive loss	$ (26,521,655)	$ (29,347,337)	$ (25,444,056)	$ (167,046,758)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation	200,920	241,610	215,740	1,235,955
Accretion expense	78,025	49,899	2,518	130,442
Accretion of discount on notes payable	525,461	0	0	525,461
Amortization of financing costs	298,202	0	0	298,202
Asset retirement cost	91,613	682,380	337,046	1,111,039
Equity loss on investment	0	0	0	74,617
Gain on disposition of discontinued operations	0	0	0	(979,709)
Gain on sale of investment securities	0	0	0	(79,129)
Loss on settlement of debt	0	0	0	132,000
Non-cash mineral property option payment	0	0	0	(37,500)
Shares issued to acquire mineral properties	0	0	0	19,105,000
Warrants issued for mineral property costs	0	0	0	1,258,000
Stock-based compensation	1,997,802	1,448,394	6,404,307	30,215,841
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and deposits	(13,531)	(141,434)	(65,012)	(1,855,592)
Other current assets	(48,168)	1,340	2,185	(76,629)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	118,988	(546,315)	1,972,789	2,386,429
Due to related parties	(14,534)	(56,806)	22,154	470,759
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities	(23,286,877)	(27,668,269)	(16,552,329)	(113,131,572)
Investing Activities
Reclamation surety deposits	(12,640)	(25,292)	(23,386)	(2,081,039)
Acquisition of subsidiary, net cash paid	0	0	0	(48)
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities	0	0	0	20,548,664
Investment in property and equipment	(315,765)	(414,398)	(131,424)	(1,843,985)
Purchase of investment securities	0	0	0	(20,432,035)
Disposition of subsidiary	0	0	0	905,092
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(328,405)	(439,690)	(154,810)	(2,903,351)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from notes payable	26,000,000	0	0	26,000,000
Repayment of notes payable	(6,000,000)	0	0	(6,098,414)
Financing costs	(656,187)	0	0	(656,187)
Advances from related party	0	0	0	10,700
Contributions from non-controlling interest	241,500	383,040	574,686	3,597,756
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	10,041,875	96,884	14,364,471	110,716,821
Share issuance costs	(1,112,940)	0	(24,643)	(5,620,077)
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities	28,514,248	479,924	14,914,514	127,950,599
Increase (Decrease) In Cash	4,898,966	(27,628,035)	(1,792,625)	11,915,676
Cash - Beginning of Period	7,016,710	34,644,745	36,437,370	0
Cash - End of Period	11,915,676	7,016,710	34,644,745	11,915,676
Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities
Sale of 60% of subsidiary for interest in mineral property	0	0	0	774,216
Investment securities received as a mineral property option payment	0	0	0	37,500
Purchase of equipment with loan payable	0	0	0	98,414
Stock options issued for mineral property expenditures	0	113,423	57,175	170,598
Common stock issued to settle debt	0	0	0	744,080
Warrants issued with notes payable	525,461	0	0	525,461
Warrants issued for mineral property costs	0	0	0	1,258,000
Common stock issued for mineral property costs	0	0	0	19,105,000
Supplemental Disclosures
Interest paid	505,175	0	424	517,783
Income taxes paid	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0