DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS - Capital Requirements and Restructuring (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended
	Nov. 02, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares $ / item shares	Apr. 17, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / item shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING
Value of common stock issued to acquire mineral rights			$ 111	$ 111
Common stock issued to acquire mineral rights | shares			111,167,877	110,611,287
Face amount					$ 8,500
AMER International Group
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING
Expense reimbursement from reserve for potential opportunities			$ 900
Private Placement | AMER International Group
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING
Shares agreed to purchase as per agreement | shares		40,000,000
Warrants to purchase common shares | shares		80,000,000
Number of days considered for VWAP		90 days
Volume weighted average price per share | $ / shares		$ 0.50
First Tranche | AMER International Group
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING
Private Placement	$ 4,000
Common stock issued to acquire mineral rights | shares	13,300,000
Purchase price per share acquired (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.30
Second Tranche | AMER International Group
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING
Number of Consecutive Calendar Days	30 days
Private Placement	$ 6,000
Common stock issued to acquire mineral rights | shares	12,000,000
Purchase price per share acquired (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.50
Funds allocated from private placement of shares for general corporate purposes	$ 5,000
Funds allocated from Private Placement for expense reimbursement	$ 1,000
Consecutive calendar day period	30 days
Third Tranche | AMER International Group
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING
Number of Consecutive Calendar Days	30 days
Private Placement	$ 10,000
Common stock issued to acquire mineral rights | shares	14,700,000
Purchase price per share acquired (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.68
Consecutive calendar day period	30 days
Minimum | Second Tranche | AMER International Group
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING
Molybdenum price (in dollars per pound) | $ / item	8.00
Minimum | Third Tranche | AMER International Group
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING
Molybdenum price (in dollars per pound) | $ / item	12
Mt. Hope Project
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING
Molybdenum price (in dollars per pound) | $ / item			8.40
Mt. Hope Project | AMER International Group
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING
Period of time there is an obligation to purchase product		5 years
Percentage of product obligated to purchase after five years		70.00%
Mt. Hope Project | Senior secured term loan | AMER International Group
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING
Face amount		$ 700,000	$ 700,000