DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS - Capital Requirements and Restructuring (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, lb in Millions				12 Months Ended
	Oct. 16, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Nov. 02, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Apr. 17, 2015 USD ($) lb $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING
Private Placement				$ 6,000	$ 4,000
Common stock issued | shares				125,802,023		110,611,287
Face amount							$ 8,500
Amount committed to be purchased				$ 1,800
AMER International Group
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING
Expense reimbursement from reserve for potential opportunities				$ 1,600
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
Purchase price per share acquired (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 0.50
First Tranche | AMER International Group
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING
Private Placement		$ 4,000
Common stock issued | 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
Shares agreed to purchase as per agreement | shares	14,634,146
Number of days considered for VWAP	30 days
Private Placement	$ 6,000
Purchase price per share acquired (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.41
Funds allocated from private placement of shares for general corporate purposes	$ 5,500
Funds allocated from Private Placement for expense reimbursement	500
Third Tranche | AMER International Group
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING
Private Placement		$ 10,000
Common stock issued | shares		20,000,000
Purchase price per share acquired (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 0.50
Shares involved in closing of joint business | shares		10,000,000
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%
Annual, estimated balance molybdenum production | lb			16.5
Mt. Hope Project | Senior secured term loan | AMER International Group
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING
Face amount	$ 700,000		$ 700,000