Exploration and evaluation assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Statements [Line Items]

Disclosure of detailed information about deferred exploration costs [Table Text Block]

	Balance,		Change		Balance,		Change		Balance,
	December		in year		December		in year		December
	31, 2016		2017		31, 2017		2018		31, 2018
	$		$		$		$		$
Mineral property interests	179,500		-		179,500		-		179,500
Assays and testing	2,052,292		-		2,052,292		247,222		2,299,514
Claims renewal / staking	459,261		-		459,261		12,383		471,644
Drilling	12,488,967		-		12,488,967		1,854,312		14,343,279
Environmental studies	1,256,621		-		1,256,621		415,065		1,671,686
Exploration data management	917,422		-		917,422		37,656		955,078
First Nations	166,444		-		166,444		54,580		221,024
Geochemistry	111,066		-		111,066		-		111,066
Geological and engineering services	8,779,898		54,358		8,834,256		772,235		9,606,491
Geophysical services	743,515		-		743,515		58,128		801,643
Metallurgy	3,792,672		-		3,792,672		331,978		4,124,650
Petrographic work	43,957		-		43,957		-		43,957
Project management	106,015		-		106,015		-		106,015
Survey, mapping and camp	1,617,850		10,597		1,628,447		945,758		2,574,205
Transportation	2,604,549		-		2,604,549		273,202		2,877,751
Cost recovery	(56,480	)	-		(56,480	)	-		(56,480	)
Property impairments	(33,006,960	)	(51,964	)	(33,058,924	)	-		(33,058,924	)
BC refundable mining tax credits	(2,195,403	)	(12,991	)	(2,208,394	)	(891,874	)	(3,100,268	)
Federal non-refundable mining tax credits, net
of valuation allowance	(61,185	)	-		(61,185	)	-		(61,185	)
Book value at date of sale of net smelter royalty	-		-		-		(1,777,377	)	(1,777,377	)
	1		-		1		2,333,268		2,333,269

Disclosure of detailed information about proceeds of sale of net smelter return royalty [Table Text Block]

Proceeds of sale of 2% NSR	$
Cash	1,300,200
1,125,000 common shares of Cobalt 27	8,325,000
Total proceeds of sale of 2% NSR	9,625,200
Less: book value of Turnagain Nickel-Cobalt Project at date of sale	(1,777,377	)
Less: 6% finders’ fee	(780,120	)
Gain on sale of net smelter return royalty	7,067,703