Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			205 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011
EXPENSES (INCOME)
Exploration costs [note 4]	$ 10,894	$ 16,299	$ 10,966	$ 89,053
General and administrative	7,154	7,798	8,236	38,445
Stock based compensation [notes 6-7]	729	784	972	18,586
Change in fair value of warrants [note7]	(129)	(662)	116	(675)
Interest and bank charges	37	60	55	391
Depreciation	936	895	734	3,589
Mineral property impairment				3,244
Total expenses	19,621	25,174	21,079	152,633
Other income	(864)			(864)
Loss on asset disposal	67			67
Interest income	(57)	(6)	(112)	(4,853)
Net loss before income taxes	(18,767)	(25,168)	(20,967)	(146,983)
Income tax expense (benefit) [note 11]			(75)	(65)
Consolidated net loss	(18,767)	(25,168)	(20,892)	(146,918)
Less: Net loss attributed to the noncontrolling interest	(3,949)	(6,884)	(4,601)	(30,149)
Net loss attributed to Geovic stockholders	$ (14,818)	$ (18,284)	$ (16,291)	$ (116,769)
Net loss per share	$ (0.14)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.16)
Weighted average shares outstanding	104,963,741	103,829,109	103,016,274