Note 4 - Fair Values of Financial Instruments - Schedule of Financial Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Reported Value Measurement [Member]
Financial Assets:
Cash	$ 2,858,014	$ 5,196,914
Accounts receivable	1,869,930	914,741
U. S. agency securities	44,882,881	45,289,747
Certificates of deposit	4,960,000	9,948,000
Total short-term investments	49,842,881	55,237,747
U. S. agency securities		5,199,077
Financial liabilities:
Accounts payable	(16,307,435)	(8,955,884)
Note payable		(500,000)
Note payable - Ramaco Carbon, LLC		(10,629,275)
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]
Financial Assets:
Cash	2,858,014	5,196,914
Accounts receivable	1,869,930	914,741
U. S. agency securities	44,827,679	45,245,318
Certificates of deposit	4,960,000	9,948,000
Total short-term investments	49,787,679	55,193,318
U. S. agency securities		5,190,640
Financial liabilities:
Accounts payable	(16,307,435)	(8,955,884)
Note payable		(500,000)
Note payable - Ramaco Carbon, LLC		$ (10,629,275)