Recapitalization Transaction - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)				12 Months Ended
		May 29, 2020	May 28, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019		Oct. 01, 2020	Jul. 01, 2020	Jan. 19, 2020	Oct. 22, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash				$ 56,363,000		$ 6,220,000
Common stock, issued (in shares)	[1]			59,901,306		345,431
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)		50,160,042		59,901,306	[1]	323,328	[1]
Outstanding warrants (in shares)				56,494,855
Proceeds from recapitalization transaction		$ 10,400,000		$ 10,419,000		$ 0
Stock surrendered (in shares)		3,500,000
Percentage of stock issued to creditors		1.00%
Proceeds from royalty obligation		$ 30,000,000.0		$ 30,000,000		$ 0
Smelter royalty obligation, percentage		1.50%
Cash in reserve for dissolution		$ 2,300,000
Payments for underwriter fees		$ 2,500,000
Common shares issued to underwriter (in shares)		40,000.00
Payments for additional underwriter fees		$ 2,000,000.0
Cash remitted to holders of Seller's deferred phantom units		1,800,000
Cash paid for additional transaction costs		$ 7,400,000
Common Stock
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of shares issued	[2]			101		37,600
Unredeemed SPAC shares of MUDS public stockholders (in shares)	[2]			1,197,704
Common shares issued to underwriter (in shares)	[2]			44,395
Former Seller stockholders and affiliated entities
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)		48,421,309
Common stock shares outstanding, related affiliates percentage		96.50%
1.25 Lien Notes to common stock
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Debt converted		$ 48,500,000		$ 48,459,000		$ 0
Debt conversion, number of shares issued		4,850,000
1.25 Lien Notes to Subordinated Notes
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Debt converted		$ 80,000,000.0
Debt conversion, amount		$ 80,000,000.0
1.5 Lien Notes
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Repurchase price percentage		110.00%
1.5 Lien Notes to common stock
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Debt converted		$ 145,700,000		$ 160,254,000		0
Debt conversion, number of shares issued		16,025,316
2.0 Lien Notes to common stock
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Debt converted		$ 221,300,000
Debt conversion, number of shares issued		132,800,000
Stock surrendered (in shares)				3,511,820
First Lien Agreement
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Repayment of debt		$ 125,500,000		$ 125,468,000		0
Promissory Note
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Repayment of debt		6,900,000		$ 6,914,000		$ 0
Sprott Credit Agreement
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Stated amount of borrowing		$ 70,000,000.0
Debt, original issue discount		2.00%
Mudrick
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash		$ 68,900,000
Common stock, issued (in shares)		50,160,042
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)		50,160,042
Cash acquired			$ 10,400,000
Liabilities assumed			$ 6,900,000
HYMC
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Equity interest issued, number of shares		3,500,000
Conversion from Class B common stock
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of shares converted		5,200,000
Conversion of Seller stock to HYMC stock
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Conversion of stock, number of shares issued		15,100,000
Private Placement
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of shares issued		7,600,000
Shares issued, price per share (in dollars per share)		$ 10.00
Proceeds from issuance of equity		$ 76,000,000.0
Private Placement | Common Stock
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of shares issued	[2]			7,596,309
Forward purchase contract
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of shares issued		3,125,000
Proceeds from issuance of equity		$ 25,000,000.0		$ 25,000,000.0
Sprott Credit Agreement | Common Stock
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of shares issued		496,634		496,634	[2]
Mudrick | Class A common stock
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Unredeemed SPAC shares of MUDS public stockholders (in shares)		1,200,000
HYMC
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Common stock, issued (in shares)		2,900,000
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)		2,900,000
Warrants, exercise price 11.50
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Outstanding warrants (in shares)		34,289,999
Warrants, exercise price (in dollars per share)		$ 11.50
Warrants, exercise price 44.82
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Outstanding warrants (in shares)		12,721,623
Warrants, exercise price (in dollars per share)		$ 44.82
Number of securities called by warrants (in shares)		3,210,213
Warrants, private placement
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Warrants, exercise price (in dollars per share)		$ 11.50
Number of securities called by warrants (in shares)		3,250,000
Warrants issued (in shares)		3,250,000
Warrants, forward purchase contract
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Warrants, exercise price (in dollars per share)		$ 11.50
Number of securities called by warrants (in shares)		2,500,000
Warrants issued (in shares)		2,500,000
Warrants, MUDS IPO
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Outstanding warrants (in shares)		27,900,000
Warrants, exercise price (in dollars per share)		$ 11.50
Seller Warrants
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Outstanding warrants (in shares)		12,700,000		12,621,623		12,621,623					12,721,623
Warrants, exercise price (in dollars per share)		$ 44.82		$ 41.26				$ 41.26		$ 40.31	$ 44.82
Number of securities called by warrants (in shares)				3,487,168				3,487,168	3,210,213	3,569,051	3,210,213
Warrants issued (in shares)				0
Number of securities called by each warrant (in shares)				0.27411				0.27411	0.2523	0.28055	0.25234
5-Year Private Warrants
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Outstanding warrants (in shares)		7,740,000		9,888,415		0
Warrants, exercise price (in dollars per share)		$ 11.50	$ 11.50
Number of securities called by warrants (in shares)			7,740,000
Warrants issued (in shares)		2,500,000	7,740,000	10,240,000

[1] Retroactively restated for the reverse recapitalization as described in Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

[2] Retroactively restated for the reverse recapitalization as described in Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.