STOCK BASED COMPENSATION - Options Outstanding and Exercisable (Details) - 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2015 $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	USD ($) $ / shares shares	CAD / shares shares	$ / shares shares
Additional disclosures
Number of shares remaining under agreement | shares	319,640
Fair Value of remaining common shares outstanding payable | $	$ 0.4
Nevada Pacific Gold Ltd.
Options Outstanding
Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares		199,143	199,143
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | CAD / shares		CAD 5.11
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	8 months 12 days
Options Exercisable
Number Exercisable (in shares) | shares		199,143	199,143
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | CAD / shares		CAD 5.11
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	8 months 12 days
McEwen Mining Inc.
Options Outstanding
Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares		6,953,967	6,953,967
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)			$ 2.49
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 1 month 6 days
Options Exercisable
Number Exercisable (in shares) | shares		2,771,634	2,771,634
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)			$ 3.80
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years 8 months 12 days
$0.75 - $2.25 | McEwen Mining Inc.
Stock options outstanding and exercisable
Range of Exercise Price, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 0.91
Range of Exercise Price, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 1.04
Options Outstanding
Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares		2,298,667	2,298,667
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)			$ 1.02
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 10 months 24 days
Options Exercisable
Number Exercisable (in shares) | shares		55,667	55,667
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)			$ 0.91
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years
$2.26 - $2.75 | McEwen Mining Inc.
Stock options outstanding and exercisable
Range of Exercise Price, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 1.05
Range of Exercise Price, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 2.38
Options Outstanding
Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares		1,745,000	1,745,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)			$ 1.92
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years 1 month 6 days
Options Exercisable
Number Exercisable (in shares) | shares		850,669	850,669
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)			$ 2.24
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years 4 months 24 days
$2.76 - $3.25 | McEwen Mining Inc.
Stock options outstanding and exercisable
Range of Exercise Price, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 2.39
Range of Exercise Price, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 2.71
Options Outstanding
Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares		306,800	306,800
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)			$ 2.51
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 1 month 6 days
Options Exercisable
Number Exercisable (in shares) | shares		306,800	306,800
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)			$ 2.51
$3.26 - $6.50 | McEwen Mining Inc.
Stock options outstanding and exercisable
Range of Exercise Price, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 2.72
Range of Exercise Price, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 3.09
Options Outstanding
Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares		1,567,500	1,567,500
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)			$ 2.90
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years 7 months 6 days
Options Exercisable
Number Exercisable (in shares) | shares		522,498	522,498
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)			$ 2.90
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years 7 months 6 days
$6.51 - $8.31 | McEwen Mining Inc.
Stock options outstanding and exercisable
Range of Exercise Price, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 3.10
Range of Exercise Price, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 8.30
Options Outstanding
Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares		1,036,000	1,036,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)			$ 6.09
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 8 months 12 days
Options Exercisable
Number Exercisable (in shares) | shares		1,036,000	1,036,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)			$ 6.09
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 8 months 12 days
C$4.30 - C$4.52 | Nevada Pacific Gold Ltd.
Stock options outstanding and exercisable
Range of Exercise Price, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 4.30
Range of Exercise Price, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 4.52
Options Outstanding
Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares		40,500	40,500
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | CAD / shares		CAD 4.30
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 months 12 days
Options Exercisable
Number Exercisable (in shares) | shares		40,500	40,500
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | CAD / shares		CAD 4.30
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 months 12 days
C$4.53 - C$4.83 | Nevada Pacific Gold Ltd.
Stock options outstanding and exercisable
Range of Exercise Price, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 4.53
Range of Exercise Price, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 4.83
Options Outstanding
Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares		110,343	110,343
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | CAD / shares		CAD 4.74
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	10 months 24 days
Options Exercisable
Number Exercisable (in shares) | shares		110,343	110,343
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | CAD / shares		CAD 4.74
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	10 months 24 days
C$4.84 - C$5.81 | Nevada Pacific Gold Ltd.
Stock options outstanding and exercisable
Range of Exercise Price, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 4.84
Range of Exercise Price, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 5.81
Options Outstanding
Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares		2,300	2,300
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | CAD / shares		CAD 4.91
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	1 year 1 month 6 days
Options Exercisable
Number Exercisable (in shares) | shares		2,300	2,300
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | CAD / shares		CAD 4.91
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	1 year 1 month 6 days
C$5.82 - C$6.70 | Nevada Pacific Gold Ltd.
Stock options outstanding and exercisable
Range of Exercise Price, low end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 5.82
Range of Exercise Price, high end of range (in dollars per share)	$ 6.70
Options Outstanding
Number Outstanding (in shares) | shares		46,000	46,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | CAD / shares		CAD 6.70
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 months 24 days
Options Exercisable
Number Exercisable (in shares) | shares		46,000	46,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | CAD / shares		CAD 6.70
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 months 24 days