CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Cash paid to suppliers and employees	$ (55,260)	$ (68,993)	$ (90,365)
Cash received from gold and silver sales	70,178	43,812	44,416
Dividends received from Minera Santa Cruz S.A. (note 6)	548	9,483	1,826
Proceeds from sale of gold and silver bullion held as investments			1,467
Lease incentive received		328
Interest paid	(156)
Interest received	287	464	262
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities	15,597	(14,906)	(42,394)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of mineral property interests			(150)
Additions to property and equipment (note 7)	(777)	(2,788)	(4,306)
Investment in marketable equity securities (note 3)	(1,114)	(446)
Decrease in restricted time deposits for reclamation bonding (note 5)		5,183
Deposits for surety bonds for reclamation bonding (note 5)		(481)
Proceeds from disposal of mineral property interests and property and equipment	13	38	1,455
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(1,878)	1,506	(3,001)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Short-term bank indebtedness withdrawal (note 9)	5,171
Short-term bank indebtedness paid (note 9)	(1,776)
Return of capital distribution paid (note 10)	(1,503)
Share repurchase (note 10)	(1,769)
Exercise of stock options (note 11)		2,292	171
Cash provided by financing activities	123	2,292	171
Effect of exchange rate change on cash and cash equivalents	(348)	(833)	(1,376)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	13,494	(11,941)	(46,600)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	12,380	24,321	70,921
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	25,874	12,380	24,321
Reconciliation of net loss to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net loss	(20,450)	(311,943)	(147,742)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to from operating activities:
(Income) loss from investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A., net of amortization (note 6)	(2,414)	5,284	(846)
Impairment of investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A. (note 6)	11,777	21,162	95,878
Impairment of mineral property interests and property and equipment	50,600	353,736	62,963
(Loss) gain on sale of assets	(13)	(26)	6,743
Lease incentive		328
Recovery of deferred income taxes	(24,560)	(107,170)	(53,365)
Gain on litigation settlement			(560)
Loss on sale of gold and silver bullion held as investments			223
Proceeds from sale of gold and silver bullion held as investments			1,467
Stock-based compensation	1,305	1,324	1,382
Shares issued to supplier for settlement of accounts payable	443	1,004
Depreciation	942	979	942
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	429	407	461
Adjustment to the asset retirement obligation estimate	135
Amortization of mineral property interests and asset retirement obligations	1,288	1,236	1,530
Foreign exchange loss	348	833	1,376
Change in non-cash working capital items:
Increase in VAT taxes receivable, net of collection of $6,025 (2014 - $5,049; 2013 - $3,438)	1,707	(148)	(2,441)
(Increase) decrease in other assets related to operations	(3,003)	(3,638)	(703)
Shares issued to TNR Gold Corp's to terminate back-in-right		1,352
(Decrease) increase in liabilities related to operations	(3,485)	10,891	(11,528)
Dividend received from Minera Santa Cruz S.A.	548	9,483	1,826
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 15,597	$ (14,906)	$ (42,394)