CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares
REVENUE:
Gold and silver sales	$ 13,423	$ 22,503	$ 49,226	$ 61,545
Total Revenue	13,423	22,503	49,226	61,545
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Production costs applicable to sales	6,409	11,170	21,239	28,912
Mine development	934	112	2,948	449
Exploration	2,166	1,830	5,595	7,252
Property holding	1,892	2,073	3,297	4,061
General and administrative	3,233	2,276	8,601	8,761
Depreciation	312	211	809	691
Accretion of asset retirement obligation (note 4)	125	110	382	342
(Income) loss from investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A., net of amortization (note 5)	(4,693)	1,641	(13,789)	3,964
Impairment of mineral property interests and property and equipment (note 4)		1,198		29,740
Total costs and expenses	10,378	20,621	29,082	84,172
Operating income (loss)	3,045	1,882	20,144	(22,627)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest income (expense) and other income (expense)	599	(715)	754	2,415
Gain on sale of assets	24	9	24	13
Gain on sale of marketable equity securities (note 2)			22
Other-than-temporary impairment on marketable equity securities (note 2)			(882)
Unrealized gain on derivative instrument (note 2)	(197)		1,522
Foreign currency gain (loss)	130	(162)	632	(366)
Total other income (expense)	556	(868)	2,072	2,062
Income (loss) before income taxes	3,601	1,014	22,216	(20,565)
Income tax recovery (note 10)	607	1,619	3,330	15,103
Net income (loss)	4,208	2,633	25,546	(5,462)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Other-than-temporary impairment on marketable equity securities (note 2)			882
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable equity securities, net of taxes	290	(479)	1,790	(1,126)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 4,498	$ 2,154	$ 28,218	$ (6,588)
Net income (loss) per share (note 11):
Basic (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.09	$ (0.02)
Diluted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.09	$ (0.02)
Weighted average common shares outstanding (thousands) (note 11):
Basic (in shares) | shares	298,510	300,530	298,330	300,420
Diluted (in shares) | shares	301,045	300,530	299,995	300,420
Return of capital distribution declared per common share (note 8) | $ / shares	0.005		0.005	0.010