SEGMENTED INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Operating Segment Reporting
Gold and silver sales	$ 13,423	$ 22,503	$ 49,226	$ 61,545
Production costs applicable to sales	(6,409)	(11,170)	(21,239)	(28,912)
Mine development costs	(934)	(112)	(2,948)	(449)
Exploration costs	(2,166)	(1,830)	(5,595)	(7,252)
General and administrative expenses	(3,233)	(2,276)	(8,601)	(8,761)
Income (loss) on investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A. (net of amortization)	4,693	(1,641)	13,789	(3,964)
Impairment of mineral property interests and property and equipment		(1,198)		(29,740)
Operating (loss) income	3,045	1,882	20,144	(22,627)
Income taxes recovery	607	1,619	3,330	15,103
Investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A.	167,626	172,506	167,626	172,506	$ 167,107
Mineral property interests	242,350	257,106	242,350	257,106	237,245
Total assets	499,835	504,750	499,835	504,750	$ 475,085
Argentina
Operating Segment Reporting
Exploration costs	(543)	(268)	(1,046)	(1,190)
General and administrative expenses	(234)	(166)	(419)	(486)
Income (loss) on investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A. (net of amortization)	4,693	(1,641)	13,789	(3,964)
Operating (loss) income	3,680	(2,224)	11,824	(6,077)
Investment in Minera Santa Cruz S.A.	167,626	172,506	167,626	172,506
Mineral property interests	191,490	202,889	191,490	202,889
Total assets	373,732	377,917	373,732	377,917
Mexico
Operating Segment Reporting
Gold and silver sales	13,423	22,503	49,226	61,545
Production costs applicable to sales	(6,409)	(11,170)	(21,239)	(28,912)
Mine development costs	(341)	(112)	(1,038)	(449)
Exploration costs	(1,094)	(788)	(2,739)	(3,662)
General and administrative expenses	(474)	(391)	(1,963)	(2,405)
Operating (loss) income	3,636	8,837	19,001	23,047
Mineral property interests	14,062	9,730	14,062	9,730
Total assets	69,002	56,938	69,002	56,938
U.S.
Operating Segment Reporting
Mine development costs	(593)		(1,910)
Exploration costs	(505)	(718)	(1,692)	(2,172)
General and administrative expenses	(69)	(45)	(176)	(153)
Impairment of mineral property interests and property and equipment		(1,198)		(29,740)
Operating (loss) income	(2,097)	(2,942)	(5,195)	(33,473)
Mineral property interests	36,798	44,487	36,798	44,487
Total assets	37,571	45,058	37,571	45,058
Corporate & Other
Operating Segment Reporting
Exploration costs	(24)	(56)	(118)	(228)
General and administrative expenses	(2,456)	(1,674)	(6,043)	(5,717)
Operating (loss) income	(2,174)	(1,789)	(5,486)	(6,124)
Total assets	$ 19,530	$ 24,837	$ 19,530	$ 24,837