STOCK BASED COMPENSATION - Stock Options (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			12 Months Ended
	Apr. 26, 2017	Feb. 13, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
Stock options granted (in shares)			375	338	645
Exercise price of options granted (in dollars per share)			$ 1.90	$ 2.99	$ 3.99
Exercisable period of options			1 year 7 months 6 days
Number of common stock reserved for issuance			17,500,000
Number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance			5,776,483	5,283,137
Common stock issued			344,560,000	337,051,000
Shares
Balance at the beginning of the period (in shares)			4,906	4,720	6,954
Granted (in shares)			375	338	645
Exercised (in shares)			(171)	(94)	(1,457)
Forfeited (in shares)			(405)	(37)	(1,422)
Expired (in shares)			(462)	(21)
Balance at the end of the period (in shares)			4,243	4,906	4,720	6,954
Exercisable at the end of the period (in shares)			3,552
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Balance at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)			$ 2.45	$ 2.41	$ 2.49
Granted (in dollars per share)			1.90	2.99	3.99
Exercised (in dollars per share)			$ 1.02	$ 1.30	$ 2.48
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			$ 192	$ 121	$ 3,730
Forfeited (in dollars per share)			$ 3.99	$ 4.28	$ 3.45
Expired (in dollars per share)			2.27	5.00
Balance at the end of the period (in dollars per share)			2.33	$ 2.45	$ 2.41	$ 2.49
Exercisable (in dollars per share)			$ 2.28
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life
Outstanding at the end of the period			2 years	2 years 7 months 6 days	3 years 4 months 24 days	4 years 1 month 6 days
Exercisable period of options			1 year 7 months 6 days
Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in dollars)			$ 2,564	$ 4,388	$ 98
Exercised (in dollars)			195	87	1,601
Outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars)			1,475	$ 2,564	$ 4,388	$ 98
Exercisable at the end of the period (in dollars)			$ 1,475
Granted (in shares)			375	338	645
Equity Incentive Plan
STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
Common stock issued			171,000	94,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Exercised (in dollars per share)			$ 1.02	$ 1.30
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			$ 200	$ 100
Maximum
STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
Maximum number of shares that may be subject to grants of options to an individual in a calendar year			1,000,000
Lexam VG Gold
STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
Share replacement awards	$ 100
Ratio of Company's share for acquired company's share		0.056%
Certain employees and directors
STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
Stock options granted (in shares)			400,000	300,000	600,000
Exercise price of options granted (in dollars per share)			$ 1.90	$ 2.99	$ 3.99
Shares
Granted (in shares)			400,000	300,000	600,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Granted (in dollars per share)			$ 1.90	$ 2.99	$ 3.99
Intrinsic Value
Granted (in shares)			400,000	300,000	600,000
Vesting period of options			3 years
Exercise period of options			5 years