CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		143 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014
REVENUE:
Royalties	$ 7,627	$ 6,937	$ 14,918	$ 15,245	$ 196,394
OPERATING EXPENSES:
General and administrative	700,228	758,453	1,291,863	1,733,854	37,117,941
Technical services and exploration	604,421	625,090	1,086,339	1,420,914	34,510,015
Depreciation	206,091	232,745	412,792	467,648	6,770,568
Legal, accounting, and consulting	328,208	199,746	534,912	305,885	5,961,768
Fees, filing, and licenses	5,397	32,556	73,166	83,242	3,077,339
Impairment of mineral properties					504,492
Total operating expenses	1,844,345	1,848,590	3,399,072	4,011,543	87,942,123
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS	(1,836,718)	(1,841,653)	(3,384,154)	(3,996,298)	(87,745,729)
OTHER INCOME:
Gain from warrant derivatives					476,381
Gain from sale of assets	11,900		11,900		34,900
Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities					2,005,904
Interest income, net	2,481	6,110	6,206	13,677	3,293,103
Total other income	14,381	6,110	18,106	13,677	5,810,288
NET LOSS	$ (1,822,337)	$ (1,835,543)	$ (3,366,048)	$ (3,982,621)	$ (81,935,441)
NET LOSS PER SHARE (basic and diluted) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.12)	$ (0.14)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (basic and diluted)	29,179,030	28,999,752	29,108,403	28,999,752