Note 11 - Business Segments and Significant Customers (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 Unsettled Concentrate Sales Contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Unsettled Concentrate Sales Contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsettled Concentrate Sales Contracts [Member]	May 31, 2013 Casa Berardi [Member]
Note 11 - Business Segments and Significant Customers (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments	3
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired		30.00%				100.00%
Derivative, Gain on Derivative			$ 3,000,000		$ 7,100,000
Derivative, Loss on Derivative				$ 1,300,000