Note 13 - Asset Retirement Obligations (Details) - Asset Retirement Obligations (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Note 13 - Asset Retirement Obligations (Details) - Asset Retirement Obligations [Line Items]
Balance, January 1	$ 43,244	$ 34,325
Asset retirement obligation, liabilities incurred	8,210
Accretion expense	682	1,958
Payment of reclamation obligations	(28)	(1,037)
Balance, end of period	52,108	43,244
Casa Berardi [Member]
Note 13 - Asset Retirement Obligations (Details) - Asset Retirement Obligations [Line Items]
Asset retirement obligation, liabilities incurred		$ 7,998

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The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 410

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Asset Retirement Obligation

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505190

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of accretion expense recognized during the period that is associated with an asset retirement obligation. Accretion expense measures and incorporates changes due to the passage of time into the carrying amount of the liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 410

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392676&loc=d3e7480-110848

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 410

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of cash paid during the period to settle an asset retirement obligation. Amounts paid to settle an asset retirement obligation are generally included in the operating section of the Statement of Cash Flows.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 17

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3367-108585

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- Definition

Amount of asset retirement obligations incurred during the period.

+ References

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