Statement of Cash Flows (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net loss	$ (5,350,798)	$ (6,153,849)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	489,987	857,941
Accretion expense on accrued reclamation costs	206,470	4,317
Amortization of debt issuance costs	172,985	125,151
Issuance of stock options for services rendered	103,695	49,647
Issuance of deferred stock units for services rendered	52,500	65,000
Loss on write-off of mineral lease option	10,980
Unrealized loss on de-designation of copper derivatives as cash flow hedges		13,392,853
Unrealized gain on derivatives classified as trading securities	(3,724,151)	(5,816,694)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	208,206	570,539
Inventories, stockpiles and ore on leach pads	2,259,171	(11,384,194)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(194,306)	(6,735)
Accounts payable	702,745	4,655,194
Accrued expenses	(326,576)	2,263,082
Accrued interest	1,706,547	(845,809)
Deferred revenue	(25,050)	(67,894)
Other liabilities	(8,629)	(10,266)
Copper derivatives settlement payable	3,900,410	1,903,881
Net Cash Provided (Used) By Operating Activities	184,186	(397,836)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(538,320)	(596,893)
Net Cash Used By Investing Activities	(538,320)	(596,893)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from exercise of options		40,650
Principal payments on long-term debt	(301,068)
Principal payments on capital lease	(8,683)	(8,939)
Net Cash Provided (Used) By Financing Activities	(309,751)	31,711
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(663,885)	(963,018)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period		1,298,138
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	456,138	335,120
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Interest	341,079	105,817
Income taxes
Supplemental Disclosure of Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Common stock issued in exchange for deferred stock units	2,804	853
Common stock issued for settlement of accounts payable	11,538
Mark to market of cash flow hedges		(643,436)
Change in property and equipment financed by accounts payable	(173,089)	(339,138)
Change in depreciation expense allocated to inventory	(60,865)	313,030
Change in depreciation expense allocated to stockpiles and ore on leach pads	(164,317)	814,078
Refinancing of short term obligations with current maturities of long term debt		4,919,992
Refinancing of short term obligations with long term debt, less current maturities		3,274,129
Change in estimate of cash flows for asset retirement obligation	$ (1,112,771)