Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 15, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Document and Entity Information
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Trading Symbol	nrds
Entity Registrant Name	NORD RESOURCES CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000072316
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		112,177,627
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Public Float			$ 7,852,434
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY