CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net loss	$ (7,187,568)	$ (7,085,523)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	590,364	743,148
Accretion expense on accrued reclamation costs	301,026	290,886
Amortization of debt issuance costs	251,505	259,477
Issuance of stock options for services rendered	62,597	159,206
Loss on sale and write-off of property and equipment	3,235	10,980
Issuance of deferred stock units for services rendered	78,750	78,750
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	135,611	(25,540)
Inventories, stockpiles and ore on leach pads	2,310,731	3,481,895
Prepaid expenses and other assets	8,385	(150,176)
Accounts payable	297,823	753,474
Accrued expenses	404,926	(316,407)
Accrued interest	2,650,718	2,431,896
Copper derivatives settlement payable	0	6,433,339
Derivative contracts at fair value	(54,896)	(6,859,481)
Deferred revenue	(23,415)	(36,448)
Other liabilities	(8,500)	(9,795)
Net Cash Provided (Used) By Operating Activities	(178,708)	159,681
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(14,123)	(627,612)
Net Cash Used By Investing Activities	(14,123)	(627,612)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Principal payments on long-term debt	(7,500)	(301,068)
Principal payments on capital lease	(770)	(12,638)
Proceeds from the issuance of debt - related parties	87,500	0
Net Cash Provided (Used) By Financing Activities	79,230	(313,706)
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(113,601)	(781,637)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	118,058	1,120,023
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	4,457	338,386
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Interest	151,893	453,011
Income taxes	0	0
Supplemental Disclosure of Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Common stock issued in exchange for deferred stock units	3,110	2,804
Common stock issued for settlement of accounts payable	0	11,538
Change in property and equipment financed by accounts payable	(88,975)	(202,274)
Change in depreciation expense allocated to inventory	(84,991)	(105,003)
Change in depreciation expense allocated to stockpiles and ore on leach pads	(133,625)	(238,409)
Change in estimate of cash flows for asset retirement obligation	$ 0	$ (1,112,771)