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MINE DEVELOPMENT COSTS	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
MINE DEVELOPMENT COSTS [Text Block]	4. MINE DEVELOPMENT COSTS Costs incurred to get the mine ready for its intended purpose and that provide benefits to future periods, net of the realized value of nominal amounts of copper sold during the development period, are capitalized as mine development costs. Costs incurred upon the attainment of the production stage, which is determined upon the achievement of levels of commercial production that are not a result of the development and testing of the mining process, are expensed as incurred. *Production of Copper from Mining of New Ore* As a result of the development and testing of mining operations for the production of new ore, the Company began producing a nominal amount of copper cathode from newly-mined ore in February 2009. The Company achieved commercial production from the mining of new ore, which was based upon substantial completion of the testing and development phase, on April 1, 2009. Upon the achievement of commercial production from the mining of new ore, the costs to operate the mine were expensed as incurred and the capitalized mine development costs associated with the production of copper from the mining of new ore commenced being amortized over the life of the mine based on a “units of production” method. As the Johnson Camp Mine attained the production stage on April 1, 2009, subsequently, no mine development costs were capitalized. During 2012 and 2011, the Company did not amortize any mine development costs from the development and testing of mining operations of new ore as all of the copper produced during the year was from residual leaching. The balance of the mine development costs, net of accumulated amortization, for development and testing of mining operations of new ore was $1,671,646 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011.

MINE DEVELOPMENT COSTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

4. MINE DEVELOPMENT COSTS

Costs incurred to get the mine ready for its intended purpose and that provide benefits to future periods, net of the realized value of nominal amounts of copper sold during the development period, are capitalized as mine development costs. Costs incurred upon the attainment of the production stage, which is determined upon the achievement of levels of commercial production that are not a result of the development and testing of the mining process, are expensed as incurred.

Production of Copper from Mining of New Ore

As a result of the development and testing of mining operations for the production of new ore, the Company began producing a nominal amount of copper cathode from newly-mined ore in February 2009. The Company achieved commercial production from the mining of new ore, which was based upon substantial completion of the testing and development phase, on April 1, 2009. Upon the achievement of commercial production from the mining of new ore, the costs to operate the mine were expensed as incurred and the capitalized mine development costs associated with the production of copper from the mining of new ore commenced being amortized over the life of the mine based on a “units of production” method. As the Johnson Camp Mine attained the production stage on April 1, 2009, subsequently, no mine development costs were capitalized. During 2012 and 2011, the Company did not amortize any mine development costs from the development and testing of mining operations of new ore as all of the copper produced during the year was from residual leaching. The balance of the mine development costs, net of accumulated amortization, for development and testing of mining operations of new ore was $1,671,646 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011.