CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		30 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS [Abstract]
REVENUES	$ 18,699	$ 0	$ 63,167	$ 0	$ 63,167
COST OF SALES	(11,890)	0	(32,965)	0	(32,965)
Gross Profit	6,809	0	30,202	0	30,202
OPERATING (INCOME)EXPENSES:
Exploration costs	640,176	465,393	1,311,030	994,606	4,917,985
General and administrative	1,105,373	623,060	2,013,024	1,273,193	9,187,285
(Gain) loss from disposition of land and equipment	0	0	(1,000)	0	(4,523)
Loss on impairment of equipment	0	2,270	0	2,270	55,122
Total Operating Expenses	1,745,549	1,090,723	3,323,054	2,270,069	14,155,869
Net Operating Loss	(1,738,740)	(1,090,723)	(3,292,852)	(2,270,069)	(14,125,667)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest income	283	184	505	415	1,910
Interest expense	(125,244)	(64,413)	(257,390)	(123,951)	(815,991)
Sale of clay samples	0	3,750	0	3,750	10,943
Refund of insurance premium	(2,531)	6,370	0	6,370	20,156
Gain on stock award forfeiture	0	0	0	145,000	145,000
Gain (loss) on revaluation of stock awards	(97,000)	(19,000)	(98,000)	(36,000)	(270,500)
Net proceeds (expenses) from legal settlement	0	0	0	28,547	(173,325)
Amortization of convertible debt discount	(4,591)	0	(9,183)	(2,194)	(377,585)
Gain on settlement of debt	0	0	0	0	333,502
Other income (expense)	(1,479)	(293)	(7,520)	(293)	(5,906)
Total Other Income (Expense)	(230,562)	(73,402)	(371,588)	21,644	(1,131,796)
Loss from exploration stage, before income taxes	(1,969,302)	(1,164,125)	(3,664,440)	(2,248,425)	(15,257,463)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	0	0	0	0
Net Loss from Exploration Stage
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(4,862)	(3,704)	(5,772)	234,678	53,382
Net loss from exploration stage after discontinued operations	(1,974,164)	(1,167,829)	(3,670,212)	(2,013,747)	(15,204,081)
Net loss attributable to the non-controlling interest	(1)	(6)	23	(13)	(23)
Net Loss Attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc	$ (1,974,165)	$ (1,167,835)	$ (3,670,189)	$ (2,013,760)	$ (15,204,104)
Earnings Per Share Information (Basic and Diluted):
Net loss per share before discontinued operations attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc. common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.03)
Discontinued operations attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc. common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc. common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.03)
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (basic and diluted) (in shares)	74,254,258	67,273,239	71,648,777	68,045,625