Accounts receivable Accounts Receivable, Net Less: Accumulated Depreciation Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Additional paid-in capital Amortization of convertible debt discount Amortization of Financing Costs and Discounts Depreciation Fair value of warrants and options issued to consultants and directors Amortization of deferred financing costs CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS [Abstract] CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) [Abstract] Amortization of discount - PIK Notes Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium) Buildings Current portion of leases payable Long-term portion of leases payable Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Interest Accounts payable and accrued expenses Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable (Increase) Decrease in: Increase (Decrease) in: Loss on revaluation of stock awards Change in operating assets and liabilities: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Common stock, authorized (in shares) Common stock, issued (in shares) Common stock, outstanding (in shares) Common stock, $0.001 par value, 120,000,000 shares authorized, 75,677,489 and 69,704,393 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively COST OF SALES Cost of Goods Sold Total Current Liabilities Liabilities, Current Current Liabilities DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Disclosure [Text Block] Office furniture and equipment Gain on disposition of assets (Gain) loss from disposition of land and equipment Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Net proceeds (expenses) from legal settlement Gain on settlement of debt General and administrative Gross Profit Gross Profit CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS [Abstract] Net income (loss) from discontinued operations Interest expense Interest Expense TOTAL LIABILITIES Liabilities Liabilities from discontinued operations TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) Liabilities and Equity Non-controlling interest Net cash provided by financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash flows from financing activities: Net cash provided by investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Cash flows from investing activities: Net cash used by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Cash flows from operating activities: Net Loss Attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net increase (decrease) in cash Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Total Other Income (Expense) Nonoperating Income (Expense) OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE): Total Other Assets Assets, Noncurrent Other Assets Assets, Noncurrent [Abstract] Total Long-Term Liabilities Liabilities, Noncurrent Long-Term Liabilities Current portion of notes payable Long-term portion of notes payable Net Operating Loss Operating Income (Loss) BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND GOING CONCERN Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Sale of clay samples Other income (expense) Payments for legal settlement Payments for Legal Settlements Preferred stock, authorized (in shares) Preferred stock, issued (in shares) Preferred stock, outstanding (in shares) Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Proceeds from PIK notes payable Proceeds from sale of common stock Proceeds from notes payable Proceeds from sale of assets Total Property and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Refund of insurance premium RELATED PARTIES Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Payments on leases payable Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations Payments on notes payable Repayments of Notes Payable REVENUES SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS [Abstract] STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Cash Paid For: Income Taxes Income Taxes Paid Total Current Assets Assets, Current Current Assets Gain (loss) on revaluation of stock awards Property and Equipment TOTAL ASSETS Assets Interest income Deferred financing cost STOCK AWARD PAYABLE Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Equipment financed on lease Purchases of equipment and vehicles Payments to Acquire Machinery and Equipment Net cash used by discontinued operations Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Discontinued Operations Net cash provided by discontinued operations Net cash used by discontinued operations Convertible debt (PIK Notes) Convertible Debt, Noncurrent OPERATING (INCOME)EXPENSES: Total Operating Expenses Operating Expenses Earnings Per Share Information (Basic and Diluted): Loss from exploration stage, before income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Total Applied Minerals, Inc. stockholders' equity (deficit) Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Provision (benefit) for income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, noncumulative, nonvoting, nonconvertible, none issued or outstanding Issuance of PIK Notes in payment of interest Paid-in-Kind Interest Land improvements Purchases of land improvements Payments for Capital Improvements Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities: Loss on impairment of assets Net loss from exploration stage after discontinued operations Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net loss attributable to the non-controlling interest Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) Total Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Commitments and Contingencies Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operations: ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS Nature of Operations [Text Block] Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Other Liabilities Other Liabilities [Abstract] Net loss per share before discontinued operations attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc. common shareholders (in dollars per share) Discontinued operations attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc. common shareholders (in dollars per share) Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc. common shareholders (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Entity [Text Block] Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Type Deposits And Prepaids Sum of the amounts paid in advance for capitalized costs that will be expensed with the passage of time or the occurrence of a triggering event, and will be charged against earnings within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. And, aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of money paid in advance for goods or services that bring economic benefit within one year. Deposits and prepaids Land And Tunnels Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of real estate held for productive use, specifically described as land and tunnels. Land and tunnels Mining Equipment Long lived, depreciable assets used in the process of surveying, preparing land for the extraction of natural resources, and extracting natural resources, specifically described as mining equipment. Mining equipment Milling Equipment Long lived, depreciable assets used to process natural resources, specifically described as milling equipment. Milling equipment Laboratory Equipment Gross amount, as of the balance sheet date, of long-lived, depreciable assets, specifically described as laboratory equipment. Laboratory equipment Vehicles Gross amount, as of the balance sheet date, of long-lived, depreciable assets, specifically categorized as vehicles. Stock Award Aggregate carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the liabilities for non-cash compensation arrangements payable. Represents value, as adjusted to change in market for common stock award. Stock awards payable Total Other Liabilities Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of separately stated liabilities classified as neither current or non-current. Total Other Liabilities Accumulated Deficit Prior To Exploration Stage The cumulative amount of the reporting entity's earnings or deficit resulting from operations prior to the exploration stage. Accumulated deficit prior to the exploration stage Accumulated Deficit During Exploration Stage The cumulative amount of the reporting entity's earnings or deficit resulting from operations during the exploration stage. Accumulated deficit during the exploration stage Assets Held For Sale Assets that are held for sale apart from normal operations. Assets held for sale Gain On Stock Award Forfeiture Gain (loss) recognized on the forfeiture of a stock award as part of a settlement of a lawsuit. Gain on stock award forfeiture Gain on stock award forfeiture Exploration Expenses Exploration expenses (including prospecting) related to mining entities and would be included in operating expenses of that entity. Exploration costs Net loss Net loss. Stock Issued For Payment Of Consulting Services The fair value of restricted stock or stock options granted to consultants as payment for services rendered or acknowledged claims. Stock issued for director and consulting services Increase Decrease In Deposits And Prepaid Expense The net change during the reporting period in moneys given as security or collateral for items acquired or borrowed on a temporary basis, and the net change during the reporting period in the amount of outstanding money paid in advance for goods or services that bring economic benefits for future periods. Deposits and prepaids Pik Plus Interest To Common Stock The fair value of common stock issued as payment of convertible debt and associated accrued interest in noncash investing and financing activities. Conversion of debt and accrued interest to common stock Proceeds From Insurance Settlement Financing Activities The cash inflow from the amounts received by the insured under the terms of an insurance contract settlement and is classified as a financing cash flow. Proceeds from insurance settlement BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND GOING CONCERN [Abstract] ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS [Abstract] SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract] DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS [Abstract] STOCK AWARD PAYABLE [Abstract] CONVERTIBLE DEBT (PIK NOTES) [Abstract] Long Term Pik Debt [Text Block] The entire disclosure for long-term debt described as PIK/Convertible Debt. CONVERTIBLE DEBT (PIK NOTES) STOCKHOLDER EQUITY [Abstract] STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY [Abstract] Options And Warrants To Purchase Common Stock [Text Block] The entire disclosure for warrants or options issued and outstanding. OPTIONS AND WARRANTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK [Abstract] COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES [Abstract] RELATED PARTIES [Abstract] Mining Supplies Inventory Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of products used directly or indirectly in mining exploration, development or production, which may or may not become part of the final product. Mining supplies inventory Increase Decrease In Mining Supplies Inventory The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the carrying amount of mining supplies inventory. Mining supplies inventory Equipment Impairment Charges The charge against earnings resulting from the aggregate write down of tangible assets from their carrying value to their fair value. Loss on impairment of equipment Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (basic and diluted) (in shares) The average number of basic and diluted shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating basic and diluted EPS. Net Loss from Exploration Stage Before Discontinued Operations [Abstract] Net Loss from Exploration Stage