STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended			36 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [Abstract]
REVENUES	$ 92,952	$ 0	$ 0	$ 92,952
COST OF SALES	80,578	0	0	80,578
Gross Profit	12,374	0	0	12,374
OPERATING (INCOME) EXPENSES:
Exploration costs	2,919,306	2,307,202	1,299,753	6,526,261
General and administrative	4,261,175	2,490,347	4,683,914	11,435,436
(Gain) loss from disposition of land and equipment	(1,000)	(3,113)	(410)	(4,523)
Loss on impairment of equipment	0	13,080	42,042	55,122
Total Operating Expenses	7,179,481	4,807,516	6,025,299	18,012,296
Net Operating Loss	(7,167,107)	(4,807,516)	(6,025,299)	(17,999,922)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest income	1,176	957	448	2,581
Interest expense	(387,684)	(248,047)	(310,554)	(946,285)
Sale of clay samples	0	4,943	6,000	10,943
Refund of insurance premium	0	6,370	13,786	20,156
Gain on stock award forfeiture	0	145,000	0	145,000
Gain (loss) on revaluation of warrants	225,000	0	0	225,000
Gain (loss) on revaluation of stock awards	(47,000)	(22,000)	(150,500)	(219,500)
Net proceeds (expenses) from legal settlement	0	(292,238)	118,913	(173,325)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(146,939)	(3,061)	0	(150,000)
Amortization of convertible debt discount	0	(2,194)	(363,147)	(365,341)
Gain on settlement of debt	101,380	333,502	0	434,882
Other income (expense)	(3,370)	(7,241)	8,855	(1,802)
Total Other Income (Expense)	(257,437)	(84,009)	(676,199)	(1,017,691)
Loss from exploration stage, before income taxes	(7,424,544)	(4,891,525)	(6,701,498)	(19,017,613)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net Loss from Exploration Stage Before Discontinued Operations	(7,424,544)	(4,891,525)	(6,701,498)	(19,017,613)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(5,772)	123,828	(64,674)	53,382
Net loss from exploration stage after discontinued operations	(7,430,316)	(4,767,697)	(6,766,172)	(18,964,231)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest	(52,320)	0	0	(52,320)
Net Loss Attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc.	$ (7,482,636)	$ (4,767,715)	$ (6,766,172)	$ (19,016,551)
Earnings Per Share Information (Basic and Diluted):
Net loss per share before discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.011)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Net Loss Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.11)
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (basic and diluted) (in shares)	74,568,658	68,396,770	60,665,785