STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		39 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) [Abstract]
REVENUES	$ 55,402	$ 44,468	$ 148,354
COST OF SALES	(42,492)	(21,075)	(123,070)
Gross Profit	12,910	23,393	25,284
OPERATING (INCOME) EXPENSES:
Exploration costs	774,961	670,854	7,301,222
General and administrative	2,010,420	907,651	13,445,856
(Gain) loss from disposition of land and equipment	0	(1,000)	(4,523)
Loss on impairment of equipment	0	0	55,122
Total Operating Expenses	2,785,381	1,577,505	20,797,677
Net Operating Loss	(2,772,471)	(1,554,112)	(20,772,393)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest income	1,122	222	3,703
Interest expense	(4,312)	(132,146)	(950,597)
Sale of clay samples	0	0	10,943
Refund of insurance premium	0	2,531	20,156
Gain on stock award forfeiture	0	0	145,000
Gain (loss) on revaluation of warrants	(1,259,500)	0	(1,034,500)
Gain (loss) on revaluation of stock awards	(21,000)	(1,000)	(240,500)
Net proceeds (expenses) from legal settlement	0	0	(173,325)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	0	(4,592)	(150,000)
Amortization of convertible debt discount	0	0	(365,341)
Gain on settlement of debt	0	0	434,882
Other income (expense)	(544)	(6,041)	(2,346)
Total Other Income (Expense)	(1,284,234)	(141,026)	(2,301,925)
Loss from exploration stage, before income taxes	(4,056,705)	(1,695,138)	(23,074,318)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	0	0
Net Loss from Exploration Stage Before Discontinued Operations	(4,056,705)	(1,695,138)	(23,074,318)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1,835)	(910)	51,547
Net Loss from Exploration Stage After Discontinued Operations	(4,058,540)	(1,696,048)	(23,022,771)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	0	24	(52,320)
Net Loss Attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc.	$ (4,058,540)	$ (1,696,024)	$ (23,075,091)
Earnings Per Share Information (Basic and Diluted):
Net loss per share before discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.02)
Net income (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0
Net Loss Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.02)
Weighted Averages Shares Outstanding (Basic and Diluted) (in shares)	89,136,400	69,820,574