STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended			36 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (7,482,636)	$ (4,767,697)	$ (6,766,172)	$ (19,016,551)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operations:
Depreciation	248,605	162,859	123,733	535,197
Amortization of deferred financing costs	146,939	3,061	0	150,000
Amortization of discount - PIK Notes	0	2,194	365,340	367,534
Issuance of PIK Notes in payment of interest	342,884	238,399	282,587	863,870
Stock issued for director and consulting services	118,436	65,079	17,250	200,765
Fair value of warrants and options issued to consultants and directors	2,181,394	334,669	401,234	2,917,297
Gain on revaluation of stock warrants	(225,000)	0	0	(225,000)
Loss on revaluation of stock awards	47,000	22,000	150,500	219,500
Gain on stock award forfeiture	0	(145,000)	0	(145,000)
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	(1,000)	(3,113)	(410)	(4,523)
Gain on settlement of debts	(101,380)	(333,502)	0	(434,882)
Other non-cash expense (income)	(28,587)	0	0	(28,587)
Provision for doubtful accounts	11,938	0	0	11,938
Loss on impairment of assets	4,862	19,977	42,042	66,881
(Increase) Decrease in:
Accounts receivable	28,873	(61,275)	44	(32,358)
Mining supplies inventory	3,503	(3,503)	0	0
Deposits and prepaid expenses	(12,801)	(33,196)	136,764	(90,767)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	18,387	199,026	305,656	523,069
Net cash used by discontinued operations	(1,152)	118,011	486,680	603,585
Net cash used by operating activities	(4,699,735)	(4,182,011)	(4,454,752)	(13,336,498)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of land improvements	0	(70,729)	(2,194)	(72,923)
Purchases of equipment and vehicles	(271,387)	(60,104)	(122,580)	(454,071)
Proceeds from sale of assets	1,000	150,000	0	151,000
Net cash provided by discontinued operations	0	2,500	432,170	434,670
Net cash provided by investing activities	(270,387)	21,667	307,396	58,676
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on notes payable	(518,726)	(145,418)	(167,203)	(831,347)
Payments on leases payable	(167,956)	(131,764)	(121,274)	(420,994)
Proceeds from insurance settlement	0	115,000	0	115,000
Proceeds from notes payable	0	0	124,129	124,129
Proceeds from PIK notes payable	0	4,550,000	5,050,000	9,600,000
Net proceeds from sale of common stock with attached warrant	14,185,000	0	0	14,185,000
Payments for forfeiture of stock	0	(170,000)	0	(170,000)
Net cash used by discontinued operations	0	0	(56,431)	(56,431)
Net cash provided by financing activities	13,498,318	4,217,818	4,829,221	22,545,357
Net increase (decrease) in cash	8,528,196	57,474	681,865	9,267,535
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,642,340	1,584,866	903,001	903,001
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	10,170,536	1,642,340	1,584,866	10,170,536
Cash Paid For:
Interest	58,056	10,893	17,587	86,536
Income Taxes	1,465	550	0	2,015
Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Conversion of debt and accrued interest to common stock	5,019,895	2,343,922	4,095,921	11,459,738
Equipment financed on lease	0	197,000	0	197,000
Prepaid insurance financed	141,908	0	0	141,908
Equipment financed with note payable	$ 173,838	$ 0	$ 0	$ 173,838