CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended			48 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [Abstract]
REVENUES	$ 165,742	$ 92,952	$ 0	$ 258,694
OPERATING (INCOME) EXPENSES:
Production costs	103,238	80,578	0	183,816
Exploration costs	3,542,977	2,675,017	2,149,299	9,550,723
General and administrative	6,541,043	4,256,859	2,485,391	17,959,797
Depreciation expense	280,991	248,605	162,859	816,188
Loss (Gain) from disposition and impairment land and equipment	9,913	(1,000)	9,967	60,512
Total Operating Expenses	10,478,162	7,260,059	4,807,516	28,571,036
Operating Loss	(10,312,420)	(7,167,107)	(4,807,516)	(28,312,342)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net, including amortization of deferred financing cost and debt discount	(12,993)	(533,447)	(252,345)	(1,472,038)
Gain on revaluation of warrant derivative	630,000	225,000	0	855,000
Loss on revaluation of stock awards	(27,000)	(47,000)	(22,000)	(246,500)
Other income (expense)	(9,986)	98,010	190,336	425,868
Total Other Income (Expense)	580,021	(257,437)	(84,009)	(437,670)
Loss from continuing operations	(9,732,399)	(7,424,544)	(4,891,525)	(28,750,012)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	(5,772)	123,828	53,382
Net loss	(9,732,399)	(7,430,316)	(4,767,697)	(28,696,630)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	0	(52,320)	0	(52,320)
Net Loss Attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc.	$ (9,732,399)	$ (7,482,636)	$ (4,767,697)	$ (28,748,950)
Loss Per Share Attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc. (Basic and Diluted):
Loss per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.11)	$ (0.1)	$ (0.07)
Loss per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Net Loss Per Share (basic and diluted) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.11)	$ (0.1)	$ (0.07)
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (basic and diluted) (in shares)	89,552,788	74,568,658	68,396,770