CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		51 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) [Abstract]
REVENUES	$ 25,086	$ 55,402	$ 283,780
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Production costs	15,767	42,492	199,583
Exploration costs	1,367,612	694,964	10,918,335
General and administrative	2,145,423	2,009,341	20,105,220
Depreciation expense	78,798	81,076	894,986
Loss on impairment and disposition of land and equipment	0	0	60,512
Total Operating Expenses	3,607,600	2,827,873	32,178,636
Operating Loss	(3,582,514)	(2,772,471)	(31,894,856)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net, including amortization of deferred financing cost and debt discount	(4,933)	(3,190)	(1,476,971)
Gain on revaluation of warrants	495,000	990,000	1,350,000
Gain (loss) on revaluation of stock award	14,000	(21,000)	(232,500)
Other income (expense)	(444)	(544)	425,424
Total Other Income	503,623	965,266	65,953
Loss from continuing operations	(3,078,891)	(1,807,205)	(31,828,903)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	(1,835)	53,382
Net loss	(3,078,891)	(1,809,040)	(31,775,521)
Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest	0	0	(52,320)
Net Loss Attributable to Applied Minerals	$ (3,078,891)	$ (1,809,040)	$ (31,827,841)
Loss Per Share (Basic and Diluted):
Loss per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)
Loss per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0
Net Loss Per Share (Basic and Diluted) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Basic and Diluted) (in shares)	93,681,139	89,136,400