CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		54 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) [Abstract]
REVENUES	$ 12,878	$ 96,228	$ 37,964	$ 151,630	$ 296,658
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Production costs	2,640	39,102	18,407	81,594	202,223
Exploration costs	875,654	826,559	2,243,266	1,521,523	11,793,989
General and administrative	1,830,663	1,294,879	3,976,086	3,304,220	21,935,883
Depreciation expense	78,890	45,161	157,688	126,237	973,876
Loss on impairment and disposition of land and equipment	0	0	0	0	60,512
Total Operating Expenses	2,787,847	2,205,701	6,395,447	5,033,574	34,966,483
Operating Loss	(2,774,969)	(2,109,473)	(6,357,483)	(4,881,944)	(34,669,825)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net, including amortization of deferred financing cost and debt discount	(7,137)	(2,881)	(13,624)	(6,071)	(1,484,108)
Gain on revaluation of warrants	155,000	540,000	650,000	1,530,000	1,505,000
Gain (loss) on revaluation of stock award	21,000	13,000	35,000	(8,000)	(211,500)
Other income (expense)	1,221	11	2,331	(533)	426,645
Total Other Income (Expense)	170,084	550,130	673,707	1,515,396	236,037
Loss from continuing operations	(2,604,885)	(1,559,343)	(5,683,776)	(3,366,548)	(34,433,788)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	(1,836)	0	(3,671)	53,382
Net loss	(2,604,885)	(1,561,179)	(5,683,776)	(3,370,219)	(34,380,406)
Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest	0	0	0	0	52,320
Net Loss Attributable to Applied Minerals	$ (2,604,885)	$ (1,561,179)	$ (5,683,776)	$ (3,370,219)	$ (34,432,726)
Loss Per Share (Basic and Diluted):
Loss per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.04)
Loss per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Net Loss Per Share (Basic and Diluted) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.04)
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Basic and Diluted) (in shares)	94,417,614	89,165,332	94,051,411	89,150,835