CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED 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
OPERATING (INCOME) EXPENSES:
Production costs	42,492		21,075	123,070
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	2,827,873		1,598,580	20,920,747
Net Operating Loss	(2,772,471)		(1,554,112)	(20,772,393)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net, including amortization of deferred financing cost and debt discount	(3,190)		(136,516)	(1,462,235)
Gain (loss) on revaluation of warrants	990,000	[1]	0	1,215,000
Loss on revaluation of stock awards	(21,000)		(1,000)	(240,500)
Other income (expense)	(544)		(3,510)	435,310
Total Other Income (Expense)	965,266		(141,026)	(52,425)
Loss from exploration stage, before income taxes	(1,807,205)		(1,695,138)	(20,824,818)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0		0	0
Net Loss from Exploration Stage Before Discontinued Operations	(1,807,205)		(1,695,138)	(20,824,818)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1,835)		(910)	51,547
Net Loss from Exploration Stage After Discontinued Operations	(1,809,040)		(1,696,048)	(20,773,271)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	0		24	(52,320)
Net Loss Attributable to Applied Minerals, Inc.	$ (1,809,040)		$ (1,696,024)	$ (20,825,591)
Earnings Per Share Information (Basic and Diluted):
Net loss per share before discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)		$ (0.02)
Net income (loss) per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0		$ 0
Net Loss Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)		$ (0.02)
Weighted Averages Shares Outstanding (Basic and Diluted) (in shares)	89,136,400		69,820,574

[1] See Note 3 for a description on the restatement relating to the Warrant derivative.