Note 4 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Notes Tables

Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]

	Estimated Useful Life (in years)
Building and Building Improvements		5	–	40
Mining equipment		2	–	7
Office and shop furniture and equipment		3	–	7
Vehicles			5

Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]

	Fair value measurement using inputs						Carrying amount
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		June 30 , 201 6		December 31, 201 5
Financial instruments:
Series 2023 PIK Note Derivative	$	-0-	$	-0-	$	230,329	$	230,329	$	262,764
Series A PIK Note Derivative	$	-0-	$	-0-	$	3,626,505	$	3,626,505	$	4,876,093

Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

Balance at December 31, 2015	$	5,138,857
Issuance of additional PIK Notes		9,383
Net unrealized gains included in net (loss)		(1,291,406	)
Balance at June 30, 2016	$	3,856,834

Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]

Series 2023 PIK Note derivative liability	Fair Value Measurements
	Using Inputs
	June 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
Market price and estimated fair value of stock	$	0.18		$	0.28
Exercise price	$	1.28		$	1.36
Term (years)		7.08			7.58
Dividend yield	$	-0-		$	-0-
Expected volatility		86.0	%		72.9	%
Risk-free interest rate		1.30	%		2.12	%

Series A PIK Note derivative liability	Fair Value Measurements
	Using Inputs
	June 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
Market price and estimated fair value of stock	$	0.18		$	0.28
Exercise price	$	0.83		$	0.92
Term (years)		7.08			7.58
Dividend yield	$	-0-		$	-0-
Expected volatility		86.0	%		72.9	%
Risk-free interest rate		1.30	%		2.12	%