Note 3 - Liquidity	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements
Liquidity [Text Block]	NOTE 3 – LIQUIDITY The Company has a history of recurring losses from operations and use of cash in operating activities. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company's net loss was $3,731,884 and cash used in operating activities was $1,528,002. At June 30, 2016, the Company had working capital of $1,338,077, which includes $919,913 of accrued PIK Note interest, which the Company expects to pay in-kind and $167,841 of payables for which the Company believes it has a statute of limitations defense. In addition, during the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company commenced generating revenue under a take-or-pay supply agreement for AMIRON iron oxide and reduced exploration costs related to activities at the Dragon mine. Based on the Company's cash balance at June 30, 2016 and its cash usage expectations, it believes it will have sufficient liquidity to fund its operations for at least the next 12 months. On June 24, 2016, the Company raised $1.64 million through the private placement of 10,933,333 units at $0.15 per unit. Attached to each unit sold was one share of common stock and a five-year warrant to purchase 0.3 shares of the Company’s common stock. As a result of the sale, the Company issued 10,933,333 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 3,280,000 shares of common stock at $0.25 per share. The warrants have a term of five years and do not contain a provision that allows for a cashless exercise.

NOTE 3 – LIQUIDITY

The Company has a history of recurring losses from operations and use of cash in operating activities. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company's net loss was $3,731,884 and cash used in operating activities was $1,528,002. At June 30, 2016, the Company had working capital of $1,338,077, which includes $919,913 of accrued PIK Note interest, which the Company expects to pay in-kind and $167,841 of payables for which the Company believes it has a statute of limitations defense. In addition, during the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company commenced generating revenue under a take-or-pay supply agreement for AMIRON iron oxide and reduced exploration costs related to activities at the Dragon mine. Based on the Company's cash balance at June 30, 2016 and its cash usage expectations, it believes it will have sufficient liquidity to fund its operations for at least the next 12 months.

On June 24, 2016, the Company raised $1.64 million through the private placement of 10,933,333 units at $0.15 per unit. Attached to each unit sold was one share of common stock and a five-year warrant to purchase 0.3 shares of the Company’s common stock. As a result of the sale, the Company issued 10,933,333 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 3,280,000 shares of common stock at $0.25 per share. The warrants have a term of five years and do not contain a provision that allows for a cashless exercise.