Note 4 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 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		September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
Financial instruments:
Series 2023 PIK Note Derivative	$	-0-	$	-0-	$	197,873	$	197,873	$	262,764
Series A PIK Note Derivative	$	-0-	$	-0-	$	2,685,275	$	2,685,275	$	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
Additions related to the issuance of PIK Notes		169,846
Net unrealized gains included in net (loss)		(2,425,555	)
Balance at September 30, 2016	$	2,883,148

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
	September 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
Market price and estimated fair value of stock	$	0.15		$	0.28
Exercise price	$	1.28		$	1.36
Term (years)		6.83			7.58
Dividend yield	$	-0-		$	-0-
Expected volatility		89.0	%		72.9	%
Risk-free interest rate		1.40	%		2.12	%

Series A PIK Note derivative liability	Fair Value Measurements
	Using Inputs
	September 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
Market price and estimated fair value of stock	$	0.15		$	0.28
Exercise price	$	0.83		$	0.92
Term (years)		6.83			7.58
Dividend yield	$	-0-		$	-0-
Expected volatility		89.0	%		72.9	%
Risk-free interest rate		1.40	%		2.12	%