Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
PIK Note Derivative Liability [Member]
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Gain on revaluation of PIK Note derivative	$ 1,134,149	$ 5,378,339	$ 2,425,555	$ 6,598,708
REVENUES	975,328	43,293	3,089,422	271,888
Production costs	539,951	0	1,572,795	0
Exploration costs	270,700	977,164	821,814	3,601,812
General and administrative	977,716	1,155,016	3,227,852	3,584,791
Depreciation expense	340,165	326,931	1,014,585	979,836
Total Operating Expenses	2,128,532	2,459,111	6,637,046	8,166,439
Operating Loss	(1,153,204)	(2,415,818)	(3,547,624)	(7,894,551)
Interest expense, net, including amortization of deferred financing cost and debt discount	(1,792,412)	(1,169,425)	(4,521,672)	(3,290,647)
Other income (expense)	1,042	(140)	106,021	(543,895)
Total Other Income (Expense)	(657,221)	4,208,774	(1,990,096)	2,764,166
Net (Loss) Income	$ (1,810,425)	$ 1,792,956	$ (5,537,720)	$ (5,130,385)
Net (Loss) Income Per Share (Basic and Diluted) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.02	$ (0.05)	$ (0.05)
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Basic and Diluted) (in shares)	108,482,042	96,482,321	101,231,559	95,795,668