Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) - USD ($)	Private Placement [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Private Placement [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Private Placement [Member] Accumulated Deficit Prior to Exploration Stage [Member]	Private Placement [Member] Accumulated Deficit During Exploration Stage [Member]	Private Placement [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit Prior to Exploration Stage [Member]	Accumulated Deficit During Exploration Stage [Member]	Total
Balance						$ 94,646	$ 63,213,893	$ (20,009,496)	$ (41,812,476)	$ 1,486,567
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013						94,646,013
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013						$ 94,646	63,213,893	(20,009,496)	(41,812,476)	1,486,567
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Issued for Services						408,539
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Issued for Services						$ 409	326,860	0	0	327,269
Warrant cancellation						0	120,000	0	0	120,000
Stock-based compensation expense						0	865,716	0	0	865,716
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent						$ 0	0	0	(10,316,317)	(10,316,317)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014						95,054,552
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014						$ 95,055	64,526,469	(20,009,496)	(52,128,793)	(7,516,765)
Shares issued for directors fees and other services (in shares)						408,539
Shares issued for directors fees and other services						$ 409	326,860	0	0	327,269
Stock-based compensation expense						0	865,716	0	0	865,716
Net (loss)						0	0	0	(10,316,317)	(10,316,317)
Balance						94,646	63,213,893	(20,009,496)	(41,812,476)	1,486,567
Balance						$ 95,055	64,526,469	(20,009,496)	(52,128,793)	(7,516,765)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Issued for Services						1,045,788
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Issued for Services						$ 1,046	378,890	0	0	379,936
Stock-based compensation expense						0	397,417	0	0	397,417
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent						$ 0	0	0	(9,805,137)	(9,805,148)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015						97,144,736
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015						$ 97,145	66,106,631	(20,009,496)	(61,933,930)	(15,739,650)
Shares issued for directors fees and other services (in shares)						1,045,788
Shares issued for directors fees and other services						$ 1,046	378,890	0	0	379,936
Shares issued for employee bonus (in shares)						29,310
Shares issued for employee bonus						$ 29	63,859	0	0	63,888
Shares issued for liquidated damages (in shares)						1,015,086
Shares issued for liquidated damages						$ 1,015	739,996	0	0	741,011
Stock-based compensation expense						0	397,417	0	0	397,417
Net (loss)						0	0	0	(9,805,137)	(9,805,148)
Balance						95,055	64,526,469	(20,009,496)	(52,128,793)	(7,516,765)
Balance						$ 97,145	66,106,631	(20,009,496)	(61,933,930)	(15,739,650)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Issued for Services						203,980
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Issued for Services						$ 204	53,710	0	0	53,914
Stock-based compensation expense						0	659,706	0	0	659,706
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent						$ 0	0	0	(7,639,772)	(7,639,772)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016						108,613,549
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016						$ 108,614	68,506,530	(20,009,496)	(69,573,702)	(20,968,054)
Shares issued for directors fees and other services (in shares)						203,980
Shares issued for directors fees and other services						$ 204	53,710	0	0	53,914
Stock-based compensation expense						0	659,706	0	0	659,706
Net (loss)						0	0	0	(7,639,772)	(7,639,772)
Balance						$ 97,145	66,106,631	(20,009,496)	(61,933,930)	(15,739,650)
Shares issued for employee compensation (in shares)						331,494
Shares issued for employee compensation						$ 332	57,416	0	0	57,748
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues	10,933,339
Shares and warrants issued in private placement	$ 10,933	$ 1,629,067	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,640,000
Balance						$ 108,614	$ 68,506,530	$ (20,009,496)	$ (69,573,702)	$ (20,968,054)