Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
REVENUES	$ 2,444,677	$ 4,013,134
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Production costs	2,173,732	2,282,805
Exploration costs	508,861	981,045
General and administrative	3,683,330	4,069,508
Depreciation expense	1,316,537	1,348,860
(Gain) from disposition of land	0	(108,764)
Total Operating Expenses	7,682,460	8,573,454
Operating Loss	(5,237,783)	(4,560,320)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net, including amortization of deferred financing cost and debt discount	(9,923,430)	(6,339,473)
Other income	22,277	30,978
Total Other Income (Expense)	(9,672,876)	(3,079,452)
Net loss	$ (14,910,659)	$ (7,639,772)
Net Loss Per Share (Basic and Diluted) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.07)
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Basic and Diluted) (in shares)	118,977,573	103,124,288
PIK Note Derivative Liability [Member]
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Gain on revaluation of PIK Note derivative	$ 228,277	$ 3,229,043