CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenue:
Sale of metals (Note 17)	$ 26,086	$ 1,836
Management service fees (Note 17)			11,216
Costs and expenses:
Cost of metals sold (exclusive of depreciation shown below) (Note 17)	(33,369)	(6,086)
Costs of services (Note 17)			(2,566)
Exploration expense	(7,009)	(17,774)	(13,353)
E1 Quevar project expense	(5,115)	(27,342)	(15,755)
Velardena project and development expense	(7,912)	(587)
Administrative expense	(7,063)	(8,729)	(8,600)
Severance and acquisition related costs		(7,171)
Stock based compensation	(2,588)	(5,541)	(3,281)
Reclamation expense	(226)	(231)
Reversal of impairment of long live assets			873
(Impairment) of goodwill	(58,484)
Other operating income, net	2,482	660	311
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	(10,012)	(2,792)	(1,095)
Total costs and expenses	(129,296)	(75,593)	(43,466)
Loss from operations	(103,210)	(73,757)	(32,250)
Other income and expenses:
Interest and other income	2,543	11,615	178
Royalty income	373	396	314
Interest and other expense	(257)	(1,254)
Gain (loss) on foreign currency	512	(1,326)	(89)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(474)
Other total income and expenses	3,171	8,957	403
Loss from operations before income taxes	(100,039)	(64,800)	(31,847)
Income taxes benefit (expense)	8,014	2,129	(1,427)
Net loss	(92,025)	(62,671)	(33,274)
Other comprehensive gain (loss):
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of tax	32	(287)	11
Comprehensive loss	$ (91,993)	$ (62,958)	$ (33,263)
Net loss per common share - basic and diluted
Loss (in dollars per share)	$ (2.45)	$ (2.94)	$ (3.72)
Weighted average Common Stock outstanding - basic and diluted (in shares)	37,522,871	21,280,916	8,947,739