Operations	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Operations
Operations	1. Operations Golden Minerals Company (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, completed a business combination (the "Transaction") on September 2, 2011 with ECU Silver Mining Inc. ("ECU"). The primary asset acquired in the Transaction was the 100% interest in the Velardeña and Chicago precious metals mining operations in Mexico (the "Velardeña Operations") (see Note 24). The Company is primarily engaged in the operation and further development of the Velardeña Operations, the continued advancement of its El Quevar advanced exploration property in Argentina, and the continued rationalization of our portfolio of exploration properties in South America and Mexico. Upon emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization on March 24, 2009, the Company became the successor to Apex Silver Mines Limited ("ASML") for purposes of reporting under the U.S. federal securities laws. Upon emergence from the Chapter 11 reorganization and as required by U.S. GAAP and per the guidance of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 805, "Business Combinations", ("ASC 805"), and ASC 852, "Reorganizations" ("ASC852"), the Company applied fresh start accounting and adjusted all of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities to their respective fair values based on the Company's reorganization value. The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under which an entity is considered to be able to realize its assets and satisfy its liabilities in the normal course of business. However, the continuing operations of the Company are dependent upon its ability to secure sufficient funding and to generate future profitable operations. The underlying value and recoverability of the amounts shown as mineral properties in the consolidated balance sheet are dependent on the ability of the Company to generate positive cash flow from operations and to continue to fund exploration and development activities that would lead to profitable production or proceeds from the disposition of the mineral properties. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in generating future profitable operations or securing additional funding in the future on terms acceptable to the Company or at all.

1. Operations

Golden Minerals Company (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, completed a business combination (the "Transaction") on September 2, 2011 with ECU Silver Mining Inc. ("ECU"). The primary asset acquired in the Transaction was the 100% interest in the Velardeña and Chicago precious metals mining operations in Mexico (the "Velardeña Operations") (see Note 24). The Company is primarily engaged in the operation and further development of the Velardeña Operations, the continued advancement of its El Quevar advanced exploration property in Argentina, and the continued rationalization of our portfolio of exploration properties in South America and Mexico.

Upon emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization on March 24, 2009, the Company became the successor to Apex Silver Mines Limited ("ASML") for purposes of reporting under the U.S. federal securities laws. Upon emergence from the Chapter 11 reorganization and as required by U.S. GAAP and per the guidance of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 805, "Business Combinations", ("ASC 805"), and ASC 852, "Reorganizations" ("ASC852"), the Company applied fresh start accounting and adjusted all of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities to their respective fair values based on the Company's reorganization value.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under which an entity is considered to be able to realize its assets and satisfy its liabilities in the normal course of business. However, the continuing operations of the Company are dependent upon its ability to secure sufficient funding and to generate future profitable operations. The underlying value and recoverability of the amounts shown as mineral properties in the consolidated balance sheet are dependent on the ability of the Company to generate positive cash flow from operations and to continue to fund exploration and development activities that would lead to profitable production or proceeds from the disposition of the mineral properties. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in generating future profitable operations or securing additional funding in the future on terms acceptable to the Company or at all.