Represents the number of claims related to the exploration property that were sold by the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	aumn_ExplorationPropertyNumberOfClaimsSold
Namespace Prefix:	aumn_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the area of claims related to the exploration property sold by the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aumn_ExplorationPropertySalesAreaOfClaims
Namespace Prefix:	aumn_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the distance of the claims related to the exploration property from southwest of the city of Fresnillo.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aumn_ExplorationPropertySalesDistanceOfClaimsFromSouthwestOfCityOfFresnillo
Namespace Prefix:	aumn_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of exploration subsidiaries of which ownership interest was sold by the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aumn_NumberOfExplorationSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix:	aumn_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of ownership interest sold in subsidiary.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aumn_OwnershipInterestSoldPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	aumn_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the deconsolidation of a previously consolidated subsidiary or the sale of investment in consolidated subsidiaries (generally greater than 50 percent).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 16

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3179-108585

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 15

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfInterestInConsolidatedSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from the sale of property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 16

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 15

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfProductiveAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Nov. 30, 2012 Subsequent event Exploraciones Mineras Parrena km item ha	Oct. 31, 2012 Subsequent event Silex Bolivia S.A. and Minera Memisa S.A. Subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation item
Subsequent Event
Percentage of ownership interest sold in subsidiary				100.00%
Number of exploration subsidiaries				2
Proceeds from sale of interest in subsidiary				$ 250,000
Number of claims related to exploration property sold			4
Area of claims related to exploration property sold (in hectares)			16,000
Distance of claims related to exploration property from southwest of the city of Fresnillo (in kilometers)			40
Sale price of exploration property	$ 2,535,000	$ 404,000	$ 1,700,000