Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Contingencies
Loss contingency	$ 4,400,000	$ 4,600,000
El Quevar mining concessions (estimated)
Leases and Purchase Commitments
2014	34,000
2015	34,000
2016	34,000
2017	34,000
2018	34,000
Thereafter	0
Lease payments	34,000	28,000
El Quevar mining concessions (estimated) | Expected payments
Leases and Purchase Commitments
Thereafter	34,000
Velardena mining concessions (estimated)
Leases and Purchase Commitments
2014	12,000
2015	12,000
2016	12,000
2017	12,000
2018	12,000
Thereafter	0
Lease payments	9,000	23,000
Velardena mining concessions (estimated) | Expected payments
Leases and Purchase Commitments
Thereafter	11,800
Office space
Leases and Purchase Commitments
2014	397,000
2015	270,000
2016	242,000
2017	248,000
2018	255,000
Thereafter	239,000
Lease payments	257,000	305,000
Reduction in space (as a percent)	46.00%
Reduction in cost (as a percent)	44.00%
Dedicated communications link
Leases and Purchase Commitments
2014	84,000
2015	70,000
Future monthly payments	7,000
Purchase option agreement
Leases and Purchase Commitments
2014	$ 550,000