Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (3,431)	$ (5,658)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Amortization and depreciation	1,359	846
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	52	49
Decrease in warrant liability	(650)aumn_IncreaseDecreaseInWarrantLiability
Foreign currency gain on loss contingency	(45)	(5)
Asset write off	2us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	92us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Write off of loss contingencies	(880)us-gaap_LossContingencyLossInPeriod	(387)us-gaap_LossContingencyLossInPeriod
Gain on sale of assets, net	(89)us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets	(1)us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets
Stock compensation	179us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	330us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in trade accounts receivable	(92)	25
Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets	100	164
Decrease in inventories	154us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	63us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories
Decrease (increase) in value added tax receivable, net	367	(78)
Decrease in reclamation liability	(3)	(110)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	335	529
Increase (decrease) in deferred leasehold payments	(2)	21
Net cash used in operating activities	$ (2,644)	$ (4,120)

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The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the deferred leasehold payments.

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The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the value added tax receivable, net.

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Represents the amount of increase (decrease) in the warrant liability during the reporting period.

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Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

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Amount of accretion expense recognized during the period that is associated with an asset retirement obligation. Accretion expense measures and incorporates changes due to the passage of time into the carrying amount of the liability.

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The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

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Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment assets, excluding oil and gas property and timber property.

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The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the amounts payable to vendors for goods and services received and the amount of obligations and expenses incurred but not paid.

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The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in amount due within one year (or one business cycle) from customers for the credit sale of goods and services.

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The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the aggregate value of all inventory held by the reporting entity, associated with underlying transactions that are classified as operating activities.

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The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the value of prepaid expenses and other assets not separately disclosed in the statement of cash flows, for example, deferred expenses, intangible assets, or income taxes.

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The amount of loss pertaining to the specified contingency that was charged against earnings in the period, including the effects of revisions in previously reported estimates.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities, excluding discontinued operations. Operating activity cash flows include transactions, adjustments, and changes in value not defined as investing or financing activities.

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Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

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The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock or unit options, amortization of restricted stock or units, and adjustment for officers' compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

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