CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive income (loss)	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 534	$ 484,742	$ (477,378)	$ (127)	$ 7,771
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	53,335,333
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock compensation accrued and shares issued for vested stock awards	$ 2	250			252
Stock compensation accrued and shares issued for vested stock awards (in shares)	317,968
Shares issued on conversion of Sentient Note	$ 273	6,944			7,217
Shares issued on conversion of Sentient Note (in shares)	27,366,740
Common stock, new issue	$ 80	3,519			3,599
Common stock, new issue (in shares)	8,000,000
Unrealized (loss) gain on securities				182	182
Net loss			(10,659)		(10,659)
Balance (ASU 2017-11 Earnings Per Share) at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 889	514,501	(505,185)	55	10,260
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 889	495,455	(488,037)	55	8,362
Balance (in shares) (ASU 2017-11 Earnings Per Share) at Dec. 31, 2016	89,020,041
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	89,020,041
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Cumulative adjustment related to change in accounting principle | Cumulative Effect Adjustment | ASU 2017-11 Earnings Per Share		19,046	(17,148)		1,898
Stock compensation accrued and shares issued for vested stock awards	$ 1	149			150
Stock compensation accrued and shares issued for vested stock awards (in shares)	150,000
Common stock, new issue	$ 11	671			682
Common stock, new issue (in shares)	1,024,392
Consideration shares sold to Hecla, net	$ 18	911			929
Consideration shares sold to Hecla, net (in shares)	1,811,015
Unrealized (loss) gain on securities				(92)	(92)
Deemed dividend on warrants		5	(5)
Net loss			(1,851)		(1,851)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2017	$ 919	$ 516,237	$ (507,041)	$ (37)	$ 10,078
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2017	92,005,448