Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	May 04, 2021
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2021
Entity Registrant Name	Golden Minerals Co
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	AUMN
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		162,469,612
Entity Central Index Key	0001011509
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false