Segment Information (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)
Segment Information
Number of reportable segments | segment			2
Revenue	$ 2,512,000	$ 5,268,000	$ 11,702,000	$ 18,700,000
Costs Applicable to Sales	3,347,000	4,374,000	11,225,000	13,335,000
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	148,000	89,000	380,000	241,000
Exploration, El Quevar, Velardena and Administrative Expense	2,238,000	3,818,000	7,896,000	11,795,000
Pre-Tax (gain) loss	3,177,000	2,743,000	7,931,000	5,916,000
Total Assets	12,304,000	18,549,000	$ 12,304,000	18,549,000	$ 14,944,000
Capital Expenditures		19,000		46,000
Mexico Operations
Segment Information
Number of reportable segments | segment			1
Revenue	2,512,000	5,268,000	$ 11,702,000	18,700,000
Costs Applicable to Sales	3,347,000	4,374,000	11,225,000	13,335,000
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	145,000	77,000	368,000	204,000
Exploration, El Quevar, Velardena and Administrative Expense	753,000	1,878,000	2,907,000	5,815,000
Pre-Tax (gain) loss	1,896,000	1,097,000	3,041,000	14,000
Total Assets	7,727,000	9,084,000	7,727,000	9,084,000
Capital Expenditures		17,000		43,000
Corporate, Exploration and Other
Segment Information
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	3,000	12,000	12,000	37,000
Exploration, El Quevar, Velardena and Administrative Expense	1,485,000	1,940,000	4,989,000	5,980,000
Pre-Tax (gain) loss	1,281,000	1,646,000	4,890,000	5,902,000
Total Assets	$ 4,577,000	9,465,000	$ 4,577,000	9,465,000
Capital Expenditures		$ 2,000		$ 3,000