SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 22, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Reverse Stock Split
Reverse stock split ratio	0.1
Common stock outstanding before reverse stock split (in shares)		161,100,000
Common stock, shares outstanding		16,150,163	9,400,501
Results of operations		$ (15,624,373)	$ (11,199,397)	$ (10,354,567)
Retained earnings		(162,201,908)	(146,577,535)
Additional disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid during the period for interest		14,100	19,000	25,400
Non-cash transactions
Common stock issued to acquire Neutron Energy, Inc.		16,577,000
Common stock issued for loan origination fees		160,000
Capital lease additions		106,200
Common stock issued for deferred compensation			697,027
Restricted common stock issued for services		39	17	28
Restricted share issuance of Common Stock in connection with a cash conservation plan				106,500
Restricted Cash
Certificates of deposit and money market accounts		9,491,865	9,379,794
Change in the balance of the restoration and reclamation liability
Reserve for future restoration and reclamation costs at the beginning of the period		4,735,759	5,043,645
Changes in cash flow estimates		1,444,406	1,101,234
Costs incurred		(1,767,289)	(1,530,303)
Accretion expense		85,181	121,183	155,943
Reserve for future restoration and reclamation costs at the end of the period		4,498,057	4,735,759	5,043,645
Contingent Liabilities-Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
Amount of bank Letters of Credit and performance bonds issued		8,707,000
Earnings Per Share
Dilutive securities (in shares)		0	0	0
Potential dilutive Common Stock excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share (in shares)		403,274	454,885	594,714
Restatement adjustment
Reverse Stock Split
Results of operations		0
Retained earnings		$ 0