CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cost of uranium sales:
Operating expenses	$ 2,564,827	$ 648,278	$ 394,763
Mineral property expenses	4,229,338	(115,637)	1,450,798
Accretion/amortization of asset retirement obligations	85,181	121,183	155,943
Depreciation and depletion	396,246	599,504	756,377
Impairment of uranium properties	1,737,359	1,460,170	961,278
Total cost of uranium sales	9,012,951	2,713,498	3,719,159
Loss from operations before corporate expenses	(9,012,951)	(2,713,498)	(3,719,159)
Corporate expenses:
General and administrative (includes stock compensation expense of $427,000, $884,000 and $1,032,000 in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively)	10,399,084	8,400,955	8,286,672
Depreciation	160,747	127,741	143,361
Total corporate expenses	10,559,831	8,528,696	8,430,033
Loss from operations	(19,572,782)	(11,242,194)	(12,149,192)
Other income and expense:
Interest expense	(50,880)	(18,968)	(25,362)
Interest and other income, net	262,809	195,320	370,835
Net loss	$ (19,360,853)	$ (11,065,842)	$ (11,803,719)
Basic and diluted net loss per common share (in dollars per share)	$ (1.58)	$ (1.18)	$ (1.63)
Average weighted shares outstanding (in shares)	12,237,349	9,348,053	7,231,346