Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Operating activities:
Net loss	$ (4,473,447)	$ (4,209,665)
Reconciliation of net loss to cash used in operations:
Accretion/amortization of asset retirement obligations	97,435	23,119
Depreciation and depletion	121,878	148,206
Impairment of uranium properties	279,429	268,923
Decrease in restoration and reclamation accrual	(489,153)	(430,185)
Stock compensation expense	244,985	192,818
Other non-cash items, net		609
Effect of changes in operating working capital items:
(Increase) decrease in receivables	276,801	(280,911)
(Increase) in prepaid and other current assets	(21,534)	(12,952)
Increase in payables, accrued liabilities and deferred credits	76,474	1,157,389
Net cash used in operating activities	(3,887,132)	(3,142,649)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Increase in certificates of deposit, restricted	(5,632)	(36,474)
Increase in note receivable		(917,457)
Additions to uranium properties	(15,726)	(361,426)
Net cash used in investing activities	(21,358)	(1,315,357)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on borrowings	(39,770)	(15,638)
Issuance of common stock, net	3,633,883	11,490,753
Net cash provided by financing activities	3,594,113	11,475,115
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(314,377)	7,017,109
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	4,664,596	2,890,263
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	4,350,219	9,907,372
Non-cash transactions:
Issuance of common stock for short term loan principal and interest payment	5,095,833
Issuance of common stock for services	291,500
Issuance (forfeiture) of restricted stock issued to employee	$ 48	$ (16)