MINERAL PROPERTY EXPENDITURES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Total expense for the period	$ 634	$ 782
Temrezli Project, Turkey [Member]
Total expense for the period		79
Total Turkey Projects [Member]
Total expense for the period		79
Kingsville Dome Project, Texas [Member]
Total expense for the period	244	251
Rosita Project, Texas [Member]
Total expense for the period	117	197
Vasquez Project, Texas [Member]
Total expense for the period	186	235
Other Projects, Texas [Member]
Total expense for the period		6
Total Texas Projects [Member]
Total expense for the period	547	689
Juan Tafoya Project, New Mexico [Member]
Total expense for the period	6	6
Total New Mexico Projects [Member]
Total expense for the period	6	6
Columbus Basin Project, Nevada [Member]
Total expense for the period		2
Railroad Valley Project, Nevada [Member]
Total expense for the period		4
Total Nevada Projects [Member]
Total expense for the period		6
Sal Rica Project, Utah [Member]
Total expense for the period	1	2
Total Utah Projects [Member]
Total expense for the period	1	$ 2
Coosa Project, Alabama [Member]
Total expense for the period	80
Total Alabama Projects [Member]
Total expense for the period	$ 80