12. Business Segments (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Properties, plants and equipment, net	$ 11,843,592	$ 10,576,406
Total Assets	14,709,103	14,442,908
United States Antimony [Member]
Properties, plants and equipment, net	1,924,444	1,889,859
Total Assets	3,207,678	3,941,460
Mexico Antimony [Member]
Properties, plants and equipment, net	8,204,896	6,969,622
Total Assets	9,275,531	8,166,318
Subtotal Antimony [Member]
Properties, plants and equipment, net	10,129,340	8,859,481
Total Assets	12,483,209	12,107,778
Zeolite [Member]
Properties, plants and equipment, net	1,714,252	1,716,925
Total Assets	$ 2,225,894	$ 2,335,130

Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.13)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 8

-Article 7

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant