17. Business Segments (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues	$ 10,772,192us-gaap_Revenues	$ 11,020,839us-gaap_Revenues	$ 12,042,702us-gaap_Revenues
Production costs	9,103,996us-gaap_ProductionCosts	8,351,530us-gaap_ProductionCosts	9,165,121us-gaap_ProductionCosts
Depreciation and amortization	780,782	666,392	472,990
Other operating costs	2,440,303us-gaap_OtherCostOfOperatingRevenue	3,341,078us-gaap_OtherCostOfOperatingRevenue	2,723,278us-gaap_OtherCostOfOperatingRevenue
Total operating expenses	12,325,081us-gaap_OperatingCostsAndExpenses	12,359,000us-gaap_OperatingCostsAndExpenses	12,361,389us-gaap_OperatingCostsAndExpenses
Income (loss) from operations	(1,552,889)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(1,338,171)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(318,687)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Other income (expense):	(42,566)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense	(73,548)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense	(72,742)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense
Income (loss) before income taxes	(1,595,455)	(1,411,719)	(391,429)
Income tax (expense)	0us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(229,451)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(167,107)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(1,595,455)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	(1,641,170)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	(558,536)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Antimony [Member]
Revenues	858,035	8,786,415	9,398,003
Production costs	4,896,283	4,592,019	5,665,806
Depreciation and amortization	1,648,288	61,574	40,979
Other operating costs	1,648,288	1,699,846	1,852,289
Total operating expenses	6,608,358	6,353,439	7,559,074
Income (loss) from operations	1,971,677	2,432,976	1,838,929
Other income (expense):	(38,304)	(61,937)	(61,321)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,933,373	2,371,039	1,777,608
Income tax (expense)	0	(229,451)	(167,107)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	1,933,373	2,141,588	1,610,501
Mexico Antimony [Member]
Revenues	22,538	32,000	3,000
Production costs	3,155,486	2,662,780	1,880,499
Depreciation and amortization	230,656	386,462	222,235
Other operating costs	230,656	1,171,234	382,713
Total operating expenses	3,881,907	4,220,476	2,485,447
Income (loss) from operations	(3,859,369)	(4,188,476)	(2,482,447)
Other income (expense):	(130)	(1,735)	(30)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(3,859,499)	(4,190,211)	(2,482,477)
Income tax (expense)	0	0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(3,859,499)	(4,190,211)	(2,482,447)
Zeloite (Member)
Revenues	2,169,619	2,202,414	2,641,699
Production costs	1,052,227	1,096,731	1,618,816
Depreciation and amortization	221,230	218,356	209,776
Other operating costs	561,359	469,998	488,276
Total operating expenses	1,834,816	1,789,085	2,316,868
Income (loss) from operations	3,348,033	417,329	324,831
Other income (expense):	(4,132)	(9,876)	(11,391)
Income (loss) before income taxes	330,671	407,453	313,440
Income tax (expense)	0	0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$ 330,671	$ 407,453	$ 313,440

The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

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The capitalized costs incurred during the period (excluded from amortization) to operate and maintain wells and related equipment and facilities, including depreciation and applicable operating costs of support equipment and facilities and other costs of operating and maintaining those wells and related equipment and facilities. They become part of the cost of oil and gas produced. Examples of production costs (sometimes called lifting costs) are: costs of labor to operate the wells and related equipment and facilities; repairs and maintenance; materials, supplies, and fuel consumed and supplies utilized in operating the wells and related equipment and facilities; property taxes and insurance applicable to proved properties and wells and related equipment and facilities; severance taxes; some support equipment or facilities may serve two or more oil and gas producing activities and may also serve transportation, refining, and marketing activities. To the extent that the support equipment and facilities are used in oil and gas producing activities, their depreciation and applicable operating costs become exploration, development or production costs, as appropriate. Depreciation, depletion, and amortization of capitalized acquisition, exploration, and development costs are not production costs but also become part of the cost of oil and gas produced along with production (lifting) costs identified above.

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