9. Joint Venture Arrangements (Details)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
New Jersey Mill
Cost Method Investments, Additional Information	New Jersey Mill Venture Agreement (“NJMJV”) In January 2011, the Company and United Mine Services, Inc. (“UMS”) entered into an agreement relating to the New Jersey mineral processing plant. To earn a 35 percent interest in the venture, UMS provided $3.2 million funding to expand the processing plant to 15 tonnes/hr. The Company is the operator of the venture and charges operating costs to UMS for milling its ore up to 7,000 tonnes/month, retain a milling capacity of 3,000 tonnes/month, and as the operator of the venture receive a fee of $2.50/tonne milled. UMS subsequently dissolved and its interest in the mill was transferred to Crescent Silver, LLC (Crescent). As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, an account receivable existed with the Mill Joint Venture from Crescent for $2,888 and $3,109 respectively. To date, no ore has been processed under this joint venture arrangement.
Butte Highlands
Cost Method Investments, Additional Information	Butte Highlands Joint Venture On January 29, 2016, the Company purchased a 50% interest in Butte Highlands JV, LLC (“BHJV”) from Timberline Resources Corporation for $225,000 in cash and 3,000,000 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $210,000 for a total consideration of $435,000. Highland Mining, LLC (“Highland”) is the other 50% owner and manager of the joint venture. Under the agreement, Highland will fund all future project exploration and mine development costs. The Agreement stipulates that Highland is manager of BHJV and will manage BHJV until such time as all mine development costs, less $2 million are distributed to Highland out of the proceeds from future mine production. The Company has determined that because it does not currently have significant influence over the joint venture’s activities, it will account for its investment on a cost basis. The Company purchased the interest in the BHJV to provide additional opportunities for exploration and development and expand the Company’s mineral property portfolio.

9. Joint Venture Arrangements (Details)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Cost Method Investments, Additional Information

New Jersey Mill Venture Agreement (“NJMJV”) In January 2011, the Company and United Mine Services, Inc. (“UMS”) entered into an agreement relating to the New Jersey mineral processing plant. To earn a 35 percent interest in the venture, UMS provided $3.2 million funding to expand the processing plant to 15 tonnes/hr. The Company is the operator of the venture and charges operating costs to UMS for milling its ore up to 7,000 tonnes/month, retain a milling capacity of 3,000 tonnes/month, and as the operator of the venture receive a fee of $2.50/tonne milled. UMS subsequently dissolved and its interest in the mill was transferred to Crescent Silver, LLC (Crescent). As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, an account receivable existed with the Mill Joint Venture from Crescent for $2,888 and $3,109 respectively. To date, no ore has been processed under this joint venture arrangement.

Butte Highlands

Cost Method Investments, Additional Information

Butte Highlands Joint Venture On January 29, 2016, the Company purchased a 50% interest in Butte Highlands JV, LLC (“BHJV”) from Timberline Resources Corporation for $225,000 in cash and 3,000,000 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $210,000 for a total consideration of $435,000. Highland Mining, LLC (“Highland”) is the other 50% owner and manager of the joint venture. Under the agreement, Highland will fund all future project exploration and mine development costs. The Agreement stipulates that Highland is manager of BHJV and will manage BHJV until such time as all mine development costs, less $2 million are distributed to Highland out of the proceeds from future mine production. The Company has determined that because it does not currently have significant influence over the joint venture’s activities, it will account for its investment on a cost basis. The Company purchased the interest in the BHJV to provide additional opportunities for exploration and development and expand the Company’s mineral property portfolio.