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Other Investments (Summarizes Our Investment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Sale of Midas Gold Shares, net of costs to sell	$ (2,772)us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfOtherInvestments	$ (10,560)us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfOtherInvestments
Midas Gold shares held at the end of the period	82,390,217us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding		82,390,217us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
Midas Gold Shares [Member]
Fair value at beginning of period	6,163us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = vgz_MidasGoldSharesMember	20,990us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = vgz_MidasGoldSharesMember	20,990us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = vgz_MidasGoldSharesMember
Sale of Midas Gold Shares, net of costs to sell	(2,772)us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfOtherInvestments / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = vgz_MidasGoldSharesMember		(10,560)us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfOtherInvestments / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = vgz_MidasGoldSharesMember
Unrealized gain/(loss) based on the fair value at the end of the period	(738)us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesUnrealizedHoldingGainLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = vgz_MidasGoldSharesMember		(4,267)us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesUnrealizedHoldingGainLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = vgz_MidasGoldSharesMember
Fair value at end of period	2,653us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = vgz_MidasGoldSharesMember		6,163us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = vgz_MidasGoldSharesMember
Estimated tax benefit/(expense) for the period	$ 122us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesIncomeTaxExpenseOnChangeInUnrealizedHoldingGainOrLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = vgz_MidasGoldSharesMember		$ 1,478us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesIncomeTaxExpenseOnChangeInUnrealizedHoldingGainOrLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = vgz_MidasGoldSharesMember
Midas Gold shares held at the end of the period	7,802,615us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = vgz_MidasGoldSharesMember		15,802,615us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = vgz_MidasGoldSharesMember

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Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

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