Shareholders Equity, Comprehensive Loss and Non-Controlling Interest - (Details) (USD $)	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings / Accumulated Deficit	Other Comprehensive Income / Loss	TotalSolitarioShareholderEquityMember	Noncontrolling Interest	ContraNoncontrollingInterestMember	Total
Beginning balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2011	34,204,958
Beginning balance, Value	$ 342,000	$ 49,015,000	$ (39,381,000)	$ 5,877,000	$ 15,853,000	$ (1,640,000)	$ (340,000)	$ 13,873,000
Issuance of shares and $150 cash to noncontrolling shareholder for future earn-in, Value		41,000			41,000		(191,000)	(150,000)
Issuance of shares and $150 cash to noncontrolling shareholder for future earn-in, Shares	25,000
Noncontrolling interest contribution						99,000		99,000
Loan to noncontrolling interest						(49,000)		(49,000)
Record reversal of contra noncontrolling interest on earn-in						(531,000)	531,000
Record interest on advance to noncontrolling interest (net)						(8,000)		(8,000)
Disproportionate share entry on earn-in		(2,983,000)			(2,983,000)	2,983,000
Stock option expense		174,000			174,000			174,000
Comprehensive income:
Net loss			(670,000)		(670,000)	(192,000)		(862,000)
Net unrealized loss on marketable equity securities (net of tax of $529)				(889,000)	(889,000)			(889,000)
Comprehensive loss					(1,559,000)	(192,000)		(1,751,000)
Ending balance, Value	342,000	46,247,000	(40,051,000)	4,988,000	11,526,000	662,000		12,188,000
Ending balance, Shares at Mar. 31, 2012	34,229,958
Beginning balance, Value	342,000	46,247,000	(40,051,000)	4,988,000	11,526,000	662,000		12,188,000
Stock option expense		175,000			175,000			175,000
Issuance of common stock, Value	3,000	272,000			275,000			275,000
Issuance of common stock, Shares	225,000
Record forgiveness of interest on advance to noncontrolling interest						26,000		26,000
Comprehensive income:
Net loss			(385,000)		(385,000)	(75,000)		(460,000)
Net unrealized loss on marketable equity securities (net of tax of $1,011)				(1,700,000)	(1,700,000)			(1,700,000)
Comprehensive loss					(2,085,000)	(75,000)		(2,160,000)
Ending balance, Value	345,000	46,694,000	(40,436,000)	3,288,000	9,891,000	613,000		10,504,000
Ending balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2012	34,454,958
Beginning balance, Value	345,000	46,694,000	(40,436,000)	3,288,000	9,891,000	613,000		10,504,000
Issuance of shares and $150 cash to noncontrolling shareholder for future earn-in, Value		30,000			30,000	(180,000)		(150,000)
Issuance of shares and $150 cash to noncontrolling shareholder for future earn-in, Shares	25,000
Stock option expense		174,000			174,000			174,000
Repayment of loan by noncontrolling interest						131,000		131,000
Comprehensive income:
Net loss			(1,359,000)		(1,359,000)	(19,000)		(1,378,000)
Net unrealized gain on marketable equity securities (net of tax of $576)				968,000	968,000			968,000
Comprehensive loss					(391,000)	(19,000)		(410,000)
Ending balance, Value	$ 345,000	$ 46,898,000	$ (41,795,000)	$ 4,256,000	$ 9,704,000	$ 545,000		$ 10,249,000
Ending balance, Shares at Sep. 30, 2012	34,479,958