Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Operating activities:
Net loss	$ (451)	$ (535)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments	(82)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives	(32)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfDerivatives
Depreciation and amortization	3us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	3us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Loss on equity method investment		125
(Gain) loss on warrant liability	(49)	260
Employee stock option expense	157us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense	56us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
Deferred income tax benefit		(100)
Gain on equity security sales		(300)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8	69
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	11	(34)
Net cash (used in) operating activities	(403)	(488)
Investing activities:
Additions to mineral properties	(222)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProjects	(535)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireProjects
Sale of derivative instrument, net	84	36
Proceeds from sale of marketable equity securities		350
Other assets, net	1	11
Net cash used in investing activities	(137)	(138)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock , net		1,630
Short-term borrowing (net)		(802)us-gaap_ProceedsFromShortTermDebt
Payment to noncontrolling interest		(250)us-gaap_PaymentsToMinorityShareholders
Net cash provided by financing activities		578
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(540)	(48)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	869	2,092
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	329	2,044
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, capitalized to mineral property	66us-gaap_InterestPaid	50us-gaap_InterestPaid
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities:
Capitalized non-cash interest	103us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized	103us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized
Issuance of stock to noncontrolling interest		75
Issuance of stock to settle severance liability		$ 45

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This item represents the difference between the gross realized gains and losses realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt and equity securities.