Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	8. Income Taxes Solitario accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740. Under ASC 740, income taxes are provided for the tax effects of transactions reported in the financial statements and consist of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes related to certain income and expenses recognized in different periods for financial and income tax reporting purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the future tax return consequences of those differences, which will either be taxable or deductible when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. Deferred taxes are also recognized for operating losses and tax credits that are available to offset future taxable income and income taxes, respectively. A valuation allowance is provided if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. At September 30, 2015 Solitario has recorded a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets and has no net asset or liability for federal and state taxes. Solitario does not expect to have any 2015 current income taxes payable due to 2015 tax losses from continuing operations, loss carryforwards and the realization of previously unrecognized tax basis in Brazilian and Bolivian subsidiaries, which collectively, are sufficient to offset the gain resulting from the Transaction. The realization of the tax benefit associated with the excess tax basis in these foreign subsidiaries results from Solitario’s disposal of the subsidiaries during the fourth quarter of 2015. No book loss will result from the disposition of these subsidiaries as all of the underlying property bases had been expensed in prior years for financial reporting purposes. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, Solitario recorded $997,000 of income tax expense resulting primarily from: (a) $1,558,000 of tax expense related to the clearing of a disproportionate tax effect lodged in other comprehensive income; and (b) $561,000 of tax benefit related to current year losses. The disproportionate tax effect in other comprehensive income was cleared due to Solitario's disposition of substantially all of the associated available for sale securities. As discussed in note 1, the Transaction resulted in a $13,307,000 before tax gain reported in discontinued operations. Solitario recorded $561,000 of tax expense in discontinued operations resulting from the following: (a) $5,025,000 of tax expense associated with the gain; and (b) $4,464,000 of tax benefit associated with the realization of the excess tax basis in the foreign subsidiaries. At December 31, 2014, primarily as a result of the its net operating loss carry-forwards exceeding the any accumulated deferred tax liabilities, Solitario has recorded a valuation allowance equal to its net deferred tax assets. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, Solitario recorded no deferred tax benefit as result of the valuation allowance discussed above.

Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

8. Income Taxes

Solitario accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740. Under ASC 740, income taxes are provided for the tax effects of transactions reported in the financial statements and consist of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes related to certain income and expenses recognized in different periods for financial and income tax reporting purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the future tax return consequences of those differences, which will either be taxable or deductible when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. Deferred taxes are also recognized for operating losses and tax credits that are available to offset future taxable income and income taxes, respectively. A valuation allowance is provided if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

At September 30, 2015 Solitario has recorded a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets and has no net asset or liability for federal and state taxes. Solitario does not expect to have any 2015 current income taxes payable due to 2015 tax losses from continuing operations, loss carryforwards and the realization of previously unrecognized tax basis in Brazilian and Bolivian subsidiaries, which collectively, are sufficient to offset the gain resulting from the Transaction. The realization of the tax benefit associated with the excess tax basis in these foreign subsidiaries results from Solitario’s disposal of the subsidiaries during the fourth quarter of 2015. No book loss will result from the disposition of these subsidiaries as all of the underlying property bases had been expensed in prior years for financial reporting purposes.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, Solitario recorded $997,000 of income tax expense resulting primarily from: (a) $1,558,000 of tax expense related to the clearing of a disproportionate tax effect lodged in other comprehensive income; and (b) $561,000 of tax benefit related to current year losses. The disproportionate tax effect in other comprehensive income was cleared due to Solitario's disposition of substantially all of the associated available for sale securities.

As discussed in note 1, the Transaction resulted in a $13,307,000 before tax gain reported in discontinued operations. Solitario recorded $561,000 of tax expense in discontinued operations resulting from the following: (a) $5,025,000 of tax expense associated with the gain; and (b) $4,464,000 of tax benefit associated with the realization of the excess tax basis in the foreign subsidiaries.

At December 31, 2014, primarily as a result of the its net operating loss carry-forwards exceeding the any accumulated deferred tax liabilities, Solitario has recorded a valuation allowance equal to its net deferred tax assets. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, Solitario recorded no deferred tax benefit as result of the valuation allowance discussed above.