Employee Stock Compensation Plans	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Employee Stock Compensation Plans	9. Employee stock compensation plans Solitario’s outstanding options on the date of grant have a five year term, and vest 25% on date of grant and 25% on each of the next three anniversary dates. Solitario recognizes stock option compensation expense on the date of grant for 25% of the grant date fair value, and subsequently, based upon a straight line amortization of the unvested grant date fair value of each of its outstanding options. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 Solitario recorded $157,000 and $470,000, respectively, of stock option expense for the amortization of grant date fair value with a credit to additional paid-in-capital. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 Solitario recorded $511,000 and $622,000, respectively, of stock option expense for the amortization of grant date fair value with a credit to additional paid-in-capital. The 2006 Plan On June 27, 2006 Solitario’s shareholders approved the 2006 Stock Option Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”). Under the terms of the 2006 Plan, the Board of Directors may grant up to 2,800,000 options to directors, officers and employees with exercise prices equal to the market price of Solitario’s common stock at the date of grant. There were no new options granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, Solitario granted options to acquire 1,990,000 shares with an exercise price of Cdn$1.60 per share. No options were exercised during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 or 2014. The 2013 Plan On June 18, 2013 Solitario’s shareholders approved the 2013 Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp. Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”). Under the terms of the 2013 Plan, a total of up to 1,750,000 shares of common stock are reserved for issuance of awards that may be granted to directors, officers, employees and consultants. Such awards may take the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, and restricted stock units. The terms and conditions of any awards are in accordance with the terms of the 2013 Plan and are granted by the Board of Directors or a committee appointed by the Board of Directors. No stock awards were made under the 2013 Plan during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. During the three months ended September 30, 2014, no stock awards were made under the 2013 Plan. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, Solitario granted restricted stock units from the 2013 Plan for a total of 50,562 shares, which were vested upon grant to two former employees as part of their severance pay upon the employees’ termination from the Company. There were no exercises of options under the 2013 Plan during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

Employee Stock Compensation Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

9. Employee stock compensation plans

Solitario’s outstanding options on the date of grant have a five year term, and vest 25% on date of grant and 25% on each of the next three anniversary dates. Solitario recognizes stock option compensation expense on the date of grant for 25% of the grant date fair value, and subsequently, based upon a straight line amortization of the unvested grant date fair value of each of its outstanding options. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 Solitario recorded $157,000 and $470,000, respectively, of stock option expense for the amortization of grant date fair value with a credit to additional paid-in-capital. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 Solitario recorded $511,000 and $622,000, respectively, of stock option expense for the amortization of grant date fair value with a credit to additional paid-in-capital.

The 2006 Plan

On June 27, 2006 Solitario’s shareholders approved the 2006 Stock Option Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”). Under the terms of the 2006 Plan, the Board of Directors may grant up to 2,800,000 options to directors, officers and employees with exercise prices equal to the market price of Solitario’s common stock at the date of grant.

There were no new options granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, Solitario granted options to acquire 1,990,000 shares with an exercise price of Cdn$1.60 per share. No options were exercised during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 or 2014.

The 2013 Plan

On June 18, 2013 Solitario’s shareholders approved the 2013 Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp. Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”). Under the terms of the 2013 Plan, a total of up to 1,750,000 shares of common stock are reserved for issuance of awards that may be granted to directors, officers, employees and consultants. Such awards may take the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, and restricted stock units. The terms and conditions of any awards are in accordance with the terms of the 2013 Plan and are granted by the Board of Directors or a committee appointed by the Board of Directors.

No stock awards were made under the 2013 Plan during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. During the three months ended September 30, 2014, no stock awards were made under the 2013 Plan. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, Solitario granted restricted stock units from the 2013 Plan for a total of 50,562 shares, which were vested upon grant to two former employees as part of their severance pay upon the employees’ termination from the Company. There were no exercises of options under the 2013 Plan during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.