Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	9. Commitments and Contingencies: In acquiring its interests in mineral claims and leases, Solitario has entered into lease agreements, which may be canceled at its option without penalty. Solitario is required to make minimum rental and option payments in order to maintain its interests in certain claims and leases. See Note 2, “Mineral Properties,” above. Solitario estimates its 2019 property rentals and option payments for properties Solitario owns or operate to be approximately $729,000. Assuming that Solitario’s joint ventures continue in their current status and that Solitario does not appreciably change its property positions on existing properties, approximately $712,000 of these annual payments are paid or are reimbursable to us by Solitario’s joint venture partners. In addition, Solitario may be required to make further payments in the future enters into new agreements. Solitario has recorded an asset retirement obligation of $125,000 related to its Lik project in Alaska. See Note 2, “Mineral Properties,” above. Solitario leases office space under a non-cancelable operating lease for the Wheat Ridge, Colorado office which provides for total minimum annual rent payments of $43,000 through March of 2021. In August of 2018, Solitario agreed to fund a portion of a 2018 – 2019 drilling program at the Florida Canyon project. Per the agreement, Solitario will fund up to $1,580,000 of a planned 41-hole 17,000-meter drilling program to be conducted through December 31, 2019 (the “Drilling Program”). Upon Nexa completing the first 1,700 meters of the Drilling Program, Solitario will pay Nexa $527,000, upon completion of the next 1,700 meters (3,400 meters total) of the Drilling Program, Solitario will pay Nexa $527,000, and upon completion of the next 1,700 meters (5,100 meters total) of the Drilling Program, Solitario will pay Nexa the balance remaining on its $1,580,000 funding commitment, or $526,000. Solitario has no obligation to pay Nexa prior to the attainment of the separate 1,700-meter thresholds. The funding commitments are in the form of an advance on Solitario’s commitment to fund 30% of any future development of Florida Canyon under the existing joint venture agreement with Nexa. Accordingly, in the event Florida Canyon is developed, which cannot be assured at this time, any funds paid to Nexa under this agreement, will reduce the amount of Solitario’s obligation to fund 30% of future development costs, and / or repay loans from Nexa for future development costs at the Florida Canyon project. As of December 31, 2018, Nexa had completed four holes and a total of 2,203 meters under the Drilling Program, and Solitario has recorded an account payable to Nexa of $527,000 and recorded a charge to exploration expense of $527,000, should Nexa complete the remaining 2,897 meters (5,100 meters less the completed 2,203 meters) during 2019, Solitario will be obligated to pay Nexa $1,053,000 in addition to its currently recorded account payable of $527,000 during 2019.

Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

9. Commitments and Contingencies:

In acquiring its interests in mineral claims and leases, Solitario has entered into lease agreements, which may be canceled at its option without penalty. Solitario is required to make minimum rental and option payments in order to maintain its interests in certain claims and leases. See Note 2, “Mineral Properties,” above. Solitario estimates its 2019 property rentals and option payments for properties Solitario owns or operate to be approximately $729,000. Assuming that Solitario’s joint ventures continue in their current status and that Solitario does not appreciably change its property positions on existing properties, approximately $712,000 of these annual payments are paid or are reimbursable to us by Solitario’s joint venture partners. In addition, Solitario may be required to make further payments in the future enters into new agreements.

Solitario has recorded an asset retirement obligation of $125,000 related to its Lik project in Alaska. See Note 2, “Mineral Properties,” above.

Solitario leases office space under a non-cancelable operating lease for the Wheat Ridge, Colorado office which provides for total minimum annual rent payments of $43,000 through March of 2021.

In August of 2018, Solitario agreed to fund a portion of a 2018 – 2019 drilling program at the Florida Canyon project. Per the agreement, Solitario will fund up to $1,580,000 of a planned 41-hole 17,000-meter drilling program to be conducted through December 31, 2019 (the “Drilling Program”). Upon Nexa completing the first 1,700 meters of the Drilling Program, Solitario will pay Nexa $527,000, upon completion of the next 1,700 meters (3,400 meters total) of the Drilling Program, Solitario will pay Nexa $527,000, and upon completion of the next 1,700 meters (5,100 meters total) of the Drilling Program, Solitario will pay Nexa the balance remaining on its $1,580,000 funding commitment, or $526,000. Solitario has no obligation to pay Nexa prior to the attainment of the separate 1,700-meter thresholds. The funding commitments are in the form of an advance on Solitario’s commitment to fund 30% of any future development of Florida Canyon under the existing joint venture agreement with Nexa. Accordingly, in the event Florida Canyon is developed, which cannot be assured at this time, any funds paid to Nexa under this agreement, will reduce the amount of Solitario’s obligation to fund 30% of future development costs, and / or repay loans from Nexa for future development costs at the Florida Canyon project. As of December 31, 2018, Nexa had completed four holes and a total of 2,203 meters under the Drilling Program, and Solitario has recorded an account payable to Nexa of $527,000 and recorded a charge to exploration expense of $527,000, should Nexa complete the remaining 2,897 meters (5,100 meters less the completed 2,203 meters) during 2019, Solitario will be obligated to pay Nexa $1,053,000 in addition to its currently recorded account payable of $527,000 during 2019.