Golden Minerals (AUMN) 10-Q 6 Nov 14 2014 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Nov. 06, 2014
Document and Entity Information	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'Golden Minerals Co	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001011509	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-14	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'
Entity Filer Category	'Smaller Reporting Company	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	53,022,833
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 3)	$14,955	$19,146
Trade receivables	'	25
Inventories (Note 5)	662	449
Value added tax receivable, net (Note 6)	1,394	1,765
Prepaid expenses and other assets (Note 4)	614	1,091
Total current assets	17,625	22,476
Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 7)	30,006	32,375
Prepaid expenses and other assets, non- current (Note 4)	'	30
Total assets	47,631	54,881
Current liabilities	'	'
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities (Note 8)	1,875	1,365
Other current liabilities (Note 10)	2,755	4,405
Total current liabilities	4,630	5,770
Asset retirement obligation (Note 9)	2,635	2,602
Other long term liabilities	74	53
Total liabilities	7,339	8,425
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)	'	'
Equity (Note 13)	'	'
Common stock, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 53,022,833 and 43,530,833 shares issued and outstanding for the respectivel periods	530	435
Additional paid in capital	502,701	494,647
Accumulated deficit	-462,939	-448,626
Shareholder's equity	40,292	46,456
Total liabilities and equity	$47,631	$54,881

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS	'	'
Common stock, shares outstanding	43,530,833	43,530,833

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Revenue:	'		'		'		'
Sale of metals (Note 14)	'		$500		'		$10,797
Costs and expenses:	'		'		'		'
Costs applicable to sale of metals (exclusive of depreciation shown below) (Note 14)	'		-517		'		-17,534
Exploration expense	-1,009		-1,024		-4,262		-3,788
El Quevar project expense	-489		-486		-1,244		-2,159
Velardena project expense	-2,034		-85		-2,034		-3,006
Velardena shutdown and care & maintenance costs	'		-2,218		-2,457		-4,547
Administrative expense	-782		-1,078		-3,587		-4,608
Stock based compensation	-181		-305		-768		-1,284
Reclamation and accretion expense	-50		-47		-148		-135
Impairment of long lived assets	'		'		'		-237,838
Impairment of goodwill	'		'		'		-11,180
Other operating income, net	687		-31		691		3,615
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	-751		-1,083		-2,375		-6,180
Total costs and expenses	-4,609		-6,874		-16,184		-288,644
Loss from operations	-4,609		-6,374		-16,184		-277,847
Other income and (expense):	'		'		'		'
Interest and other income, net	882		186		1,763		509
Gain (loss) on foreign currency	115		-127		108		-537
Total other income (expense)	997		59		1,871		-28
Loss from operations before income taxes	-3,612		-6,315		-14,313		-277,875
Income tax benefit	'		104		0		47,599
Net loss	-3,612		-6,211		-14,313		-230,276
Comprehensive loss, net of tax:	'		'		'		'
Unrealized gain on securities	'		'		'		90
Comprehensive loss	($3,612)		($6,211)		($14,313)		($230,186)
Net loss per common share - basic	'		'		'		'
Loss (in dollars per share)	($0.08)		($0.14)		($0.33)		($5.38)
Weighted average common stock outstanding - basic (in shares)	45,029,388	[1]	42,857,347	[1]	43,621,634	[1]	42,827,891	[1]
[1]	Potentially dilutive shares have not been included because to do so would be anti-dilutive.

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net cash used in operating activities (Note 15)	($12,147)	($23,435)
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Sale of available for sale investments	'	198
Proceeds from sale of assets	973	4,125
Capitalized costs and acquisitions of property, plant and equipment	-427	-1,471
Net cash provided by investing activities	546	2,852
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issue costs	7,410	'
Net cash provided by financing activities	7,410	'
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	-4,191	-20,583
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	19,146	44,406
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$14,955	$23,823

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME2

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $)	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Total
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$433	$493,175	($208,246)	($90)	$285,272
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	43,265,833	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'	'	'
Stock compensation accrued	2	1,472	'	'	1,474
Stock compensation accrued (in shares)	265,000	'	'	'	'
Realized gain on marketable equity securities, net of tax	'	'	'	90	90
Net loss	'	'	-240,380	'	-240,380
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	435	494,647	-448,626	'	46,456
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	43,530,833	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'	'	'
Stock compensation accrued	'	768	'	'	768
KELTIP mark-to-market	'	-29	'	'	-29
Registered offering stock units, net	37	2,702	'	'	2,739
Registered offering stock units, net (in shares)	3,692,000	'	'	'	'
Private placements stock units, net	58	4,613	'	'	4,671
Private placements stock units, net (in shares)	5,800,000	'	'	'	'
Net loss	'	'	-14,313	'	-14,313
Balance at Sep. 30, 2014	$530	$502,701	($462,939)	'	$40,292
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2014	53,022,833	'	'	'	'

Basis_of_Preparation_of_Financ

Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements and Nature of Operations	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements and Nature of Operations	'
Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements and Nature of Operations	'
	1.Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements and Nature of Operations
	Golden Minerals Company (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, has prepared these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Such rules and regulations allow the omission of certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), so long as such omissions do not render the financial statements misleading.  The year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures normally required by GAAP.
	In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial results for the periods presented. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, and filed with the SEC on February 28, 2014.
	In June 2013 the Company suspended mining and processing at its Velardeña and Chicago precious metals mining properties (the “Velardeña Properties”) in Mexico in order to conserve the asset until the Company was able to create new mining and processing plans that, at then current prices for silver and gold, indicated a sustainable cash margin.  On July 14, 2014 the Company announced that it had restarted mining at its Velardeña Properties on July 1, 2014, and on November 3, 2014 the Company began processing material from the mine.  The Company is primarily focused on the mining and the restart of processing at the Velardeña Properties and continued exploration of properties in Mexico. The Company also continues to review strategic opportunities, focusing primarily on development or operating properties in North America, including Mexico.
	The Company is considered an exploration stage company under the criteria set forth by the SEC as the Company has not yet demonstrated the existence of proven or probable reserves, as defined by the SEC Industry Guide 7, at any of the Company’s properties.  As a result, and in accordance with GAAP for exploration stage companies, all expenditures for exploration and evaluation of the Company’s properties are expensed as incurred. As such the Company’s financial statements may not be comparable to the financial statements of mining companies that do have proven and probable reserves.
	The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under which an entity is considered to be able to realize its assets and satisfy its liabilities in the normal course of business.  However, the continuing operations of the Company are dependent upon its ability to secure sufficient funding and to generate future profitable operations.  The underlying value and recoverability of the amounts shown as mineral properties in Note 7 are dependent on the ability of the Company to generate positive cash flows from operations and to continue to fund exploration and development activities that would lead to profitable mining activities or to generate proceeds from the disposition of the mineral properties.  There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in generating future profitable operations or securing additional funding in the future on terms acceptable to the Company or at all.

New_Accounting_Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
New Accounting Pronouncements	'
New Accounting Pronouncements	'
	2.New Accounting Pronouncements
	On August 27, 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40), Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern” (“ASU No. 2014-15”).  ASU No. 2014-15 will require management to evaluate whether there are conditions and events that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the financial statements are issued on both an interim and annual basis. Management will be required to provide certain footnote disclosures if it concludes that substantial doubt exists or when its plans alleviate substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. ASU No. 2014-15 becomes effective for annual periods beginning in 2016 and for interim reporting periods starting in the first quarter of 2017. The Company does not expect the adoption of this amendment to have a material impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.
	On May 28, 2014, FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. In addition, the guidance requires improved disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized and the related cash flows. ASU 2014-09 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016; early application is not permitted. The Company is evaluating the financial statement implications of adopting ASU 2014-09 but does not believe adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.
	In April 2014 the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-08 “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity” (“ASU 2014-08)”. ASU 2014-08 changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations while enhancing disclosures in this area. Under ASU 2014-08, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations will be presented as discontinued operations. Additionally, ASU 2014-08 requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide financial statement users with more information about the assets, liabilities, income, and expenses of discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 will become effective for the Company January 1, 2015. The Company does not believe the adoption of ASU 2014-08 will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
	In July 2013 the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-11 “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists” (“ASU 2013-11”), which requires an unrecognized tax benefit to be presented as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward that the entity intends to use and is available for settlement at the reporting date. ASU 2013-11 became effective for the Company January 1, 2014. The adoption of ASU 2013-11 has not had a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents_and_

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	'
	3.Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
	The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Short-term investments include investments with maturities greater than three months, but not exceeding 12 months, or highly liquid investments with maturities greater than 12 months that the Company intends to liquidate during the next 12 months for working capital needs.
	The Company determines the appropriate classification of its investments in equity securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates those classifications at each balance sheet date.  Available for sale investments are marked to market at each reporting period with changes in fair value recorded as a component of other comprehensive income (loss). If declines in fair value are deemed other than temporary, a charge is made to net income (loss) for the period.
	The Company had no short-term investments or investments in equity securities as of September 30, 2014 or December 31, 2013.

Prepaid_Expenses_and_Other_Ass

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets	'
Prepaid expenses and other assets	'
	4.Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(in thousands)
	Prepaid insurance	$	250	$	687
	Prepaid contractor fees and vendor advances	104		193
	Taxes receivable	70		96
	Recoupable deposits and other	190		115
		$	614	$	1,091
	The prepaid contractor fees and vendor advances consist of advance payments made to equipment manufacturers, contractors and suppliers primarily at the Company’s Velardeña Properties in Mexico.
	In addition, included in non-current assets at December 31, 2013 is approximately $30,000 of prepaid insurance, which was fully amortized at September 30, 2014.

Inventories

Inventories	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Inventories	'
Inventories	'
	5.Inventories
	Inventories at the Velardeña Properties at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 consist of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(in thousands)
	Material and supplies	$	662	$	449
		$	662	$	449
	The Company had no metals or in process inventories at either period as the result of the suspension of mining and processing at the Velardeña Properties in June 2013.

Value_Added_Tax_Receivable_Net

Value Added Tax Receivable, Net	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Value Added Tax Receivable, Net	'
Value Added Tax Receivable, Net	'
	6.Value Added Tax Receivable, Net
	The Company has recorded value added tax (“VAT”) paid in Mexico and related to the Velardeña Properties as a recoverable asset. Mexican tax law allows for certain VAT payments to be recovered through ongoing applications for refunds. The Company expects that the current amounts will be recovered within a one year period.
	The Company has also paid VAT related to exploration activities in Mexico and other countries which has been charged to expense as incurred because of the uncertainty of recovery.

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_N

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	'
	7.Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
	The components of property, plant and equipment are as follows:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(in thousands)
	Mineral properties	$	22,397		$	22,397
	Exploration properties	2,743			2,993
	Royalty properties	200			200
	Buildings	2,357			2,349
	Mining equipment and machinery	19,683			19,441
	Other furniture and equipment	841			1,054
	Asset retirement cost	2,002			2,087
		50,223			50,521
	Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(20,217		)	(18,146		)
		30,006			32,375
	During the quarter ended September 30, 2014 the Company sold 45 mining concessions totaling 770 hectares located in the Zacatecas District, Zacatecas State, Mexico, to Capstone Mining Group for $700,000 and recorded a $0.5 million gain on the sale.  Also in the quarter, the Company entered into an option agreement with a private party to sell its 1,100 hectare Otuzco property in Peru for $450,000.  At September 30, 2014 the Company had received $150,000 under the option agreement, with the remainder payable in 2015 if the option is maintained and exercised.  In addition, the Company sold miscellaneous surplus equipment located in Argentina during the quarter for $130,000 and recorded a nominal gain. The net gains for the above sales are reflected in other operating income, net on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
	The asset retirement cost (“ARC”) is all related to the Company’s Velardeña Properties. The decrease in the ARC during the period is related to an adjustment to the asset retirement obligation (“ARO”) (see Note 9).

Accounts_Payable_and_Other_Acc

Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities	'
Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities	'
	8.Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities
	The Company’s accounts payable and other accrued liabilities consist of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(in thousands)
	Accounts payable and accruals	$	1,159	$	717
	Accrued employee compensation and benefits	716		648
		$	1,875	$	1,365
	September 30, 2014
	Accounts payable and accruals at September 30, 2014 are primarily related to amounts due to contractors and suppliers in the amounts of approximately $0.7 million and $0.5 million related to the Company’s Velardeña Properties and corporate administrative activities, respectively.
	Accrued employee compensation and benefits at September 30, 2014 consist of $0.2 million of accrued vacation and $0.5 million related to withholding taxes and benefits payable, of which $0.2 million is related to the Velardeña Properties.
	December 31, 2013
	Accounts payable and accruals at December 31, 2013 are primarily related to amounts due to contractors and suppliers in the amounts of $0.4 million, $0.2 million and $0.1 million related to the Company’s Velardeña Properties, corporate administrative activities and exploration, respectively.
	Accrued employee compensation and benefits at December 31, 2013 consist of $0.1 million of accrued vacation payable and $0.5 million related to withholding taxes and benefits payable, of which $0.3 million is related to activities at the Velardeña Properties.
	Key Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan
	On December 13, 2013, the board of directors of the Company approved and the Company adopted the 2013 Key Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “KELTIP”), which became effective immediately. The KELTIP provides for the grant of units (“KELTIP Units”) to certain officers and key employees of the Company, which units will, once vested, entitle such officers and employees to receive an amount, in cash or in Company common stock issued pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2009 Equity Incentive Plan, measured generally by the price of the Company’s common stock on the settlement date. KELTIP Units are not an actual equity interest in the Company and are solely unfunded and unsecured obligations of the Company that are not transferable and do not provide the holder with any stockholder rights. Payment of the settlement amount of vested KELTIP Units is deferred generally until the earlier of a change of control of the Company or the date the grantee ceases to serve as an officer or employee of the Company.
	The KELTIP Units are marked to market at each reporting period. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 the Company had recorded liabilities of $110,000 and $81,000, respectively related to KELTIP Unit grants which are included in accrued employee compensation and benefits in the table above.

Asset_Retirement_Obligations

Asset Retirement Obligations	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Asset Retirement Obligations	'
Asset Retirement Obligations	'
	9.Asset Retirement Obligations
	The Company retained the services of a mining engineering firm to prepare a detailed closure plan for the Velardeña Properties. The plan was completed during the second quarter 2012 and indicated that the Company had an ARO and offsetting ARC of approximately $1.9 million. The estimated $3.5 million ARO and ARC that was recorded at the time of the acquisition of the Velardeña Properties was adjusted accordingly.
	The Company will continue to accrue additional estimated ARO amounts based on an asset retirement plan as activities requiring future reclamation and remediation occur.  During the first nine months of 2014 the Company recognized approximately $0.2 million of accretion expense and approximately $0.2 million of amortization expense related to the ARC.
	The following table summarizes activity in the Velardeña Properties ARO:
		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,
		2014			2013
		(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	2,467		$	2,080
	Changes in estimates, and other	(85		)	203
	Accretion expense	149			135
	Ending balance	$	2,531		$	2,418
	The decrease in the ARO recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 is the result of changes in assumptions related to inflation factors and discount rates used in the determination of future cash flows.
	The increase in ARO recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 relates to a change in assumption related to inflation factors used in the determination of future cash flows.  The corresponding increase in ARO was discounted using the Company’s current credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate.
	The ARO set forth on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 include approximately $0.1 million of reclamation liabilities related to activities at the El Quevar project in Argentina.

Other_Current_Liabilities

Other Current Liabilities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Other Current Liabilities	'
Other Current Liabilities	'
	10.Other Current Liabilities
	The Company recorded other current liabilities of approximately $2.8 million and $4.4 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.  The amounts are primarily related to a loss contingency on foreign withholding taxes that the government could assert are owed by the Company, acting as withholding agent, on certain interest payments made to a third party. The amounts include estimated interest, penalties and other adjustments.
	The September 30, 2014 amount also includes a net liability of approximately $0.2 million related to the Argentina tax on equity due for years 2009 through 2012 stemming from a tax audit of those years.  The amount includes interest and penalties and is net of certain VAT credits due the Company.  The tax authorities have agreed in principle to offset a portion of the $0.9 million in tax, interest and penalties with approximately $0.7 million of VAT credits due the Company.  Should the Argentina tax authorities ultimately not allow a portion or all of the VAT credits as an offset the liability could increase by as much as $0.7 million (see Note 16).

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Measurements	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	11.Fair Value Measurements
	The Company follows the guidance of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”) for financial assets and liabilities and nonfinancial assets and liabilities which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.  ASC 820 establishes a framework for measuring fair value in the form of a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs into valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels.  This hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs.  Further, financial assets and liabilities should be classified by level in their entirety based upon the lowest level of input that was significant to the fair value measurement.  The three levels of the fair value hierarchy per ASC 820 are as follows:
	Level 1:  Unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date.
	Level 2:  Quoted prices in inactive markets for identical assets or liabilities, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, or other observable inputs either directly related to the asset or liability or derived principally from corroborated observable market data.
	Level 3:  Unobservable inputs due to the fact that there is little or no market activity. This entails using assumptions in models which estimate what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
	The following table summarizes the Company’s financial assets and liabilities at fair value at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, by respective level of the fair value hierarchy:
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
		(in thousands)
	At September 30, 2014
	Assets:
	Cash equivalents	$	14,955	$	—	$	—	$	14,955
	Liabilities:
	KELTIP payable	110		—				110
		$	14,845	$	—	$	—	$	14,845
	At December 31, 2013
	Assets:
	Cash equivalents	$	19,146	$	—	$	—	$	19,146
	Trade Accounts Receivable	25		—		—		25
	Liabilities:
	KELTIP payable	81		—				81
		$	19,090	$	—	$	—	$	19,090
	The Company’s cash equivalents, comprised principally of U.S. treasury securities, are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
	The KELTIP payable is related to employee and officer compensation as discussed in Note 8 and are marked to market at the end of each period based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock resulting in a classification of Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and for the year ended December 31, 2013 there were no amounts transferred between levels and there were no changes in fair value measurement techniques.  The Company did not have any Level 2 or Level 3 financial assets or liabilities at September 30, 2014 or December 31, 2013.
	Credit Risk
	Credit risk is the risk that a third party might fail to fulfill its performance obligations under the terms of a financial instrument. For cash and cash equivalents and investments, the Company’s maximum exposure to credit risk represents the carrying amount on the balance sheet. The Company attempts to mitigate credit risk for cash and cash equivalents by placing its funds with high credit-quality financial institutions, limiting the amount of exposure to each financial institution, monitoring the financial condition of the financial institutions and investing only in government and corporate securities rated “investment grade” or better. The Company invests with financial institutions that maintain a net worth of not less than $1.0 billion and are members in good standing of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Taxes	'
Income Taxes	'
	12.Income Taxes
	The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”), on a tax jurisdictional basis.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company had no income tax benefit or expense.  The Company operates in jurisdictions that have generated ordinary losses on a year-to-date basis and no benefit can be recognized on those losses, thus an estimated effective tax rate is not used to report the year-to-date results.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded a $47.6 million income tax benefit related primarily to the impairment of long lived assets of the Velardeña Properties and Mexico net operating losses, resulting in an elimination of the net deferred tax liability in existence at that time.
	In accordance with ASC 740, the Company presents deferred tax assets net of its deferred tax liabilities on a tax jurisdictional basis on its Consolidated Balance Sheets.  As of September 30, 2014 and as of December 31, 2013, the Company had no net deferred tax assets or net deferred tax liabilities reported on its balance sheet.
	The Company, a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries file tax returns in the United States and in various foreign jurisdictions.  The tax rules and regulations in these countries are highly complex and subject to interpretation. The Company’s income tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authorities and in connection with such examinations, disputes can arise with the taxing authorities over the interpretation or application of certain tax rules within the country involved.  In accordance with ASC 740, the Company identifies and evaluates uncertain tax positions, and recognizes the impact of uncertain tax positions for which there is less than a more-likely-than-not probability of the position being upheld upon review by the relevant taxing authority.  Such positions are deemed to be “unrecognized tax benefits” which require additional disclosure and recognition of a liability within the financial statements.  The Company had no unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2014 and as of December 31, 2013.

Equity

Equity	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Equity	'
Equity	'
	13.Equity
	Registered offering
	On September 10, 2014, the Company completed a registered public offering (the “Offering”) of 3,692,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase 1,846,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Shares and Warrants were sold in units (“Units”) at a price of $0.86 per Unit, before discount to the underwriters, with each Unit consisting of one Share of the Company’s common stock and a Warrant to purchase 0.50 of a share of the Company’s common stock. The Warrants become exercisable on March 11, 2015 at an exercise price of $1.21 per share and will expire on September 10, 2019, five years from the date of issuance. The Shares and the Warrants are immediately separable and were issued separately. The Company received net proceeds from the Offering of approximately $2.7 million after the underwriter commissions and expenses of approximately $0.5 million. In arriving at the relative value of the Shares and Warrants the Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model with a risk-free interest rate of 1.79%; a stock price of $1.01, the closing price of the Company’s common stock the day prior to the announcement of the offering; volatility of 83%; and terms equal to the terms of the Warrants. The fair value of the Shares was approximately $2.1 million and the fair value of the Warrants was approximately $0.6 million both of which were recorded to additional paid in capital net of the $0.01 par value of the Shares.
	Private placement
	On September 10, 2014 the Company also completed a private placement (the “Private Placement”) with The Sentient Group (“Sentient”), the Company’s largest stockholder, pursuant to which Sentient purchased, pursuant to Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, a total of 5,800,000 Units, with each Unit consisting of one share of the Company’s common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.50 of a share of the Company’s common stock. The warrants become exercisable on March 11, 2015 at an exercise price of $1.21 per share and will expire on September 10, 2019, five years from the date of issuance. Each Unit was priced at $0.817 the same discounted price paid by the underwriters in the Offering. The Company received net proceeds from the Private Placement of approximately $4.7 million after the discount and expenses of approximately $0.3 million. In arriving at the relative value of the Shares and Warrants the Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model with a risk-free interest rate of 1.79%; a stock price of $1.01, the closing price of the Company’s common stock the day prior to the announcement of the offering; volatility of 83%; and terms equal to the terms of the Warrants. The fair value of the Shares was approximately $3.6 million and the fair value of the Warrants was approximately $1.1 million both of which were recorded to additional paid in capital net of the $0.01 par value of the Shares. Following the completion of the Private Placement and the Offering, Sentient holds approximately 27.2% of the Company’s outstanding common stock (excluding restricted common stock held by the Company’s employees).
	Equity Incentive Plans
	In May 2014, the Company’s stockholders approved amendments to the Company’s 2009 Equity Incentive Plan, adopting the Amended and Restated 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”), pursuant to which awards of the Company’s common stock may be made to officers, directors, employees, consultants and agents of the Company and its subsidiaries.  The Company recognizes stock-based compensation costs using a graded vesting attribution method whereby costs are recognized over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award.
	The following table summarizes the status of the Company’s restricted stock grants issued under the Equity Plan at September 30, 2014 and changes during the nine months then ended:
	Restricted Stock Grants	Number of		Weighted Average
		Shares		Grant Date Fair
				Value Per Share
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013	915,971		$	2.47
	Granted during the period	—		—
	Restrictions lifted during the period	(165,634	)	4.72
	Forfeited during the period	—		—
	Outstanding at September 30, 2014	750,337		$	1.97
	Restrictions were lifted on 155,134 shares during the period on the anniversaries of grants made to officers and employees in prior years. The restrictions were lifted on an additional 10,500 shares in connection with to the termination of employment of two employees.
	For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 the Company recognized approximately $0.4 million of compensation expense related to outstanding restricted stock grants.  The Company expects to recognize additional compensation expense related to these awards of approximately $0.3 million over the next 21 months.
	The following table summarizes the status of the Company’s stock option grants issued under the Equity Plan at September 30, 2014 and changes during the nine months then ended:
	Equity Plan Options	Number of		Weighted
		Shares		Average
				Exercise
				Price Per
				Share
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013	110,810		$	8.02
	Granted during period	—		—
	Forfeited or expired during period	(15,000	)	8.02
	Exercised during period	—		—
	Outstanding at September 30, 2014	95,810		8.02
	Exercisable at end of period	95,810		8.02
	Granted and vested	95,810		8.02
	At September 30, 2014, in addition to the Equity Plan options outstanding, the Company had outstanding 126,000 options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $16.00. The options were related to the merger with ECU Silver Mining Inc. (“ECU”) on September 2, 2011 and were issued to former ECU stock option holders to replace options previously issued to them by ECU. The options expired on October 22, 2014.
	Also, pursuant to the Equity Plan, the Company’s board of directors adopted the Non-Employee Director’s Deferred Compensation and Equity Award Plan (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”).  Pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan the non-employee directors receive a portion of their compensation in the form of Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) issued under the Equity Plan. The RSUs vest on the first anniversary of the grant date and each vested RSU entitles the director to receive one unrestricted share of common stock upon the termination of the director’s board service.
	The following table summarizes the status of the RSU grants issued under the Deferred Compensation Plan at September 30, 2014 and changes during the nine months then ended:
	Restricted Stock Units	Number of		Weighted Average
		Shares		Grant Date Fair
				Value Per Share
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013	585,285		$	2.97
	Granted during the period	350,000		0.58
	Restrictions lifted during the period	—		—
	Forfeited during the period	—		—
	Outstanding at September 30, 2014	935,285		$	2.08
	For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 the Company recognized approximately $0.3 million of compensation expense related to the RSU grants.  The Company expects to recognize additional compensation expense related to these awards of approximately $0.1 million over the next nine months.
	Pursuant to the KELTIP (see Note 8) KELTIP Units may be granted to certain officers and key employees of the Company, which units will, once vested, entitle such officers and employees to receive an amount in cash or in Company common stock measured generally by the price of the Company’s common stock on the settlement date. The KELTIP Units are recorded as a liability as discussed in detail in Note 8.
	Common stock warrants
	The following table summarizes the status of the Company’s common stock warrants at September 30, 2014 and changes during the nine months then ended:
	Common Stock Warrants	Number of		Weighted Average
		Underlying		Exercise Price Per
		Shares		Share
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013	5,263,578		$	12.1
	Granted during period	4,746,000		1.21
	Dilution adjustment	599,760		7.17
	Expired during period	(1,831,929	)	19
	Exercised during period	—		—
	Outstanding at September 30, 2014	8,777,409		$	3.95
	The warrants granted during the period are related to the Offering and Private Placement of the Company’s securities completed on September 10, 2014 as discussed above.
	In September 2012, the Company closed on a registered offering and concurrent private placement with Sentient in which it sold units, consisting of one share of common stock and a five-year warrant to acquire one half of a share of common stock at an exercise price of $8.42 per share (the “September 2012 Warrants”). Pursuant to certain dilution adjustment provisions in the warrant agreement governing the September 2012 Warrants, the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the September 2012 Warrants was increased from 3,431,649 shares to 4,031,409 shares (599,760 share increase) and the exercise price was reduced from $8.42 per share to $7.17 per share pursuant to a weighted average dilution calculation based on the pricing of the Offering and the Private Placement.
	The warrants that expired were warrants related to the merger with ECU on September 2, 2011 and were issued to former ECU warrant holders to replace warrants previously issued to them by ECU. The warrants expired on February 20, 2014.

Sale_of_Metals_and_Related_Cos

Sale of Metals and Related Costs	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Sale of Metals and Related Costs	'
Sale of Metals and Related Costs	'
	14.Sale of Metals and Related Costs
	Prior to the suspension of mining and processing in June 2013 (see Note 1) the Company sold marketable products including concentrates and precipitates at its Velardeña Properties.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 the Company did not sell any product or incur any related costs as the result of the suspension of mining and processing.
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 the Company sold marketable products to five customers.  Under the terms of the Company’s agreements with one precipitate customer, title did not pass to the purchaser until the product was received by the refinery, at which point revenue was recognized. For the Company’s other customers, title generally passed when a provisional payment was made, which occurred after the product was shipped and customary sales documents were completed.  Costs related to the sale of metals products include direct and indirect costs incurred to mine, process and market the products.  At September 30, 2013 the Company had written down its metals inventory to net realizable value including a charge to the cost of metals sold of approximately $2.0 million and a charge to depreciation expense of approximately $0.6 million.  Also included in cost of metals sold at September 30, 2013 was a $0.6 million charge related to workforce reduction severance costs.

Supplemental_Cash_Flow_Informa

Supplemental Cash Flow Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Supplemental Cash Flow Information	'
Supplemental Cash Flow Information	'
	15.Supplemental Cash Flow Information
	The following table reconciles net loss for the period to cash used in operations:
		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,
		2014			2013
		(in thousands)
	Cash flows from operating activities:
	Net loss	$	(14,313	)	$	(230,276	)
	Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
	Amortization and depreciation	2,375			6,180
	Accretion of asset retirement obligation	149			135
	Foreign currency gain on loss contingency	(74		)	(383		)
	Foreign currency loss on deferred tax liability	—			527
	Impairment of goodwill	—			11,180
	Impairment of long lived assets	—			237,838
	Asset write off	129			(66		)
	Write off of loss contingencies	(1,719		)	(522		)
	Realized loss on marketable securities	—			133
	Gain on sale of assets, net	(681		)	(3,519		)
	Income tax provision	—			(47,599		)
	Stock compensation	768			1,284
	Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
	Decrease in trade accounts receivable	25			1,047
	Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets	507			328
	(Increase) decrease in inventories	(213		)	2,074
	Decrease in value added tax recoverable, net	371			2,684
	Decrease in reclamation liability	(115		)	(27		)
	Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	623			(4,337		)
	Increase (decrease) in deferred leasehold payments	21			(116		)
	Net cash used in operating activities	$	(12,147	)	$	(23,435	)

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	16.Commitments and Contingencies
	The Company has recorded loss contingencies of approximately $2.6 million and $4.2 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively as discussed in Note 10. In addition to the amounts recorded, the Company could be liable for up to an additional $0.7 million stemming from a tax audit of the Argentina equity tax for years 2009 through 2012 subject to the Argentina tax authorities’ acceptance of VAT credits to partially offset the tax liability (see Note 10).

Segment_Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Information	'
Segment Information	'
	17.Segment Information
	The Company’s sole activity is the mining, construction and exploration of mineral properties containing precious metals.  The Company’s reportable segments are based upon the Company’s revenue producing activities and cash consuming activities. The Company reports two segments, one for its Velardeña Properties in Mexico and the other comprised of non-revenue producing activities including exploration, construction and general and administrative activities.  Intercompany revenue and expense amounts have been eliminated within each segment in order to report on the basis that management uses internally for evaluating segment performance.
	The financial information relating to the Company’s segments is as follows:
	Three Months Ended September	Revenue		Costs		Depreciation,		Exploration, El		Pre-Tax loss		Total Assets		Capital
	30, 2014			Applicable to		Depletion and		Quevar, Velardeña						Expenditures
				Sales		Amortization		and Administrative
								Expense
	Velardeña Properties	$	—	$	—	$	573	$	2,034	$	1,660			$	420
	Corporate, Exploration & Other	—		—		178		2,280		1,952				—
		$	—	$	—	$	751	$	4,314	$	3,612			$	420
	Nine Months Ended September
	30, 2014
	Velardeña Properties	$	—	$	—	$	1,775	$	4,491	$	4,984	$	27,488		$	420
	Corporate, Exploration & Other	—		—		600		9,093		9,329		20,143			7
		$	—	$	—	$	2,375	$	13,584	$	14,313	$	47,631		$	427
	Three Months Ended September
	30, 2013
	Velardeña Properties	$	500	$	517	$	866	$	4,635	$	3,232			$	102
	Corporate, Exploration & Other	—		—		217		2,586		3,083				1
		$	500	$	517	$	1,083	$	7,221	$	6,315			$	103
	Nine Months Ended September
	30, 2013
	Velardeña Properties	$	10,797	$	17,534	$	5,425	$	7,900	$	269,106	$	36,607		$	1,441
	Corporate, Exploration & Other	—		—		755		10,208		8,769		30,474			30
		$	10,797	$	17,534	$	6,180	$	18,108	$	277,875	$	67,081		$	1,471

Prepaid_Expenses_and_Other_Ass1

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets	'
Schedule of prepaid expenses and other assets	'
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(in thousands)
	Prepaid insurance	$	250	$	687
	Prepaid contractor fees and vendor advances	104		193
	Taxes receivable	70		96
	Recoupable deposits and other	190		115
		$	614	$	1,091

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Inventories	'
Schedule of inventories at the Velardena Properties	'
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(in thousands)
	Material and supplies	$	662	$	449
		$	662	$	449

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_N1

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	'
Schedule of components of property, plant and equipment	'
		September 30,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(in thousands)
	Mineral properties	$	22,397		$	22,397
	Exploration properties	2,743			2,993
	Royalty properties	200			200
	Buildings	2,357			2,349
	Mining equipment and machinery	19,683			19,441
	Other furniture and equipment	841			1,054
	Asset retirement cost	2,002			2,087
		50,223			50,521
	Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(20,217		)	(18,146		)
		30,006			32,375

Accounts_Payable_and_Other_Acc1

Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities	'
Schedule of accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	'
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(in thousands)
	Accounts payable and accruals	$	1,159	$	717
	Accrued employee compensation and benefits	716		648
		$	1,875	$	1,365

Asset_Retirement_Obligations_T

Asset Retirement Obligations (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Asset Retirement Obligations	'
Summary of activity in the Velardena Properties ARO	'
		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,
		2014			2013
		(in thousands)
	Beginning balance	$	2,467		$	2,080
	Changes in estimates, and other	(85		)	203
	Accretion expense	149			135
	Ending balance	$	2,531		$	2,418

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Measurements	'
Schedule of financial assets and liabilities at fair value	'
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
		(in thousands)
	At September 30, 2014
	Assets:
	Cash equivalents	$	14,955	$	—	$	—	$	14,955
	Liabilities:
	KELTIP payable	110		—				110
		$	14,845	$	—	$	—	$	14,845
	At December 31, 2013
	Assets:
	Cash equivalents	$	19,146	$	—	$	—	$	19,146
	Trade Accounts Receivable	25		—		—		25
	Liabilities:
	KELTIP payable	81		—				81
		$	19,090	$	—	$	—	$	19,090

Equity_Tables

Equity (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Summary of the status of the Company's common stock warrants	'
	Common Stock Warrants	Number of		Weighted Average
		Underlying		Exercise Price Per
		Shares		Share
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013	5,263,578		$	12.1
	Granted during period	4,746,000		1.21
	Dilution adjustment	599,760		7.17
	Expired during period	(1,831,929	)	19
	Exercised during period	—		—
	Outstanding at September 30, 2014	8,777,409		$	3.95
Equity Incentive Plan [Member]	'
Schedule of status of the restricted stock grants issued under the Equity Plan	'
	Restricted Stock Grants	Number of		Weighted Average
		Shares		Grant Date Fair
				Value Per Share
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013	915,971		$	2.47
	Granted during the period	—		—
	Restrictions lifted during the period	(165,634	)	4.72
	Forfeited during the period	—		—
	Outstanding at September 30, 2014	750,337		$	1.97
Schedule of status of the stock option grants issued under the Equity Plan	'
	Equity Plan Options	Number of		Weighted
		Shares		Average
				Exercise
				Price Per
				Share
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013	110,810		$	8.02
	Granted during period	—		—
	Forfeited or expired during period	(15,000	)	8.02
	Exercised during period	—		—
	Outstanding at September 30, 2014	95,810		8.02
	Exercisable at end of period	95,810		8.02
	Granted and vested	95,810		8.02
Non Employee Directors Deferred Compensation and Equity Award Plan [Member]	'
Schedule of status of the RSU grants issued under the Deferred Compensation Plan	'
	Restricted Stock Units	Number of		Weighted Average
		Shares		Grant Date Fair
				Value Per Share
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013	585,285		$	2.97
	Granted during the period	350,000		0.58
	Restrictions lifted during the period	—		—
	Forfeited during the period	—		—
	Outstanding at September 30, 2014	935,285		$	2.08

Supplemental_Cash_Flow_Informa1

Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Supplemental Cash Flow Information	'
Schedule of reconciles net loss for the period to cash from operations	'
		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,
		2014			2013
		(in thousands)
	Cash flows from operating activities:
	Net loss	$	(14,313	)	$	(230,276	)
	Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
	Amortization and depreciation	2,375			6,180
	Accretion of asset retirement obligation	149			135
	Foreign currency gain on loss contingency	(74		)	(383		)
	Foreign currency loss on deferred tax liability	—			527
	Impairment of goodwill	—			11,180
	Impairment of long lived assets	—			237,838
	Asset write off	129			(66		)
	Write off of loss contingencies	(1,719		)	(522		)
	Realized loss on marketable securities	—			133
	Gain on sale of assets, net	(681		)	(3,519		)
	Income tax provision	—			(47,599		)
	Stock compensation	768			1,284
	Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
	Decrease in trade accounts receivable	25			1,047
	Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets	507			328
	(Increase) decrease in inventories	(213		)	2,074
	Decrease in value added tax recoverable, net	371			2,684
	Decrease in reclamation liability	(115		)	(27		)
	Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	623			(4,337		)
	Increase (decrease) in deferred leasehold payments	21			(116		)
	Net cash used in operating activities	$	(12,147	)	$	(23,435	)

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Information	'
Schedule of financial information relating to segments	'
	Three Months Ended September	Revenue		Costs		Depreciation,		Exploration, El		Pre-Tax loss		Total Assets		Capital
	30, 2014			Applicable to		Depletion and		Quevar, Velardeña						Expenditures
				Sales		Amortization		and Administrative
								Expense
	Velardeña Properties	$	—	$	—	$	573	$	2,034	$	1,660			$	420
	Corporate, Exploration & Other	—		—		178		2,280		1,952				—
		$	—	$	—	$	751	$	4,314	$	3,612			$	420
	Nine Months Ended September
	30, 2014
	Velardeña Properties	$	—	$	—	$	1,775	$	4,491	$	4,984	$	27,488		$	420
	Corporate, Exploration & Other	—		—		600		9,093		9,329		20,143			7
		$	—	$	—	$	2,375	$	13,584	$	14,313	$	47,631		$	427
	Three Months Ended September
	30, 2013
	Velardeña Properties	$	500	$	517	$	866	$	4,635	$	3,232			$	102
	Corporate, Exploration & Other	—		—		217		2,586		3,083				1
		$	500	$	517	$	1,083	$	7,221	$	6,315			$	103
	Nine Months Ended September
	30, 2013
	Velardeña Properties	$	10,797	$	17,534	$	5,425	$	7,900	$	269,106	$	36,607		$	1,441
	Corporate, Exploration & Other	—		—		755		10,208		8,769		30,474			30
		$	10,797	$	17,534	$	6,180	$	18,108	$	277,875	$	67,081		$	1,471

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents_and_1

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	'	'
Short Term Investments	$0	$0

Prepaid_Expenses_and_Other_Ass2

Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets	'	'
Prepaid insurance	$250,000	$687,000
Prepaid contractor fees and vendor advances	104,000	193,000
Taxes receivable	70,000	96,000
Recoupable deposits and other	190,000	115,000
Prepaid expenses and other assets	614,000	1,091,000
Prepaid insurance included in non-current assets	'	$30,000

Inventories_Details

Inventories (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventories	'	'
Material and supplies	$662	$449
Inventories	662	449
Metals inventory	0	0
Process inventories	$0	$0

Value_Added_Tax_Receivable_Net1

Value Added Tax Receivable, Net (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Value Added Tax Receivable, Net	'
Expected period within which current amount of VAT will be recovered	'1 year

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_N2

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net (Details) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Zacatecas District [Member]

Peruvian Exploration Properties [Member]

Peruvian Exploration Properties [Member]

Mining Properties and Mineral Rights [Member]

Mining Properties and Mineral Rights [Member]

Exploration Properties [Member]

Exploration Properties [Member]

Royalty Properties [Member]

Royalty Properties [Member]

Building [Member]

Building [Member]

Machinery and Equipment [Member]

Machinery and Equipment [Member]

Machinery and Equipment [Member]

Other furniture and equipment

Other furniture and equipment

Asset Retirement Obligation Costs [Member]

Asset Retirement Obligation Costs [Member]

ha

ha

Argentina Member

item

Property, plant and equipment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, gross

$50,223,000

'

$50,521,000

'

'

'

$22,397,000

$22,397,000

$2,743,000

$2,993,000

$200,000

$200,000

$2,357,000

$2,349,000

$19,683,000

$19,441,000

'

$841,000

$1,054,000

$2,002,000

$2,087,000

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

-20,217,000

'

-18,146,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net

30,006,000

'

32,375,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of mining concessions sold

'

'

'

45

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Area (in hectares)

'

'

'

770

1,100

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amount of Agreement to Sell Property

'

'

'

'

450,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from sale of assets

973,000

4,125,000

'

700,000

'

150,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

130,000

'

'

'

'

Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets and Asset Impairment Charges

'

'

'

$500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Accounts_Payable_and_Other_Acc2

Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities	'	'
Accounts payable and accruals	$1,159,000	$717,000
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	716,000	648,000
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	1,875,000	1,365,000
Accrued vacation	200,000	100,000
Withholding taxes and benefits payable	500,000	500,000
Liabilities Pertaining to Corporate Administrative Activities [Member]	'	'
Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities	'	'
Accounts payable and accruals	500,000	200,000
Liabilities Pertaining to Exploration Activities [Member]	'	'
Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities	'	'
Accounts payable and accruals	'	100,000
Velardena Properties [Member]	'	'
Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities	'	'
Accounts payable and accruals	700,000	400,000
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	$200,000	$300,000

Accounts_Payable_and_Other_Acc3

Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities (Details 2) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	'	'
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	$716,000	$648,000
Key Employee Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] | Units [Member]	'	'
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	'	'
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	$110,000	$81,000

Asset_Retirement_Obligations_D

Asset Retirement Obligations (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
			Velardena Properties [Member]	Velardena Properties [Member]	Velardena Properties [Member]	El Quevar Project [Member]	El Quevar Project [Member]
Asset Retirement and Reclamation Liabilities	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Third party estimated closure plan	'	'	'	'	$1,900,000	'	'
Estimated ARO and ARC recorded at the time of the acquisition	'	'	3,500,000	'	'	'	'
Amortization expense related to the ARC	'	'	200,000	'	'	'	'
Summary of activity in the Velardena Operations ARO	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	2,602,000	'	2,467,000	2,080,000	'	100,000	100,000
Changes in estimates, and other	'	'	-85,000	203,000	'	'	'
Accretion expense	149,000	135,000	149,000	135,000	'	'	'
Ending balance	$2,635,000	'	$2,531,000	$2,418,000	'	$100,000	$100,000

Other_Current_Liabilities_Deta

Other Current Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014
			Argentina Equity Tax 2009 Through 2012 [Member]
Other current liabilities	$2,755,000	$4,405,000	$200,000
Interest and penalties	'	'	900,000
VAT tax credit	'	'	700,000
Increase in tax liability	'	'	$700,000

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail

Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair value measurements	'	'
Minimum net worth of financial institutions required for investment	$1,000,000,000	'
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair value measurements	'	'
Cash equivalents	14,955,000	19,146,000
Trade accounts receivable	'	25,000
Fair value of assets and liabilities	14,845,000	19,090,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Key Employee Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	'	'
Fair value measurements	'	'
Liabilities	110,000	81,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]	'	'
Fair value measurements	'	'
Cash equivalents	14,955,000	19,146,000
Trade accounts receivable	'	25,000
Fair value of assets and liabilities	14,845,000	19,090,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Key Employee Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	'	'
Fair value measurements	'	'
Liabilities	$110,000	$81,000

Income_Taxes_Details

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Components of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities	'	'	'	'
Income tax benefit	$104,000	$0	$47,599,000	'
Net deferred tax assets	'	0	'	0
Deferred tax liability	'	0	'	0
Unrecognized tax benefits	'	0	'	0
Mexico	'	'	'	'
Components of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities	'	'	'	'
Income tax benefit	'	'	$47,600,000	'

Equity_Details

Equity (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 10, 2014	Sep. 10, 2014	Sep. 10, 2014	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 10, 2014
		Registered Offering [Member]	Registered Offering [Member]	Private Placement [Member]	Private Placement [Member]	Private Placement [Member]
				The Sentient Group [Member]	The Sentient Group [Member]	The Sentient Group [Member]
Registered offering stock units (in shares)	'	3,692,000	'	'	'	'
Units issued (in shares)	'	'	'	5,800,000	'	'
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	'	'	$0.01	'	'	$0.01
Number of common shares that can be purchased upon exercise of warrant	'	'	1,846,000	'	'	'
Sale price (in dollars per shares)	'	$0.86	'	$0.82	'	'
Number of shares of common stock per capital unit (in shares)	'	1	'	1	1	'
Number of common shares which can be purchased with each warrant	'	'	0.5	'	0.5	0.5
Exercise price of warrants (in dollars per share)	'	'	1.21	'	8.42	1.21
Term of warrants	'	'5 years	'	'5 years	'5 years	'
Net proceeds from offering	$7,410,000	$2,700,000	'	$4,700,000	'	'
Amount of underwriting commissions and expenses	'	500,000	'	300,000	'	'
Risk-free rate (as a percent)	'	1.79%	'	1.79%	'	'
Share price	'	'	$1.01	'	'	$1.01
Volatility rate	'	83.00%	'	83.00%	'	'
Value of shares	2,739,000	2,100,000	'	3,600,000	'	'
Fair value of warrants	'	'	$600,000	'	'	$1,100,000
Par value of shares	'	'	$0.01	'	'	$0.01
Ownership interest in outstanding Common Stock (as a percent)	'	'	'	'	'	27.20%

Equity_Details_2

Equity (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Additional information	'	'	'	'
Compensation expense	$181,000	$305,000	$768,000	$1,284,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	'	'	'	'
Additional information	'	'	'	'
Compensation expense	'	'	300,000	'
Additional compensation expense expected to be recognized	100,000	'	100,000	'
Period for recognition of additional compensation expense	'	'	'9 months	'
Number of unrestricted common shares that the Director is entitled to receive for each vested RSU, upon termination from board service	'	'	1	'
Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | ECU Silver Mining Inc [Member]	'	'	'	'
Number of Shares	'	'	'	'
Outstanding at end of year (in shares)	126,000	'	126,000	'
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share	'	'	'	'
Exercise price (in dollars per share)	'	'	$16	'
Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'	'
Number of Shares	'	'	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of year (in shares)	'	'	915,971	'
Restrictions lifted during the year (in shares)	'	'	165,634	'
Outstanding at end of year (in shares)	750,337	'	750,337	'
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share	'	'	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of year (in dollars per share)	'	'	$2.47	'
Restrictions lifted during the year (in dollars per share)	'	'	$4.72	'
Outstanding at end of year (in dollars per share)	$1.97	'	$1.97	'
Additional information	'	'	'	'
Compensation expense	'	'	400,000	'
Additional compensation expense expected to be recognized	$300,000	'	$300,000	'
Period for recognition of additional compensation expense	'	'	'21 months	'
Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | Officers and Employees [Member]	'	'	'	'
Number of Shares	'	'	'	'
Restrictions lifted during the year (in shares)	'	'	155,134	'
Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | Terminated Employees Member	'	'	'	'
Number of Shares	'	'	'	'
Restrictions lifted during the year (in shares)	'	'	10,500	'
Additional information	'	'	'	'
Number of Employees Terminated	'	'	2	'
Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Employee and Directors Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'	'
Number of Shares	'	'	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of period (in shares)	'	'	110,810	'
Forfeited or expired during period (in shares)	'	'	-15,000	'
Outstanding at end of year (in shares)	95,810	'	95,810	'
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)	95,810	'	95,810	'
Granted and vested (in shares)	95,810	'	95,810	'
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share	'	'	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of year (in dollars per share)	'	'	$8.02	'
Forfeited or expired during year (in dollars per shares)	'	'	$8.02	'
Outstanding at end of year (in dollars per share)	$8.02	'	$8.02	'
Exercisable at end of period (in dollars per share)	$8.02	'	$8.02	'
Granted and vested (in dollars per share)	$8.02	'	$8.02	'
Non Employee Directors Deferred Compensation and Equity Award Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	'	'	'	'
Number of Shares	'	'	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of year (in shares)	'	'	585,285	'
Granted during the period (in shares)	'	'	350,000	'
Outstanding at end of year (in shares)	935,285	'	935,285	'
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share	'	'	'	'
Outstanding at beginning of year (in dollars per share)	'	'	$2.97	'
Granted during the year (in dollars per share)	'	'	$0.58	'
Outstanding at end of year (in dollars per share)	$2.08	'	$2.08	'

Equity_Details_3

Equity (Details 3) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 10, 2014	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 10, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014
	The Sentient Group [Member]	The Sentient Group [Member]	The Sentient Group [Member]	Warrant [Member]	Warrant [Member]
	Private Placement [Member]	Private Placement [Member]	Private Placement [Member]
Number of Underlying Shares	'	'	'	'	'
Outstanding at the beginning of period (in shares)	'	'	'	5,263,578	3,431,649
Granted during the period	'	'	'	4,746,000	'
Dilution adjustment	'	'	'	599,760	'
Expired during period	'	'	'	-1,831,929	'
Outstanding at the end of period (in shares)	'	'	'	8,777,409	3,431,649
Outstanding warrants after dilution adjustment	'	'	'	4,031,409	'
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share	'	'	'	'	'
Outstanding at the beginning of period (in dollars per share)	1.21	'	'	12.1	'
Granted during the period	'	'	'	$1.21	'
Dilution adjustment	'	'	'	$7.17	'
Expired during period	'	'	'	19	'
Outstanding at the end of period (in dollars per share)	'	8.42	'	3.95	'
Number of shares of common stock per capital unit (in shares)	1	1	'	'	'
Term of warrants	'5 years	'5 years	'	'	'
Number of common shares which can be purchased with each warrant	'	0.5	0.5	'	'
Exercise price of warrants (in dollars per share)	'	8.42	'	3.95	'

Sale_of_Metals_and_Related_Cos1

Sale of Metals and Related Costs (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
	item
Sale of Metals and Related Costs	'
Number of customers to whom marketable products were sold	5
Number of dore and precipitate customers with whom the entity entered into an agreement for passing the title to purchasers after the product is received by the refinery	1
Inventory write down charged to cost of metals sold	$2
Inventory write down charged to depreciation expense	0.6
Workforce reduction severance costs	$0.60

Supplemental_Cash_Flow_Informa2

Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'	'	'	'
Net loss	($3,612)	($6,211)	($14,313)	($230,276)	($240,380)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:	'	'	'	'	'
Amortization and depreciation	751	1,083	2,375	6,180	'
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	'	'	149	135	'
Foreign currency gain on loss contingency	'	'	-74	-383	'
Foreign currency loss on deferred tax liability	'	'	'	527	'
Impairment of goodwill	'	'	'	11,180	'
Impairment of long lived assets	'	'	'	237,838	'
Asset write off	'	'	129	-66	'
Write off of loss contingency	'	'	-1,719	-522	'
Realized loss on marketable securities	'	'	'	133	'
Gain on sale of assets, net	'	'	-681	-3,519	'
Income tax provision	'	-104	0	-47,599	'
Stock compensation	'	'	768	1,284	'
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'	'	'	'
Decrease in trade accounts receivable	'	'	25	1,047	'
Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets	'	'	507	328	'
(Increase) decrease in inventories	'	'	-213	2,074	'
Decrease in value added tax recoverable, net	'	'	371	2,684	'
Decrease in reclamation liability	'	'	-115	-27	'
Decrease in value added tax recoverable, net	'	'	623	-4,337	'
Increase (decrease) in deferred leasehold payments	'	'	21	-116	'
Net cash used in operating activities	'	'	($12,147)	($23,435)	'

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified			Argentina Equity Tax 2009 Through 2012 [Member]
Loss Contingency [Abstract]	'	'	'
Loss contingency	$2.60	$4.20	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'	'	'
Increase in tax liability	'	'	$0.70

Segment_Information_Details

Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
			item
Segment Information	'	'	'	'	'
Number of reportable segments	'	'	2	'	'
Revenue	'	$500	'	$10,797	'
Costs Applicable to Sales	'	517	'	17,534	'
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	751	1,083	2,375	6,180	'
Exploration, El Quevar, Velardena and Administrative Expense	4,314	7,221	13,584	18,108	'
Pre-Tax loss	3,612	6,315	14,313	277,875	'
Total Assets	47,631	67,081	47,631	67,081	54,881
Capital Expenditures	420	103	427	1,471	'
Impairment of goodwill	'	'	'	11,180	'
Velardena Properties [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Information	'	'	'	'	'
Number of reportable segments	'	'	1	'	'
Revenue	'	500	'	10,797	'
Costs Applicable to Sales	'	517	'	17,534	'
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	573	866	1,775	5,425	'
Exploration, El Quevar, Velardena and Administrative Expense	2,034	4,635	4,491	7,900	'
Pre-Tax loss	1,660	3,232	4,984	269,106	'
Total Assets	27,488	36,607	27,488	36,607	'
Capital Expenditures	420	102	420	1,441	'
Corporate and Other [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Information	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	178	217	600	755	'
Exploration, El Quevar, Velardena and Administrative Expense	2,280	2,586	9,093	10,208	'
Pre-Tax loss	1,952	3,083	9,329	8,769	'
Total Assets	20,143	30,474	20,143	30,474	'
Capital Expenditures	'	$1	$7	$30	'