| N-2 | 6 Months Ended | |
| May 31, 2023 $ / shares shares | May 31, 2023 $ / shares | |
| Cover [Abstract] | ||
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001230869 | |
| Amendment Flag | false | |
| Document Type | N-CSRS | |
| Entity Registrant Name | ASA GOLD AND PRECIOUS METALS LIMITED | |
| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | ||
| Investment Objectives and Practices [Text Block] | Investment Objective The Company’s investment objective is long-term capital appreciation through investment primarily in companies engaged in the exploration for, development of projects or mining of precious metals and minerals. Investment Strategy It is a fundamental policy of the Company that at least 80% of its total assets must be (i) invested in common shares or securities convertible into common shares of companies engaged, directly or indirectly, in the exploration, mining or processing of gold, silver, platinum, diamonds or other precious minerals, (ii) held as bullion or other direct forms of gold, silver, platinum or other precious minerals, (iii) invested in instruments representing interests in gold, silver, platinum or other precious minerals such as certificates of deposit therefor, and/or (iv) invested in securities of investment companies, including exchange traded funds, or other securities that seek to replicate the price movement of gold, silver or platinum bullion. The Company employs bottom-up fundamental analysis and relies on detailed primary research including meetings with company executives, site visits to key operating assets, and proprietary financial analysis in making its investment decisions. | |
| Risk Factors [Table Text Block] | Risks The following discussion summarizes certain (but not all) of the principal risks associated with investing in the Company. The Company may be subject to other risks in addition to those identified below, such as the risks associated with its tax status as a PFIC (see Note 3) and its reliance on an SEC exemptive order (see Note 5). The risk factors set forth in the following are described in no particular order and the order of the risk factors is not necessarily indicative of significance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific considerations. Concentration Risk. Gold and Precious Metals/Minerals Risk. Foreign Securities Risk/Emerging Markets Risk. Geographic Investment Risk. Canada Risk. Junior and Intermediate Mining Companies Risk. Private Placement Risk. Restricted Security Risk. Depositary Receipts Risk. Warrants Risk. Market Discount from Net Asset Value. Valuation Risk. Market Events Risk. | |
| Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] | ||
| Document Period End Date | May 31, 2023 | |
| Concentration Risk [Member] | ||
| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | ||
| Risk [Text Block] | Concentration Risk. | |
| Gold and Precious Metals/Minerals Risk [Member] | ||
| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | ||
| Risk [Text Block] | Gold and Precious Metals/Minerals Risk. | |
| Foreign Securities Risk/Emerging Markets Risk [Member] | ||
| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | ||
| Risk [Text Block] | Foreign Securities Risk/Emerging Markets Risk. | |
| Geographic Investment Risk [Member] | ||
| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | ||
| Risk [Text Block] | Geographic Investment Risk. | |
| Canada Risk [Member] | ||
| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | ||
| Risk [Text Block] | Canada Risk. | |
| Junior and Intermediate Mining Companies Risk [Member] | ||
| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | ||
| Risk [Text Block] | Junior and Intermediate Mining Companies Risk. | |
| Private Placement Risk [Member] | ||
| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | ||
| Risk [Text Block] | Private Placement Risk. | |
| Restricted Security Risk [Member] | ||
| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | ||
| Risk [Text Block] | Restricted Security Risk. | |
| Depositary Receipts Risk [Member] | ||
| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | ||
| Risk [Text Block] | Depositary Receipts Risk. | |
| Warrants Risk [Member] | ||
| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | ||
| Risk [Text Block] | Warrants Risk. | |
| Market Discount from Net Asset Value [Member] | ||
| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | ||
| Risk [Text Block] | Market Discount from Net Asset Value. | |
| Valuation Risk [Member] | ||
| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | ||
| Risk [Text Block] | Valuation Risk. | |
| Market Events Risk [Member] | ||
| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | ||
| Risk [Text Block] | Market Events Risk. | |
| Common Shares [Member] | ||
| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | ||
| Share Price | $ / shares | $ 15.73 | $ 15.73 |
| NAV Per Share | $ / shares | $ 17.98 | $ 17.98 |
| Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] | ||
| Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] | shares | 40,000,000 | |
| Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] | shares | 19,289,905 |
