Lion Copper and Gold (LCGMF) 20-F 28 Apr 21 2020 FY Annual report (foreign) Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020shares
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	20-F
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Entity Registrant Name	QUATERRA RESOURCES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001339688
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	218,715,610
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Ex Transition Period	false

Consolidated Statements of Fina

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 701	$ 1,812
Other receivables	3	3
Marketable securities	641	165
Prepaid and deposit	5	4
Total current assets	1,350	1,984
Non-current assets:
Mineral properties	28,236	28,679
Reclamation bonds	34	34
Total noncurrent assets	28,270	28,713
Total Assets	29,620	30,697
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	222	112
Convertible notes		402
Derivative liabilities - convertible		150
Total current liabilities	222	664
Non-current liability
Derivative liabilities - warrants	51	26
Total Liabilities	273	690
Shareholders' Equity
Share capital	101,553	101,424
Contributed surplus	19,406	19,212
Deficit	(91,612)	(90,629)
Shareholders' Equity	29,347	30,007
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	$ 29,620	$ 30,697

Consolidated Statements of Loss

Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
General administrative expenses
General office	$ 61	$ 53	$ 74
Insurance	47	63	46
Investor relations and corporate development	86	217	75
Professional fees	71	102	162
Rent	108	123	114
Salaries and benefits	713	823	838
Transfer agent and regulatory	44	66	38
Travel	13	29	50
Total general administrative expenses	(1,143)	(1,476)	(1,397)
Fair value gain on derivative liabilities	90	105	358
Foreign exchange gain (loss)	20	(43)	11
General exploration	(167)	(26)
Loss on settlement of convertible notes	(26)	(13)
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	476	9	(130)
Interest expense and other	(58)	(150)	(170)
Share-based compensation	(175)	(117)	(91)
Total other gains (losses)	160	(235)	(22)
Loss and comprehensive loss for the year	$ (983)	$ (1,711)	$ (1,419)
Loss per share - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in shares)	218,117,528	208,688,604	200,969,314

Consolidated Statements of Cash

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Operating activities
Net loss for the year	$ 983	$ 1,711	$ 1,419
Items not involving cash:
Fair value gain on derivative liabilities	(90)	(105)	(358)
Loss on settlement of convertible notes	26	13
Interest and convertible accretion	72	260	141
Unrealized (gain) loss on marketable securities	(476)	(9)	130
Share-based compensation	175	117	91
Cash flows from (used in) operations before changes in working capital	(1,276)	(1,435)	(1,415)
Changes in non-cash working capital
Other receivable		(1)	1
Prepaid and deposit	(1)		24
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	96	(185)	202
Cash used in operating activities	(1,181)	(1,621)	(1,188)
Financing activities
Shares issued for cash	19	132
Convertible notes	(381)		973
Loan		(311)	(295)
Related party loan payable		(218)	210
Cash provided by financing activities	(362)	(397)	888
Investing activities
Expenditures on mineral properties	(1,411)	(1,899)	(1,518)
Net proceeds from water rights sale	1,868	5,685	313
Reclamation bonds		28	2
Cash provided by in investing activities	457	3,814	(1,203)
Effect of foreign exchange on cash	(25)	(31)	(25)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(1,111)	1,765	(1,528)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	1,812	47	1,575
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	701	1,812	47
Supplemental cash flow information
Exploration expenditures included in accounts payable	41	27	95
Interest paid in cash	$ 76	46	$ 45
Shares issued for interest		$ 45

Consolidated Statements of Chan

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Shares [Member]	Share - based payment reserve [Member]	Deficit [Member]	Total
Beginning Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	200,969,314
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 100,729	$ 18,729	$ (87,499)	$ 31,959
Share-based compensation		91		91
Net loss for the year			(1,419)	(1,419)
Ending Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	200,969,314
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 100,729	18,820	(88,918)	30,631
Shares issued for cash (shares)	3,000,000
Shares issued for cash	$ 113			113
Shares issued for convertible notes (Shares)	12,846,296
Shares issued for convertible notes	$ 547	291		838
Shares issued for stock options exercised (shares)	400,000
Shares issued for stock options exercised	$ 35	(16)		19
Share-based compensation		117		117
Net loss for the year			(1,711)	(1,711)
Ending Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2019	217,215,610
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 101,424	19,212	(90,629)	30,007
Shares issued for convertible notes (Shares)	1,000,000
Shares issued for convertible notes	$ 94	35		129
Shares issued for stock options exercised (shares)	500,000
Shares issued for stock options exercised	$ 35	(16)		19
Share-based compensation		175		175
Net loss for the year			(983)	(983)
Ending Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	218,715,610
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 101,553	$ 19,406	$ (91,612)	$ 29,347

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND LIQUID

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND LIQUIDITY RISK	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure Of Nature Of Operations And Liquidity Risk [Abstract]
NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND LIQUIDITY [Text Block]	1. Quaterra Resources Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, " Quaterra Company TSXV The Company acquires its mineral properties through option or lease agreements and capitalizes all acquisition, exploration and evaluation costs related to the properties. The underlying value of the amounts recorded as mineral properties does not reflect current or future values. The Company's continued existence depends on the economic recoverability of mineral reserves and its ability to acquire new properties and obtain funding to complete exploration activities. These consolidated financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes that the Company will realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had a working capital of $1,128,000. Along with the proceeds from its ongoing water rights sale (note 15(a)), the Company believes that it has sufficient funds to sustain its operations for at least the next 12 months.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Text Block]	2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES These consolidated financial statements have been prepared following International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IFRS"). a) Basis of presentation and consolidation These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for marketable securities and derivative financial liabilities, which are stated at their fair values. The Company consolidates an entity when it has power over that entity, is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with that entity and can affect those returns through its control over that entity. All material intercompany transactions, balances and expenses are eliminated on consolidation. These consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of Quaterra and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: Quaterra Alaska Inc., Singatse Peak Services, LLC (“ SPS b) Accounting estimates and judgments The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Judgment is required in assessing whether certain factors would be considered an indicator of impairment. Both internal and external information is considered to determine whether there is an indicator of impairment present and, accordingly, whether impairment testing is required. There is no significant estimation uncertainty in relation to estimates included in the Company's financial statements. c) Translation of foreign currencies The Company’s presentation currency is the U.S. dollar (“ $ USD In preparing the financial statements, transactions in currencies other than an entity's functional currency ("foreign currencies") are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities are translated using the period-end foreign exchange rate. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated using the historical rate on the date of the transaction. All gains and losses on translation of these foreign currency transactions are included in the statement of loss. d) Mineral properties Direct costs related to the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties held or controlled by the Company are capitalized on an individual property basis until the property transitions to the development stage, is sold, abandoned, or determined to be impaired. Administration costs and general exploration costs are expensed as incurred. The Company classifies its mineral properties as exploration and evaluation assets until the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting a mineral resource are demonstrable. At this point, the mineral properties' carrying value is tested for impairment and subsequently transferred to property and equipment. The establishment of technical feasibility and commercial viability of a mineral property is assessed based on a combination of factors, such as the extent of established mineral reserves, the results of feasibility and technical evaluations, and the status of mineral leases or permits. Proceeds from the sale of properties, property water rights or cash proceeds received from farm-out option agreements are recorded as a reduction of the related mineral property, with any excess proceeds accounted for in net income (loss). e) Impairment The Company's assets are reviewed for the indication of impairment at each reporting date in accordance with IFRS 6 - Exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources. If any such indication exists, an estimate of the recoverable amount of the asset is undertaken, being the higher of an asset's fair value, less costs of disposal and its value in use. If the asset's carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount, an impairment loss is recognized in the statement of loss. Impairment indicators are considered to exist if (i) the right to explore the area has expired or will expire in the near future with no expectation of renewal; (ii) Substantive expenditure on further exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources in the area is neither planned nor budgeted; (iii) No commercially viable deposits have been discovered, and the decision had been made to discontinue exploration in the area; and (iv) Sufficient work has been performed to indicate that the carrying amount of the expenditure carried as an asset will not be fully recovered. An impairment loss is reversed if there is an indication that there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that this does not exceed the original carrying amount that if no impairment loss had been recognized. f) Share-based compensation The fair value of stock options granted to directors, officers, employees and consultants is calculated using the Black Scholes option pricing model and is expensed over the vesting periods. If and when the stock options are exercised, the value attributable to the stock options is transferred to share capital. g) Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, bank deposits and highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less. h) Financial instruments Financial instruments are recognized in the statement of financial position when the Company becomes a party to a contractual obligation. At initial recognition, the Company classifies and measures its financial instruments as one of the following: • at amortized cost, if they are held to collect contractual cash flows which solely represent payments of principal and interest; • at fair value, through other comprehensive income (“ FVOCI • otherwise, they are classified at fair value through profit or loss (“ FVPL Financial assets are classified and measured at fair value with subsequent changes in fair value recognized in either profit and loss as they arise unless restrictive criteria are met for classifying and measuring the asset at either amortized cost or FVOCI. Financial liabilities are measured at amortized costs unless they are elected to be or required to be measured at fair value through profit and loss. Financial assets are derecognized when the rights to receive cash flows from the assets have expired or have been transferred, and the Company has transferred all risks and rewards of ownership. Financial liabilities are derecognized when the obligations specified in the contract are discharged, cancelled, or expire. At each reporting date, the Company uses the expected credit losses model to assess the impairment of its financial assets measured at amortized cost. The model represents possible outcomes and focuses on the risk of default rather than an actual occurrence. If there has been a significant increase in credit risk, an allowance would be recognized in the statement of loss. The Company's accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. The marketable securities are a Level 1 fair value measurement; the derivative warrants are a Level 2 fair value measurement. The convertible note is classified as a liability at amortized cost, with the conversion feature classified as a derivative liability. The debt liability was initially recorded at fair value and is subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method and will be accreted to the face value over the term of the convertible debenture. i) Provisions Provisions are recognized when a present legal or constructive obligation exists as a result of past events where it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation, and the amount of the obligation can be reliably estimated. The amount recognized as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the reporting date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. The Company had no material provisions on December 31, 2020, and 2018. j) Earnings (loss) per share Basic earnings (loss) per share is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. The Company uses the treasury stock method to compute the dilutive effect of options, warrants and similar instruments. Under this method, the dilutive effect on earnings per share is calculated, presuming the exercise of in-the-money outstanding options, warrants and similar instruments. It assumes that the proceeds of such exercise would be used to repurchase common shares at the average market price during the year. However, the calculation of diluted loss per share excludes the effects of various conversions and exercise of options and warrants that would be anti-dilutive. k) Income tax Income tax comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognized in net loss, except to the extent it is related to items recognized directly in equity or other comprehensive loss. Deferred tax is recognized in respect of temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the consolidated financial statements. Deferred tax is determined on a non‐discounted basis using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date and are expected to apply when the deferred tax asset or liability is settled. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that their recovery is probable.

MARKETABLE SECURITIES

MARKETABLE SECURITIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure Of Marketable Securities [Abstract]
MARKETABLE SECURITIES [Text Block]	3. At December 31, 2020, the Company held 1,942,795 common shares (2019 - 1,942,795) of Grande Portage Resources Ltd. resulting from the sale of the Company's 35% interest in the Herbert Gold project on July 29, 2016. During 2020, a $476,000 gain (2019 - $9,000) was recognized in the consolidated statement of loss and comprehensive loss. As of December 31, 2020, the shares had a fair value of $641,000 (2019 - $165,000).

MINERAL PROPERTIES

MINERAL PROPERTIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [abstract]
MINERAL PROPERTIES [Text Block]	4. The Company owns a 100% interest in the MacArthur and Yerington properties. It has an option to earn a 100% interest in the Bear, Wassuk, and Butte Valley properties in Nevada and a 90% interest in the Groundhog property in Alaska. Total mineral property maintenance and exploration costs are listed in the table below: (In thousands of U.S. Dollars) MacArthur Yerington Bear Wassuk Groundhog Butte Valley Total Balance, December 31, 2017 $ 17,888 $ 10,572 $ 320 $ 1,004 $ 1,511 $ — $ 31,295 Property maintenance 150 52 692 101 40 — 1,035 Geological & mapping 66 45 — — 10 — 121 Geophysical & survey 113 13 — — 12 — 138 Assay & labs — — — — — — Environmental — 196 — — 6 — 202 Other 1 13 — — 41 — 55 Technical consultant — — — — — — — 330 319 692 101 109 — 1,551 Proceeds from water rights sale — (313 ) — — — — (313 ) Balance, December 31, 2018 18,218 10,578 1,012 1,105 1,620 — 32,533 Property maintenance 159 90 238 110 64 168 829 Geological & mapping 17 — 17 — 65 — 99 Geophysical & survey — — — — 368 18 386 Assay & labs — — — — 5 — 5 Environmental — 189 — — — — 189 Field support & overhead — 15 — — 178 — 193 Technical study 110 — — — 20 — 130 286 294 255 110 700 186 1,831 Proceeds from water rights sale — (5,685 ) — — — (5,685 ) Balance, December 31, 2019 18,504 5,187 1,267 1,215 2,320 186 28,679 Property maintenance 159 73 193 255 61 201 942 Geological & mapping 4 — — — 3 — 7 Geophysical & survey — — — — 66 — 66 Assay & labs 3 — — — — — 3 Environmental — 167 — — — — 167 Overhead and community — 10 — — 58 — 68 Technical study 158 — — — 14 — 172 324 250 193 255 202 201 1,425 Proceeds from water rights sale — (1,868 ) — — — — (1,868 ) Balance, December 31, 2020 18,828 3,569 1,460 1,470 2,522 387 28,236 a) The Company earned its 100% interest in the MacArthur property by making payments of $2,200,000 over ten years. The property is subject to a 2% net smelter return royalty (" NSR b) The Company acquired a 100% interest in the Yerington property from the Arimetco bankruptcy proceeding in April 2011 for $500,000 cash and 250,000 common shares. The property has a 2% NSR royalty capped at $7,500,000 payable following commencement of commercial production. On December 19, 2019, the Company announced two separate agreements to sell certain primary groundwater rights associated with its Yerington property to Desert Pearl Farms LLC (" Desert Pearl The proceeds were recognized as a reduction in the carrying value of the Yerington property in 2020. On September 17, 2018, the Company announced the first purchase and sale agreement to sell certain primary groundwater rights associated with its Yerington property to Desert Pearl for $6,260,000. The Company closed the sale on March 3, 2019, for a final value of $6,020,000 after adjusting for a small correction to one of the original permits. Total net proceeds of $5,685,000 and $313,000 were recognized as a reduction in the carrying value of the Yerington property in 2019 and 2018, respectively. c) The Company has five option agreements, entered from March 2013 to May 2015, to acquire a 100% interest in private land in Yerington, Nevada, known as the Bear deposit. Under the terms of these option agreements, as amended, the Company is required to make approximately $5,423,290 in cash payments over 11 years ($4,836,290 paid) to maintain the exclusive right to purchase the land, mineral rights and certain water rights and to conduct mineral exploration on these properties. Aggregate payments to maintaining the five option agreements by year are as follows: $1,458,774 March 20, 2013 to December 31, 2015 (paid); $1,363,258 due in 2016 (paid); $895,258 due in 2017 (paid); $688,000 due in 2018 (paid); $193,000 due in 2020 (paid); $193,000 each due in 2021 and 2022; $201,000 due in 2023, and $50,000 in 2024. d) The Company has an option, as further amended, to earn a 100% interest in certain unpatented mining claims in Lyon County, Nevada, over ten years and is required to make $1,405,000 in cash payments ($1,155,000 paid) and incur a work commitment of $50,000 (nil incurred) by August 1, 2021. The final option payment of $250,000 is due by August 1, 2021. The property is subject to a 3% NSR royalty upon commencing commercial production, which can be reduced to a 2% NSR royalty in consideration for $1,500,000. e) On April 25, 2017, the Company announced it signed a five-year lease agreement, amended to six years, with Chuchuna Minerals Company (" Chuchuna The Company must fund a minimum of $500,000 each year with excess funding in any one year carried forward. The Company has met the annual work commitments to December 31, 2020. The Company can terminate the agreement at its discretion. f) On August 22, 2019, the Company entered into an option agreement with North Exploration, LLC, to earn a 100% interest in 600 unpatented mining claims in White Pine County, Nevada, for $600,000 over five years. North Exploration will retain a 2.5% NSR, of which 1% can be purchased for $1,000,000. A further 0.5% NSR can be purchased within the first ten years for $5,000,000. On December 3, 2019, the Company entered another option agreement with Nevada Select Royalty, Inc., to purchase a 100% interest in 78 unpatented claims associated with the Butte Valley project for $250,000 over five years. Nevada Select Royalty will retain a 2% NSR, of which 1% can be purchased by Quaterra for $10,000,000. Aggregate payments to maintaining the two option agreements by year are as follows: $20,000 due 2019 (paid); $80,000 due in 2020 (paid); $100,000 due in 2021; $150,000 due in 2022; and $250,000 each due in 2023 and 2024.

CONVERTIBLE NOTES

CONVERTIBLE NOTES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure Of Detailed Information About Convertible Notes [Abstract]
CONVERTIBLE NOTES [Text Block]	5. On August 28, 2018, and September 20, 2018, the Company completed non-brokered private placements in tranches of convertible debentures for gross proceeds of $550,000 and CAD 550,000 each. The convertible debentures bore simple interest at a rate of 10% per annum, payable in arrears with maturities on August 28, 2022, and September 20, 2022, respectively. Interest was payable in cash or shares at the noteholders' option, subject to regulatory approvals in the case of share payments. The principal amount was convertible into units at $0.05 or CAD 0.065 per unit in the first 12 months and $0.075 or CAD 0.10 thereafter until the maturity date. Each unit consisted of one common share and one warrant of the Company exercisable at $0.05 or CAD 0.065 per share, expiring August 28, 2022, and September 20, 2022. The convertible notes were secured against the assets of the Company. In August 2019, $550,000 and CAD 50,000 notes were converted into units, comprising 11,769,230 shares and 11,769,230 warrants. Of the interest due, $44,507 was paid by issuing 1,077,066 common shares and $13,012 interest was paid in cash. In July and August 2020, CAD 100,000 notes were converted into units at CAD 0.10, comprising 1,000,000 common share and 1,000,000 warrants. On August 28, 2020, the Company repaid the remaining CAD 400,000 and the related accrued interest of CAD 99,233 in cash. The share capital for the CAD 100,000 conversion was valued as $94,000 using the Company's closing share price on the conversion dates. Interest and accretion expense for the convertible notes was $72,000 during 2020 (2019 - $260,000). The conversion feature was a derivative liability based on the fact the conversion into units could result in a variable number of shares to be issued. (In thousands of U.S. Dollars) Convertible debenture Cash received $ 973 Transaction costs (11 ) Derivative liability (343 ) Fair value of convertible debt component at date of issue 619 Interest expense and accretion 102 Balance, December 31, 2018 721 Settlement of convertible notes (522 ) Interest payments (57 ) Interest expense and accretion 260 Balance, December 31, 2019 402 Interest expense and accretion 72 Settlement of convertible notes (398 ) Interest payment (76 ) Balance, December 31, 2020 $ —

DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES

DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure Of Derivative Liabilities [Abstract]
DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES [Text Block]	6. The Company has certain outstanding share purchase warrants that are exercisable in a different currency from the Company's functional currency. These warrants are classified as derivative liabilities and carried at fair value and revalued at each reporting date. On December 31, 2020, the derivative liabilities were revalued using the weighted average assumptions: volatility of 106%, the weighted expected term of two years, a discount rate of 0.36% and a dividend yield of 0%. (In thousands of U.S. Dollars) Derivative liabilities Balance, December 31, 2017 $ 587 Derivative related to convertible notes 343 Change in fair value estimates (358 ) Balance, December 31, 2018 572 Change in fair value estimates (105 ) Fair value of warrants issued on conversion (291 ) Balance, December 31, 2019 176 Change in fair value estimates (90 ) Fair value of warrants issued on conversion (35 ) Balance, December 31, 2020 $ 51

SHARE CAPITAL

SHARE CAPITAL	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure of classes of share capital [abstract]
SHARE CAPITAL [Text Block]	7. The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares without par value. In August 2020 and 2019, the Company issued 1,000,000 and 12,846,296 common shares, respectively, on converting certain of the convertible notes (note 5). On January 21, 2019, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement by issuing 3,000,000 common shares at CAD 0.05 per share for gross proceeds of CAD 150,000.

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure Of Share Based Compensation [Abstract]
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION [Text Block]	8. a) The Company has a stock option plan under which the Company is authorized to grant stock options of up to 10% of the number of common shares issued and outstanding of the Company at any given time. The following table presents changes in stock options outstanding and exercisable: December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 Weighted Average Number of Weighted Average Number of Exercise Price Options Exercise Price Options (CAD) (CAD) Outstanding, beginning of year 14,495,000 0.08 14,860,000 0.09 Granted 3,175,000 0.08 3,450,000 0.065 Expired (2,480,000 ) (0.13 ) (3,415,000 ) (0.10 ) Exercised (500,000 ) (0.05 ) (400,000 ) (0.0625 ) Outstanding, end of year 14,690,000 0.07 14,495,000 0.08 Exercisable, end of year 14,490,000 0.07 14,095,000 0.08 The following table summarizes stock options outstanding by expiry dates with an exercise price at the date of recording in Canadian dollars: Exercise Price Number of Options Outstanding Expiry Date (CAD) December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 December 31, 2019* 0.05 — 400,000 March 26, 2020 0.05 — 200,000 July 16, 2020 0.13 — 2,380,000 April 14, 2021 0.065 2,795,000 2,795,000 June 23, 2022 0.095 2,900,000 2,900,000 September 20, 2023 0.06 2,370,000 2,370,000 June 21, 2024 0.065 2,950,000 2,950,000 August 8, 2024 0.06 500,000 500,000 June 20, 2025 0.08 3,175,000 — 14,690,000 14,495,000 *400,000 stock options exercised at CAD 0.05 per share on December 31, 2019; shares were issued on January 3, 2020, due to the holiday season. The Company used the following assumptions in the Black-Scholes option pricing model: Year ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Weighted average share price CAD 0.07 CAD 0.065 CAD 0.05 Risk-free interest rate 0.36% 1.40% 1.32% Expected share price volatility 100% 103% 103% Expected option life in years 5.0 5.0 5.0 Forfeiture rate 0% 0% 0% Expected dividend yield 0% 0% 0% Share-based payment expenses were allocated as follows: Year ended December 31, (In thousands of U.S. Dollars) 2020 2019 2018 Consultants $ 63 $ 38 $ 22 Directors and officers 85 60 53 Employees 27 19 16 $ 175 $ 117 $ 91 b) December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 Number of Weighted Average Number of Weighted Average Warrants Exercise Price Warrants Exercise Price Outstanding, beginning of year 11,769,230 $ 0.05 19,000,000 $ 0.16 Issued 1,000,000 0.05 11,769,230 0.05 Expired — — (19,000,000 ) (0.16 ) Outstanding, end of year 12,769,230 $ 0.05 11,769,230 $ 0.05 The following table summarizes warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and 2019: Expiry date Exercise price December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 August 28, 2022 $ 0.05 11,000,000 11,000,000 August 28, 2022 CAD 0.065 1,000,000 — September 20, 2022 CAD 0.065 769,230 769,230 12,769,230 11,769,230

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Related party transactions [abstract]
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS [Text Block]	9. a) Year ended December 31, (In thousands of U.S. Dollars) 2020 2019 2018 Salaries $ 391 $ 410 $ 432 Directors' fees 35 36 36 Share-based payments 85 60 53 $ 511 $ 506 $ 521 b) Manex Advocate

SEGMENTED INFORMATION

SEGMENTED INFORMATION	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure Of Segmented Information [Abstract]
SEGMENTED INFORMATION [Text Block]	10. The Company has one business segment, the exploration of mineral properties. As of December 31, 2020, and 2019, all the Company's significant non-current assets are located in the United States.

COMMITMENTS

COMMITMENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure Of Commitments [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS [Text Block]	11. To acquire certain mineral property interests as per note 4, the Company must make optional acquisition expenditures to satisfy the terms of existing option agreements, failing which the rights to such mineral properties will revert to the property vendors

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Major components of tax expense (income) [abstract]
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES [Text Block]	12. A reconciliation of income tax provision computed at Canadian statutory rates to the reported income tax provision is provided as follows: 2020 2019 2018 The loss for the year $ (983 ) $ (1,711 ) $ (1,419 ) Canadian statutory tax rate 27% 27% 27% Income tax benefit computed at statutory rates (265 ) (462 ) (383 ) Foreign tax rates different from statutory rates 8 31 14 Other (26 ) 2 89 Foreign exchange gains or losses (180 ) 55 225 Permanent differences 19 5 (43 ) Change in unused tax losses and tax offsets 444 369 98 $ — $ — $ — The Company recognizes tax benefits on losses or other deductible amounts generated in countries where it is probable the deferred tax assets will be recovered. The Company's unrecognized deductible temporary differences and unused tax losses for which no deferred tax asset is recognized consist of the following amounts: 2020 2019 2018 Non-capital losses $ 8,597 $ 9,796 $ 9,405 Capital loss 2,303 2,257 2,273 Tax value over book value of mineral properties 4,995 3,331 3,335 Tax value over book value of equipment 12 12 12 Tax value over (under) book value of investments and share issue costs (59 ) 41 43 Unrecognized deductible temporary differences $ 15,848 $ 15,437 $ 15,068 The Company's unused non-capital losses expire as follows: Canada United States 2020 - 2026 $ 549 $ — 2027 - 2040 20,718 19,595 Total $ 21,266 $ 19,595 The Company's unused capital losses of $17,100,000 are available to carry forward indefinitely.

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure Of Capital Management [Abstract]
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT [Text Block]	13. The Company considers its capital to be equity, comprising share capital, reserves and deficit. The Company's objectives are to ensure sufficient financial flexibility to achieve its ongoing business objectives, including the funding of future growth opportunities, the pursuit of accretive acquisitions, and to maximize shareholder return through enhancing the share value. The Company manages capital through its budgeting and forecasting processes. The Company reviews its working capital and forecasts its future cash flows based on operating expenditures and other investing and financing activities. To maintain its objectives, the Company may issue new shares, adjust capital spending, acquire or dispose of assets. There is no assurance that these initiatives will be successful. There was no change in the Company's approach to capital management during the year ended December 31, 2020. The Company is not subject to any externally imposed capital requirements.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT RISKS

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT RISKS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure Of Financial Instrument Risk [Abstract]
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT RISKS [Text Block]	14. The board of directors has overall responsibility for establishing and oversight of the Company's risk management framework. The Company examines the various financial instrument risks to which it is exposed and assesses the impact and likelihood of those risks. Financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, accounts payable and derivative liabilities. a) Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Company manages liquidity risk by forecasting cash flows. Cash is invested in highly liquid investments that are available to discharge obligations when they come due. b) Foreign exchange risk is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in foreign exchange rates. The Company operates in the United States and Canada; therefore, it is exposed to currency risk from transactions denominated in CAD. Currently, the Company does not have any foreign exchange hedge programs and manages its operational CAD requirements through spot purchases in the foreign exchange markets. Based on CAD financial assets and liabilities' magnitude, the Company does not have material sensitivity to CAD to USD exchange rates. c) Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate due to changes in market interest rates. The Company is exposed to the interest rate risk on its liabilities through its outstanding borrowings and the interest earned on cash balances. The Company monitors its exposure to interest rates and maintains an investment policy that focuses primarily on the preservation of capital and liquidity. b) Credit risk is the risk of a financial loss to the Company if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations. The Company is exposed to credit risk through its cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are held in large Canadian financial institutions that have high credit ratings assigned by international credit rating agencies. c) The Company is exposed to market risk because of the fluctuating values of its publicly traded marketable securities. The Company has no control over these fluctuations and does not hedge its investments. Marketable securities are adjusted to fair value at each reporting date.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [abstract]
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS [Text Block]	15. a) b) c)

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICI_2

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of presentation and consolidation [Policy Text Block]	a) Basis of presentation and consolidation These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for marketable securities and derivative financial liabilities, which are stated at their fair values. The Company consolidates an entity when it has power over that entity, is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with that entity and can affect those returns through its control over that entity. All material intercompany transactions, balances and expenses are eliminated on consolidation. These consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of Quaterra and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: Quaterra Alaska Inc., Singatse Peak Services, LLC (“ SPS
Accounting estimates and judgments [Policy Text Block]	b) Accounting estimates and judgments The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Judgment is required in assessing whether certain factors would be considered an indicator of impairment. Both internal and external information is considered to determine whether there is an indicator of impairment present and, accordingly, whether impairment testing is required. There is no significant estimation uncertainty in relation to estimates included in the Company's financial statements.
Translation of foreign currencies [Policy Text Block]	c) Translation of foreign currencies The Company’s presentation currency is the U.S. dollar (“ $ USD In preparing the financial statements, transactions in currencies other than an entity's functional currency ("foreign currencies") are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities are translated using the period-end foreign exchange rate. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated using the historical rate on the date of the transaction. All gains and losses on translation of these foreign currency transactions are included in the statement of loss.
Mineral properties [Policy Text Block]	d) Mineral properties Direct costs related to the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties held or controlled by the Company are capitalized on an individual property basis until the property transitions to the development stage, is sold, abandoned, or determined to be impaired. Administration costs and general exploration costs are expensed as incurred. The Company classifies its mineral properties as exploration and evaluation assets until the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting a mineral resource are demonstrable. At this point, the mineral properties' carrying value is tested for impairment and subsequently transferred to property and equipment. The establishment of technical feasibility and commercial viability of a mineral property is assessed based on a combination of factors, such as the extent of established mineral reserves, the results of feasibility and technical evaluations, and the status of mineral leases or permits. Proceeds from the sale of properties, property water rights or cash proceeds received from farm-out option agreements are recorded as a reduction of the related mineral property, with any excess proceeds accounted for in net income (loss).
Impairment [Policy Text Block]	e) Impairment The Company's assets are reviewed for the indication of impairment at each reporting date in accordance with IFRS 6 - Exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources. If any such indication exists, an estimate of the recoverable amount of the asset is undertaken, being the higher of an asset's fair value, less costs of disposal and its value in use. If the asset's carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount, an impairment loss is recognized in the statement of loss. Impairment indicators are considered to exist if (i) the right to explore the area has expired or will expire in the near future with no expectation of renewal; (ii) Substantive expenditure on further exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources in the area is neither planned nor budgeted; (iii) No commercially viable deposits have been discovered, and the decision had been made to discontinue exploration in the area; and (iv) Sufficient work has been performed to indicate that the carrying amount of the expenditure carried as an asset will not be fully recovered. An impairment loss is reversed if there is an indication that there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that this does not exceed the original carrying amount that if no impairment loss had been recognized.
Share-based compensation [Policy Text Block]	f) Share-based compensation The fair value of stock options granted to directors, officers, employees and consultants is calculated using the Black Scholes option pricing model and is expensed over the vesting periods. If and when the stock options are exercised, the value attributable to the stock options is transferred to share capital.
Cash and cash equivalents [Policy Text Block]	g) Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, bank deposits and highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less.
Financial instruments [Policy Text Block]	h) Financial instruments Financial instruments are recognized in the statement of financial position when the Company becomes a party to a contractual obligation. At initial recognition, the Company classifies and measures its financial instruments as one of the following: • at amortized cost, if they are held to collect contractual cash flows which solely represent payments of principal and interest; • at fair value, through other comprehensive income (“ FVOCI • otherwise, they are classified at fair value through profit or loss (“ FVPL Financial assets are classified and measured at fair value with subsequent changes in fair value recognized in either profit and loss as they arise unless restrictive criteria are met for classifying and measuring the asset at either amortized cost or FVOCI. Financial liabilities are measured at amortized costs unless they are elected to be or required to be measured at fair value through profit and loss. Financial assets are derecognized when the rights to receive cash flows from the assets have expired or have been transferred, and the Company has transferred all risks and rewards of ownership. Financial liabilities are derecognized when the obligations specified in the contract are discharged, cancelled, or expire. At each reporting date, the Company uses the expected credit losses model to assess the impairment of its financial assets measured at amortized cost. The model represents possible outcomes and focuses on the risk of default rather than an actual occurrence. If there has been a significant increase in credit risk, an allowance would be recognized in the statement of loss. The Company's accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. The marketable securities are a Level 1 fair value measurement; the derivative warrants are a Level 2 fair value measurement. The convertible note is classified as a liability at amortized cost, with the conversion feature classified as a derivative liability. The debt liability was initially recorded at fair value and is subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method and will be accreted to the face value over the term of the convertible debenture.
Provisions [Policy Text Block]	i) Provisions Provisions are recognized when a present legal or constructive obligation exists as a result of past events where it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation, and the amount of the obligation can be reliably estimated. The amount recognized as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the reporting date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. The Company had no material provisions on December 31, 2020, and 2018.
Earnings (loss) per share [Policy Text Block]	j) Earnings (loss) per share Basic earnings (loss) per share is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. The Company uses the treasury stock method to compute the dilutive effect of options, warrants and similar instruments. Under this method, the dilutive effect on earnings per share is calculated, presuming the exercise of in-the-money outstanding options, warrants and similar instruments. It assumes that the proceeds of such exercise would be used to repurchase common shares at the average market price during the year. However, the calculation of diluted loss per share excludes the effects of various conversions and exercise of options and warrants that would be anti-dilutive.
Income tax [Policy Text Block]	k) Income tax Income tax comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognized in net loss, except to the extent it is related to items recognized directly in equity or other comprehensive loss. Deferred tax is recognized in respect of temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the consolidated financial statements. Deferred tax is determined on a non‐discounted basis using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date and are expected to apply when the deferred tax asset or liability is settled. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that their recovery is probable.

MINERAL PROPERTIES (Tables)

MINERAL PROPERTIES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [abstract]
Disclosure of detailed information about the mineral property maintenance and exploration costs [Table Text Block]	(In thousands of U.S. Dollars) MacArthur Yerington Bear Wassuk Groundhog Butte Valley Total Balance, December 31, 2017 $ 17,888 $ 10,572 $ 320 $ 1,004 $ 1,511 $ — $ 31,295 Property maintenance 150 52 692 101 40 — 1,035 Geological & mapping 66 45 — — 10 — 121 Geophysical & survey 113 13 — — 12 — 138 Assay & labs — — — — — — Environmental — 196 — — 6 — 202 Other 1 13 — — 41 — 55 Technical consultant — — — — — — — 330 319 692 101 109 — 1,551 Proceeds from water rights sale — (313 ) — — — — (313 ) Balance, December 31, 2018 18,218 10,578 1,012 1,105 1,620 — 32,533 Property maintenance 159 90 238 110 64 168 829 Geological & mapping 17 — 17 — 65 — 99 Geophysical & survey — — — — 368 18 386 Assay & labs — — — — 5 — 5 Environmental — 189 — — — — 189 Field support & overhead — 15 — — 178 — 193 Technical study 110 — — — 20 — 130 286 294 255 110 700 186 1,831 Proceeds from water rights sale — (5,685 ) — — — (5,685 ) Balance, December 31, 2019 18,504 5,187 1,267 1,215 2,320 186 28,679 Property maintenance 159 73 193 255 61 201 942 Geological & mapping 4 — — — 3 — 7 Geophysical & survey — — — — 66 — 66 Assay & labs 3 — — — — — 3 Environmental — 167 — — — — 167 Overhead and community — 10 — — 58 — 68 Technical study 158 — — — 14 — 172 324 250 193 255 202 201 1,425 Proceeds from water rights sale — (1,868 ) — — — — (1,868 ) Balance, December 31, 2020 18,828 3,569 1,460 1,470 2,522 387 28,236

CONVERTIBLE NOTES (Tables)

CONVERTIBLE NOTES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure Of Detailed Information About Convertible Notes [Abstract]
Disclosure of detailed information about convertible notes [Table Text Block]	(In thousands of U.S. Dollars) Convertible debenture Cash received $ 973 Transaction costs (11 ) Derivative liability (343 ) Fair value of convertible debt component at date of issue 619 Interest expense and accretion 102 Balance, December 31, 2018 721 Settlement of convertible notes (522 ) Interest payments (57 ) Interest expense and accretion 260 Balance, December 31, 2019 402 Interest expense and accretion 72 Settlement of convertible notes (398 ) Interest payment (76 ) Balance, December 31, 2020 $ —

DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES (Tables)

DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure Of Derivative Liabilities [Abstract]
Disclosure of detailed information about derivative liabilities [Table Text Block]	(In thousands of U.S. Dollars) Derivative liabilities Balance, December 31, 2017 $ 587 Derivative related to convertible notes 343 Change in fair value estimates (358 ) Balance, December 31, 2018 572 Change in fair value estimates (105 ) Fair value of warrants issued on conversion (291 ) Balance, December 31, 2019 176 Change in fair value estimates (90 ) Fair value of warrants issued on conversion (35 ) Balance, December 31, 2020 $ 51

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION (Table

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure Of Share Based Compensation [Abstract]
Disclosure of number and weighted average exercise prices of share options [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 Weighted Average Number of Weighted Average Number of Exercise Price Options Exercise Price Options (CAD) (CAD) Outstanding, beginning of year 14,495,000 0.08 14,860,000 0.09 Granted 3,175,000 0.08 3,450,000 0.065 Expired (2,480,000 ) (0.13 ) (3,415,000 ) (0.10 ) Exercised (500,000 ) (0.05 ) (400,000 ) (0.0625 ) Outstanding, end of year 14,690,000 0.07 14,495,000 0.08 Exercisable, end of year 14,490,000 0.07 14,095,000 0.08
Disclosure of number and weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding share options [Table Text Block]	Exercise Price Number of Options Outstanding Expiry Date (CAD) December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 December 31, 2019* 0.05 — 400,000 March 26, 2020 0.05 — 200,000 July 16, 2020 0.13 — 2,380,000 April 14, 2021 0.065 2,795,000 2,795,000 June 23, 2022 0.095 2,900,000 2,900,000 September 20, 2023 0.06 2,370,000 2,370,000 June 21, 2024 0.065 2,950,000 2,950,000 August 8, 2024 0.06 500,000 500,000 June 20, 2025 0.08 3,175,000 — 14,690,000 14,495,000
Disclosure of detailed information about options, valuation assumptions [Table Text Block]	Year ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Weighted average share price CAD 0.07 CAD 0.065 CAD 0.05 Risk-free interest rate 0.36% 1.40% 1.32% Expected share price volatility 100% 103% 103% Expected option life in years 5.0 5.0 5.0 Forfeiture rate 0% 0% 0% Expected dividend yield 0% 0% 0%
Disclosure of additional information about share-based payment arrangements [Table Text Block]	Year ended December 31, (In thousands of U.S. Dollars) 2020 2019 2018 Consultants $ 63 $ 38 $ 22 Directors and officers 85 60 53 Employees 27 19 16 $ 175 $ 117 $ 91
Disclosure of number and weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding share purchase warrants [Table Text Block]	December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 Number of Weighted Average Number of Weighted Average Warrants Exercise Price Warrants Exercise Price Outstanding, beginning of year 11,769,230 $ 0.05 19,000,000 $ 0.16 Issued 1,000,000 0.05 11,769,230 0.05 Expired — — (19,000,000 ) (0.16 ) Outstanding, end of year 12,769,230 $ 0.05 11,769,230 $ 0.05
Disclosure of detailed information about warrants outstanding [Table Text Block]	Expiry date Exercise price December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 August 28, 2022 $ 0.05 11,000,000 11,000,000 August 28, 2022 CAD 0.065 1,000,000 — September 20, 2022 CAD 0.065 769,230 769,230 12,769,230 11,769,230

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Tab

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Related party transactions [abstract]
Disclosure of information about key management personnel [Table Text Block]	Year ended December 31, (In thousands of U.S. Dollars) 2020 2019 2018 Salaries $ 391 $ 410 $ 432 Directors' fees 35 36 36 Share-based payments 85 60 53 $ 511 $ 506 $ 521

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES (Tables)

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Major components of tax expense (income) [abstract]
Disclosure of detailed information about effective income tax expense (recovery) [Table Text Block]	2020 2019 2018 The loss for the year $ (983 ) $ (1,711 ) $ (1,419 ) Canadian statutory tax rate 27% 27% 27% Income tax benefit computed at statutory rates (265 ) (462 ) (383 ) Foreign tax rates different from statutory rates 8 31 14 Other (26 ) 2 89 Foreign exchange gains or losses (180 ) 55 225 Permanent differences 19 5 (43 ) Change in unused tax losses and tax offsets 444 369 98 $ — $ — $ —
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [text block] [Table Text Block]	2020 2019 2018 Non-capital losses $ 8,597 $ 9,796 $ 9,405 Capital loss 2,303 2,257 2,273 Tax value over book value of mineral properties 4,995 3,331 3,335 Tax value over book value of equipment 12 12 12 Tax value over (under) book value of investments and share issue costs (59 ) 41 43 Unrecognized deductible temporary differences $ 15,848 $ 15,437 $ 15,068
Disclosure of detailed information about deferred tax assets expiration [Table Text Block]	Canada United States 2020 - 2026 $ 549 $ — 2027 - 2040 20,718 19,595 Total $ 21,266 $ 19,595

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND LIQU_2

NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND LIQUIDITY RISK (Narrative) (Details)	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)
Disclosure Of Nature Of Operations And Liquidity Risk [Abstract]
Working capital	$ 1,128,000

MARKETABLE SECURITIES (Narrativ

MARKETABLE SECURITIES (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 29, 2016	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Disclosure Of Marketable Securities [Line Items]
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities		$ 476	$ 9	$ (130)
Marketable securities		$ 641	$ 165
Grande Portage Resources Ltd. [Member]
Disclosure Of Marketable Securities [Line Items]
Equity instruments held, shares		1,942,795	1,942,795
Herbert Gold property [Member]
Disclosure Of Marketable Securities [Line Items]
Proportion of voting rights in subsidiary sold	35.00%

MINERAL PROPERTIES (Narrative)

MINERAL PROPERTIES (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	Mar. 03, 2019	Jul. 31, 2020	Sep. 17, 2018	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Apr. 01, 2021	Dec. 03, 2019	Aug. 22, 2019
MacArthur, Nevada [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Mineral property, ownership interest				100.00%						100.00%
Purchase of exploration and evaluation assets				$ 2,200,000
Net smelter return royalty				2.00%						2.00%
Potential net smelter return royalty in exchange for consideration				1.00%						1.00%
Consideration required for decreased net smelter return royalty				$ 1,000,000						$ 1,000,000
Yerington, Nevada [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Mineral property, ownership interest				100.00%						100.00%
Purchase of exploration and evaluation assets				$ 500,000
Purchase of exploration and evaluation assets, shares				250,000
Net smelter return royalty				2.00%						2.00%
Net smelter return royalty cap				$ 7,500,000						$ 7,500,000
Sales price of certain water rights	$ 6,020,000		$ 6,260,000
Proceeds from sale of certain water rights		$ 1,868,117			$ 5,685,000	$ 313,000
Bear, Nevada [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Mineral property, option interest				100.00%						100.00%
Purchase of exploration and evaluation assets				$ 193,000		$ 688,000	$ 895,258	$ 1,363,258	$ 1,458,774	$ 4,836,290
Option agreement, obligated cash payments				$ 5,423,290						$ 5,423,290
Bear, Nevada [Member] | Subsequent event [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Option agreement, obligated cash payments											$ 50,000	$ 201,000	$ 193,000	$ 193,000
Wassuk, Nevada [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Mineral property, option interest				100.00%						100.00%
Purchase of exploration and evaluation assets				$ 1,155,000
Net smelter return royalty				3.00%						3.00%
Potential net smelter return royalty in exchange for consideration				2.00%						2.00%
Consideration required for decreased net smelter return royalty				$ 1,500,000						$ 1,500,000
Option agreement, obligated cash payments				1,405,000						1,405,000
Option agreement, obligated work commitment				50,000						50,000
Work commitment incurred				$ 0						$ 0
Wassuk, Nevada [Member] | Subsequent event [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Option agreement, obligated cash payments															$ 250,000
Groundhog, Alaska [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Mineral property, option interest				90.00%						90.00%
Purchase of exploration and evaluation assets				$ 2,522,000
Option agreement, obligated cash payments				3,000,000						$ 3,000,000
Option agreement, obligated exploration expenditure				500,000						500,000
Option agreement, obligated exploration expenditure, over five years				5,000,000						$ 5,000,000
Butte Valley [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Mineral property, option interest																100.00%	100.00%
Purchase of exploration and evaluation assets				$ 80,000	$ 20,000
Net smelter return royalty																2.00%	2.50%
Potential net smelter return royalty in exchange for consideration																1.00%	1.00%
Consideration required for decreased net smelter return royalty																$ 10,000,000	$ 1,000,000
Option agreement, obligated exploration expenditure, over five years																$ 250,000	$ 600,000
Additional potential net smelter return royalty in exchange for additional consideration																	0.50%
Additional consideration for additional potential net smelter return royalty																	$ 5,000,000
Butte Valley [Member] | Subsequent event [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Option agreement, obligated cash payments											$ 250,000	$ 250,000	$ 150,000	$ 100,000

MINERAL PROPERTIES - Disclosure

MINERAL PROPERTIES - Disclosure of detailed information about the mineral property maintenance and exploration costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Exploration and evaluation assets, beginning of period	$ 28,679	$ 32,533	$ 31,295
Additions	1,425	1,831	1,551
Proceeds from water rights sale	1,868	5,685	313
Exploration and evaluation assets, end of period	28,236	28,679	32,533
Property maintenance [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	942	829	1,035
Geological mapping [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	7	99	121
Geophysical survey [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	66	386	138
Assay & labs [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	3	5	0
Environmental [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	167	189	202
Field support and overhead [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	68	193
Other [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions			55
Technical consultant [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions			0
Technical study [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	172	130
MacArthur, Nevada [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Exploration and evaluation assets, beginning of period	18,504	18,218	17,888
Additions	324	286	330
Proceeds from water rights sale	0	0	0
Exploration and evaluation assets, end of period	18,828	18,504	18,218
MacArthur, Nevada [Member] | Property maintenance [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	159	159	150
MacArthur, Nevada [Member] | Geological mapping [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	4	17	66
MacArthur, Nevada [Member] | Geophysical survey [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0	113
MacArthur, Nevada [Member] | Assay & labs [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	3	0	0
MacArthur, Nevada [Member] | Environmental [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0	0
MacArthur, Nevada [Member] | Field support and overhead [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0
MacArthur, Nevada [Member] | Other [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions			1
MacArthur, Nevada [Member] | Technical consultant [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions			0
MacArthur, Nevada [Member] | Technical study [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	158	110
Yerington Pit, Nevada [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Exploration and evaluation assets, beginning of period	5,187	10,578	10,572
Additions	250	294	319
Proceeds from water rights sale	(1,868)	(5,685)	(313)
Exploration and evaluation assets, end of period	3,569	5,187	10,578
Yerington Pit, Nevada [Member] | Property maintenance [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	73	90	52
Yerington Pit, Nevada [Member] | Geological mapping [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0	45
Yerington Pit, Nevada [Member] | Geophysical survey [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0	13
Yerington Pit, Nevada [Member] | Assay & labs [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0	0
Yerington Pit, Nevada [Member] | Environmental [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	167	189	196
Yerington Pit, Nevada [Member] | Field support and overhead [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	10	15
Yerington Pit, Nevada [Member] | Other [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions			13
Yerington Pit, Nevada [Member] | Technical consultant [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions			0
Yerington Pit, Nevada [Member] | Technical study [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0
Bear, Nevada [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Exploration and evaluation assets, beginning of period	1,267	1,012	320
Additions	193	255	692
Proceeds from water rights sale	0	0	0
Exploration and evaluation assets, end of period	1,460	1,267	1,012
Bear, Nevada [Member] | Property maintenance [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	193	238	692
Bear, Nevada [Member] | Geological mapping [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	17	0
Bear, Nevada [Member] | Geophysical survey [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0	0
Bear, Nevada [Member] | Assay & labs [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0	0
Bear, Nevada [Member] | Environmental [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0	0
Bear, Nevada [Member] | Field support and overhead [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0
Bear, Nevada [Member] | Other [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions			0
Bear, Nevada [Member] | Technical consultant [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions			0
Bear, Nevada [Member] | Technical study [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0
Wassuk, Nevada [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Exploration and evaluation assets, beginning of period	1,215	1,105	1,004
Additions	255	110	101
Proceeds from water rights sale	0	0	0
Exploration and evaluation assets, end of period	1,470	1,215	1,105
Wassuk, Nevada [Member] | Property maintenance [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	255	110	101
Wassuk, Nevada [Member] | Geological mapping [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0	0
Wassuk, Nevada [Member] | Geophysical survey [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0	0
Wassuk, Nevada [Member] | Assay & labs [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0	0
Wassuk, Nevada [Member] | Environmental [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0	0
Wassuk, Nevada [Member] | Field support and overhead [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0
Wassuk, Nevada [Member] | Other [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions			0
Wassuk, Nevada [Member] | Technical consultant [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions			0
Wassuk, Nevada [Member] | Technical study [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0
Groundhog, Alaska [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Exploration and evaluation assets, beginning of period	2,320	1,620	1,511
Additions	202	700	109
Proceeds from water rights sale	0	0	0
Exploration and evaluation assets, end of period	2,522	2,320	1,620
Groundhog, Alaska [Member] | Property maintenance [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	61	64	40
Groundhog, Alaska [Member] | Geological mapping [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	3	65	10
Groundhog, Alaska [Member] | Geophysical survey [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	66	368	12
Groundhog, Alaska [Member] | Assay & labs [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	5
Groundhog, Alaska [Member] | Environmental [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0	6
Groundhog, Alaska [Member] | Field support and overhead [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	58	178
Groundhog, Alaska [Member] | Other [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions			41
Groundhog, Alaska [Member] | Technical consultant [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions			0
Groundhog, Alaska [Member] | Technical study [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	14	20
Butte Valley [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Exploration and evaluation assets, beginning of period	186	0	0
Additions	201	186	0
Proceeds from water rights sale	0
Exploration and evaluation assets, end of period	387	186	0
Butte Valley [Member] | Property maintenance [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	201	168	0
Butte Valley [Member] | Geological mapping [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0	0
Butte Valley [Member] | Geophysical survey [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	18	0
Butte Valley [Member] | Assay & labs [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0	0
Butte Valley [Member] | Environmental [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0	0
Butte Valley [Member] | Field support and overhead [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	0	0
Butte Valley [Member] | Other [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions			0
Butte Valley [Member] | Technical consultant [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions			$ 0
Butte Valley [Member] | Technical study [Member]
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items]
Additions	$ 0	$ 0

CONVERTIBLE NOTES (Narrative) (

CONVERTIBLE NOTES (Narrative) (Details)	1 Months Ended				2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2019CAD ($)shares	Aug. 31, 2019USD ($)shares	Sep. 20, 2018CAD ($)	Aug. 28, 2018USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2020CAD ($)$ / sharesshares	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018CAD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020CAD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Disclosure Of Detailed Information About Convertible Notes [Abstract]
Convertible notes proceeds			$ 550,000	$ 550,000
Debt instrument interest rate								10.00%				10.00%
Convertible debt, conversion price for first twelve months								$ 0.065				$ 0.05
Convertible debt, conversion price after first twelve months								0.10				$ 0.075
Weighted average exercise price of warrants granted in share-based payment arrangement								$ 0.065	$ 0.05
Debt conversion converted instruments amount	$ 50,000	$ 550,000			$ 100,000
Debt instruments convertible conversion price | $ / shares					$ 0.10
Number of common stock issued for conversion of convertible debt | shares	11,769,230	11,769,230			1,000,000
Number of warrants issued for conversion of convertible debt | shares	11,769,230	11,769,230			1,000,000
Stock issued for conversion of interest | $		$ 44,507
Number of stock issued for conversion of interest | shares	1,077,066	1,077,066
Repayment of debt | $					$ 400,000
Interest paid		$ 13,012			$ 99,233
Amount of share capital for conversion										$ 100,000	$ 94,000
Interest expense and accretion | $						$ 72,000	$ 260,000

CONVERTIBLE NOTES - Disclosure

CONVERTIBLE NOTES - Disclosure of detailed information about convertible notes (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Convertible Notes [Line Items]
Interest expense and accretion	$ 72,000	$ 260,000
Convertible Notes [Member]
Convertible Notes [Line Items]
Balance	402,000	721,000
Cash received			$ 973,000
Transaction costs			(11,000)
Derivative liability			(343,000)
Fair value of convertible debt component at date of issue			619,000
Settlement of convertible notes	(398,000)	(522,000)
Interest payments	(76,000)	(57,000)
Interest expense and accretion	72,000	260,000	102,000
Balance	$ 0	$ 402,000	$ 721,000

DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES (Narrati

DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Derivative Liabilities [Line Items]
Expected volatility, warrants outstanding	106.00%
Expected term, warrants outstanding	2 years
Expected discount rate, warrants outstanding	0.36%
Expected dividend yield, warrants outstanding	0.00%

DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES - Disclo

DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES - Disclosure of detailed information about derivative liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Disclosure Of Derivative Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities, beginning balance	$ 176	$ 572	$ 587
Derivative related to convertible notes			343
Change in fair value estimates	(90)	(105)	(358)
Fair value of warrants issued on conversion	(35)	(291)
Derivative liabilities, ending balance	$ 51	$ 176	$ 572

SHARE CAPITAL (Narrative) (Deta

SHARE CAPITAL (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2020shares	Aug. 31, 2019shares	Jan. 21, 2019CAD ($)$ / sharesshares	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)
Disclosure of classes of share capital [abstract]
Number of shares issued on conversion of convertible notes	1,000,000	12,846,296
Number of shares issued upon closing of non-brokered private placement			3,000,000
Common shares issued, per share amount | $ / shares			$ 0.05
Shares issued for cash			$ 150,000	$ 19	$ 132

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION (Narra

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020shares$ / shares	Dec. 31, 2019shares$ / shares
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Options authorized under stock option plan as a percentage of issued and outstanding common shares	10.00%
Number of share options exercised in share-based payment arrangement | shares	500,000	400,000
Weighted average exercise price of share options exercised in share-based payment arrangement | $ / shares	$ 0.05	$ 0.0625
Expire December 31, 2019 [Member]
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Number of share options exercised in share-based payment arrangement | shares		400,000
Weighted average exercise price of share options exercised in share-based payment arrangement | $ / shares		$ 0.05

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION - Disc

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION - Disclosure of number and weighted average exercise prices of share options (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020shares$ / shares	Dec. 31, 2019shares$ / shares
Disclosure Of Share Based Compensation [Abstract]
Number of share options outstanding in share-based payment arrangement at beginning of period | shares	14,495,000	14,860,000
Number of share options granted in share-based payment arrangement | shares	3,175,000	3,450,000
Number of share options expired in share-based payment arrangement | shares	(2,480,000)	(3,415,000)
Number of share options exercised in share-based payment arrangement | shares	(500,000)	(400,000)
Number of share options outstanding in share-based payment arrangement at end of period | shares	14,690,000	14,495,000
Number of share options exercisable in share-based payment arrangement | shares	14,490,000	14,095,000
Weighted average exercise price of share options outstanding in share-based payment arrangement at beginning of period | $ / shares	$ 0.08	$ 0.09
Weighted average exercise price of share options granted in share-based payment arrangement | $ / shares	0.08	0.065
Weighted average exercise price of share options expired in share-based payment arrangement | $ / shares	(0.13)	(0.10)
Weighted average exercise price of share options exercised in share-based payment arrangement | $ / shares	(0.05)	(0.0625)
Weighted average exercise price of share options outstanding in share-based payment arrangement at end of period | $ / shares	0.07	0.08
Weighted average exercise price of share options exercisable in share-based payment arrangement | $ / shares	$ 0.07	$ 0.08

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION - Di_2

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION - Disclosure of number and weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding share options (Details)	Dec. 31, 2020shares$ / shares	Dec. 31, 2019shares	Dec. 31, 2018shares
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Number of share options outstanding in share-based payment arrangement	14,690,000	14,495,000	14,860,000
Expire December 31, 2019 [Member]
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Exercise price of outstanding share options | $ / shares	$ 0.05
Number of share options outstanding in share-based payment arrangement	0	400,000
Expire March 26, 2020 [Member]
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Exercise price of outstanding share options | $ / shares	$ 0.05
Number of share options outstanding in share-based payment arrangement	0	200,000
Expire July 16, 2020 [Member]
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Exercise price of outstanding share options | $ / shares	$ 0.13
Number of share options outstanding in share-based payment arrangement	0	2,380,000
Expire April 14, 2021 [Member]
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Exercise price of outstanding share options | $ / shares	$ 0.065
Number of share options outstanding in share-based payment arrangement	2,795,000	2,795,000
Expire June 23, 2022 [Member]
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Exercise price of outstanding share options | $ / shares	$ 0.095
Number of share options outstanding in share-based payment arrangement	2,900,000	2,900,000
Expire September 20, 2023 [Member]
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Exercise price of outstanding share options | $ / shares	$ 0.06
Number of share options outstanding in share-based payment arrangement	2,370,000	2,370,000
Expire June 21, 2024 [Member]
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Exercise price of outstanding share options | $ / shares	$ 0.065
Number of share options outstanding in share-based payment arrangement	2,950,000	2,950,000
Expire August 8, 2024 [Member]
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Exercise price of outstanding share options | $ / shares	$ 0.06
Number of share options outstanding in share-based payment arrangement	500,000	500,000
Expiry June 20, 2025 [Member]
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Exercise price of outstanding share options | $ / shares	$ 0.08
Number of share options outstanding in share-based payment arrangement	3,175,000	0

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION - Di_3

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION - Disclosure of detailed information about options, valuation assumptions (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020yr$ / shares	Dec. 31, 2019yr$ / shares	Dec. 31, 2018yr$ / shares
Disclosure Of Share Based Compensation [Abstract]
Weighted average share price | $ / shares	$ 0.07	$ 0.065	$ 0.05
Riskfree interestrate	0.36%	1.40%	1.32%
Expected share price volatility	100.00%	103.00%	103.00%
Expected option life in years | yr	5	5	5
Forfeiture rate	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Expected dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION - Addi

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION - Additional information about share-based payment arrangements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Share-based payments	$ 175	$ 117	$ 91
Consultants [Member]
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Share-based payments	63	38	22
Directors and officers [Member]
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Share-based payments	85	60	53
Employees [Member]
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Share-based payments	$ 27	$ 19	$ 16

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION - Di_4

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION - Disclosure of number and weighted average exercise prices of share purchase warrants (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020shares$ / shares	Dec. 31, 2019shares$ / shares
Disclosure Of Share Based Compensation [Abstract]
Outstanding, beginning of year | shares	11,769,230	19,000,000
Issued | shares	1,000,000	11,769,230
Expired | shares	0	(19,000,000)
Outstanding, end of year | shares	12,769,230	11,769,230
Weighted average exercise price of other equity instruments outstanding in share-based payment arrangement at beginning of period | $ / shares	$ 0.05	$ 0.16
Issued | $ / shares	0.05	0.05
Expired | $ / shares	0	(0.16)
Weighted average exercise price of other equity instruments outstanding in share-based payment arrangement at end of period | $ / shares	$ 0.05	$ 0.05

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION - Di_5

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION - Disclosure of detailed information about warrants outstanding (Details)	Dec. 31, 2020CAD ($)shares	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)shares	Dec. 31, 2019shares
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Number of warrants outstanding in share-based payment arrangement	12,769,230	12,769,230	11,769,230
Expire August 28, 2022 [Member]
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Weighted average exercise price of warrants outstanding in share-based payment arrangement | $		$ 0.05
Number of warrants outstanding in share-based payment arrangement	11,000,000	11,000,000	11,000,000
Expire August 28, 2022 [Member]
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Weighted average exercise price of warrants outstanding in share-based payment arrangement | $	$ 0.065
Number of warrants outstanding in share-based payment arrangement	1,000,000	1,000,000	0
Expire September 22, 2022 [Member]
Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items]
Weighted average exercise price of warrants outstanding in share-based payment arrangement | $	$ 0.065
Number of warrants outstanding in share-based payment arrangement	769,230	769,230	769,230

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Nar

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020CAD ($)
Manex Resource Group [Member]
Disclosure of transactions between related parties [line items]
Related party transactions, monthly amount	$ 7,500
Advocate Services Ltd [Member]
Disclosure of transactions between related parties [line items]
Related party transactions, monthly amount	$ 5,000

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS - Di

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS - Disclosure of information about key management personnel (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Related party transactions [abstract]
Salaries	$ 391	$ 410	$ 432
Directors' fees	35	36	36
Share-based compensation	85	60	53
Key management personnel compensation	$ 511	$ 506	$ 521

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES (Narrativ

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES (Narrative) (Details)	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)
Unused capital losses [Member]
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items]
Carryforward of unused tax losses	$ 17,100,000

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES - Disclos

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES - Disclosure of detailed information about effective income tax expense recovery (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Major components of tax expense (income) [abstract]
The loss for the year	$ (983)	$ (1,711)	$ (1,419)
Canadian statutory tax rate	27.00%	27.00%	27.00%
Income tax benefit computed at statutory rates	$ (265)	$ (462)	$ (383)
Foreign tax rates different from statutory rates	8	31	14
Other	(26)	2	89
Foreign exchange gains or losses	(180)	55	225
Permanent differences	19	5	(43)
Change in unused tax losses and tax offsets	444	369	98
Current tax expense (income)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES - Discl_2

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES - Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items]
Unrecognized deductible temporary differences	$ 15,848	$ 15,437	$ 15,068
Non-capital losses [Member]
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items]
Unrecognized deductible temporary differences	8,597	9,796	9,405
Capital loss [Member]
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items]
Unrecognized deductible temporary differences	2,303	2,257	2,273
Tax value over book value of mineral properties [Member]
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items]
Unrecognized deductible temporary differences	4,995	3,331	3,335
Tax value over book value of equipment [Member]
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items]
Unrecognized deductible temporary differences	12	12	12
Tax value over (under) book value of investments and share issue costs [Member]
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items]
Unrecognized deductible temporary differences	$ (59)	$ 41	$ 43

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES - Discl_3

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES - Disclosure of detailed information about deferred tax assets expiration (Details) - Unused non-capital losses [Member] $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)
Canada [Member]
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items]
Carryforward of unused tax losses	$ 21,266
Canada [Member] | Expire 2020 - 2026 [Member]
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items]
Carryforward of unused tax losses	549
Canada [Member] | Expire 2027 - 2040 [Member]
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items]
Carryforward of unused tax losses	20,718
United States [Member]
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items]
Carryforward of unused tax losses	19,595
United States [Member] | Expire 2020 - 2026 [Member]
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items]
Carryforward of unused tax losses	0
United States [Member] | Expire 2027 - 2040 [Member]
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items]
Carryforward of unused tax losses	$ 19,595

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Narrative) (

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 05, 2021USD ($)	Jan. 02, 2021CAD ($)Share	Aug. 31, 2021USD ($)	Feb. 24, 2021USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020shares	Dec. 31, 2019shares
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items]
Number of share options exercised in share-based payment arrangement | shares					500,000	400,000
Subsequent event [Member]
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items]
Number of share options exercised in share-based payment arrangement | Share		2,310,000
Proceeds from exercise of options		$ 157,500
Subsequent event [Member] | Purchase and sale agreement [Member]
Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items]
Sales price of certain water rights				$ 2,910,000
Proceeds from sale of certain water rights	$ 1,000,000
Amount of sales price of certain water rights to be received upon closing			$ 1,910,000