Mines Management 10-K 31 Mar 14 2013 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 28, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Document and Entity Information	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'MINES MANAGEMENT INC	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000066649	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Smaller Reporting Company	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$14.20
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	29,161,448	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CURRENT ASSETS:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$4,145,092	$10,246,073
Interest receivable	6,988	7,815
Prepaid expenses and deposits	237,286	250,892
Certificates of deposit	1,559,361	1,559,361
Total current assets	5,948,727	12,064,141
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:	'	'
Buildings and leasehold improvements	836,454	836,454
Equipment	6,419,066	6,450,089
Office equipment	344,939	344,939
Total property and equipment, gross	7,600,459	7,631,482
Less accumulated depreciation	6,294,700	5,392,684
Total property and equipment, net	1,305,759	2,238,798
OTHER ASSETS:	'	'
Available-for-sale securities	14,174	19,633
Reclamation deposits	1,191,182	1,184,966
Total other assets	1,205,356	1,204,599
Total assets	8,459,842	15,507,538
CURRENT LIABILITIES:	'	'
Accounts payable	381,305	495,326
Payroll and payroll taxes payable	23,358	17,874
Total current liabilities	404,663	513,200
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:	'	'
Asset retirement obligation	479,488	456,823
Total liabilities	884,151	970,023
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	'	'
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:	'	'
Preferred stock - no par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized; -0- shares issued and outstanding	'	'
Common stock - $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 28,999,752 shares issued and outstanding	29,000	29,000
Additional paid-in capital	87,230,381	86,805,769
Accumulated deficit	-1,117,306	-1,117,306
Deficit accumulated during the exploration stage	-78,569,393	-71,188,416
Accumulated other comprehensive income	3,009	8,468
Total stockholders' equity	7,575,691	14,537,515
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$8,459,842	$15,507,538

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS	'	'
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	'	'
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, shares authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	28,999,752	28,999,752
Common stock, shares outstanding	28,999,752	28,999,752

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_OPE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended		137 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013
REVENUE:	'	'	'
Royalties	$30,172	$31,233	$181,476
OPERATING EXPENSES:	'	'	'
General and administrative	2,884,821	3,219,702	35,826,078
Technical services and exploration	2,619,191	3,857,609	33,423,676
Depreciation	933,039	972,155	6,357,776
Legal, accounting, and consulting	762,317	418,677	5,426,856
Fees, filing, and licenses	258,844	178,511	3,004,173
Impairment of mineral properties	'	'	504,492
Total operating expenses	7,458,212	8,646,654	84,543,051
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS	-7,428,040	-8,615,421	-84,361,575
OTHER INCOME:	'	'	'
Gain from warrant derivatives	'	357,977	476,381
Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities	'	'	2,005,904
Gain from sale of property and equipment	23,000	'	23,000
Interest income, net	24,063	58,104	3,286,897
Total other income	47,063	416,081	5,792,182
NET LOSS	($7,380,977)	($8,199,340)	($78,569,393)
NET LOSS PER SHARE (basic and diluted) (in dollars per share)	($0.25)	($0.28)	'
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (basic and diluted)	28,999,752	28,946,272	'

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (USD $)	12 Months Ended		137 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS	'	'	'
Net loss	($7,380,977)	($8,199,340)	($78,569,393)
Reclassification to realized gain upon sale of marketable securities	'	'	-2,005,904
Adjustment to net unrealized gain on marketable securities	-5,459	6,357	2,008,913
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS	($7,386,436)	($8,192,983)	($78,566,384)

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_STO

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Issuable Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Deficit Accumulated During the Exploration Stage	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
BALANCES at Aug. 12, 2002	$407,355	$5,317	$22,500	$1,495,998	($1,117,306)	'	$846
BALANCES (in shares) at Aug. 12, 2002	'	5,316,956	90,000	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Issuable common stock issued	'	90	-22,500	22,410	'	'	'
Issuable common stock issued (in shares)	'	90,000	-90,000	'	'	'	'
Common stock issued for cash	55,414,871	14,517	'	55,400,354	'	'	'
Common stock issued for cash (in shares)	'	14,515,912	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise of stock options and warrants	4,150,845	3,288	'	4,147,557	'	'	'
Exercise of stock options and warrants (in shares)	'	3,288,080	'	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation	10,599,669	380	'	10,599,289	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation (in shares)	'	380,000	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of stock for Heidelberg shares	15,040,320	5,147	'	15,035,173	'	'	'
Issuance of stock for Heidelberg shares (in shares)	'	5,148,162	'	'	'	'	'
Cumulative adjustment for warrant derivative	-476,381	'	'	-476,381	'	'	'
Adjustment to net unrealized gain on marketable securities	2,007,169	'	'	'	'	'	2,007,169
Reclassification to realized gain upon sale of marketable securities	-2,005,904	'	'	'	'	'	-2,005,904
Net Loss	-62,989,076	'	'	'	'	-62,989,076	'
BALANCES at Dec. 31, 2011	22,148,868	28,739	'	86,224,400	-1,117,306	-62,989,076	2,111
BALANCES (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	'	28,739,110	'	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise of stock options and warrants	275,400	261	'	275,139	'	'	'
Exercise of stock options and warrants (in shares)	'	260,642	'	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation	306,230	'	'	306,230	'	'	'
Adjustment to net unrealized gain on marketable securities	6,357	'	'	'	'	'	6,357
Net Loss	-8,199,340	'	'	'	'	-8,199,340	'
BALANCES at Dec. 31, 2012	14,537,515	29,000	'	86,805,769	-1,117,306	-71,188,416	8,468
BALANCES (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	'	28,999,752	'	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation	424,612	'	'	424,612	'	'	'
Adjustment to net unrealized gain on marketable securities	-5,459	'	'	'	'	'	-5,459
Net Loss	-7,380,977	'	'	'	'	-7,380,977	'
BALANCES at Dec. 31, 2013	$7,575,691	$29,000	'	$87,230,381	($1,117,306)	($78,569,393)	$3,009
BALANCES (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	'	28,999,752	'	'	'	'	'

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended		137 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:	'	'	'
Net loss	($7,380,977)	($8,199,340)	($78,569,393)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation	424,612	306,230	11,330,511
Stock received for services	'	'	-11,165
Depreciation	933,039	972,155	6,357,776
Initial measurement of asset retirement obligation	'	'	344,187
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	22,665	21,652	135,301
Gain on sale of available-for-sale investments	'	'	-2,005,904
Gain from warrant derivatives	'	-357,977	-476,381
Gain on sale of property and equipment	-23,000	'	-23,000
Impairment of mineral properties	'	'	504,492
Changes in assets and liabilities:	'	'	'
Interest receivable	827	5,887	-6,988
Prepaid expenses and deposits	13,606	-43,607	-297,697
Accounts payable	-114,021	124,603	381,141
Payroll and payroll taxes payable	5,484	243	20,178
Net cash used in operating activities	-6,117,765	-7,170,154	-62,316,942
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	'	'	'
Purchase of property and equipment	'	-32,853	-7,697,121
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment	23,000	'	58,423
Proceeds (purchase) of certificates of deposit	-6,216	51,880	-2,689,631
Net proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities	'	'	2,005,904
Increase in mineral properties	'	'	-144,312
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	16,784	19,027	-8,466,737
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	'	'	'
Net proceeds from sale of common stock	'	275,400	74,881,436
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	-6,100,981	-6,875,727	4,097,757
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	10,246,073	17,121,800	47,335
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	4,145,092	10,246,073	4,145,092
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:	'	'	'
Cash paid for interest	'	'	65,768
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NONCASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	'	'	'
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities	'	$6,357	$3,009

ORGANIZATION_AND_SUMMARY_OF_SI

ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	'
ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	'
	NOTE 1—ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
	Organization:
	Mines Management, Inc. (the "Company") is a publicly held Idaho corporation incorporated in 1947. The Company acquires, explores, and develops mineral properties in North and South America.
	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:
	a.    Going concern
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the assumption that the Company will continue as a going concern and do not include any adjustments that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. The Company is an exploration stage company and has incurred losses since the inception of its exploration stage. The Company does not have sufficient cash to fund normal operations beyond 2014 without raising additional funds. The Company currently does not have a recurring source of revenue sufficient to fund normal operations and its ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on the Company's ability to secure sufficient funding for its future exploration and working capital requirements, which may include the sale if its equity or debt securities, and the eventual profitable exploitation of its mining properties. There can be no assurance that the Company will succeed in securing additional funding on terms acceptable to the Company or at all, or in generating future profitable operations. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
	b.    Principles of consolidation
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") and include the accounts of Mines Management, Inc., and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Newhi, Inc., Montanore Minerals Corp., Montmin Resources Corp., and Minera Montanore Peru, SAC. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
	c.    Exploration stage enterprise
	Since the Company is in the exploration stage of operation, the Company's financial statements are prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 915 Development Stage Enterprises, as it devotes substantially all of its efforts to acquiring and exploring mining interests that management believes should eventually provide sufficient net profits to sustain the Company's existence. Until such interests are engaged in commercial production, the Company will continue to prepare its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with this standard.
	Financial statements issued by an exploration stage enterprise present financial position, changes in financial position, and results of operations in conformity with U.S. GAAP applicable to established operating enterprises and include the following additional information: (1) cumulative net losses reported as "deficit accumulated during exploration stage" in the stockholders' equity section of the consolidated balance sheets; (2) cumulative amounts from the inception of the exploration stage included on the consolidated statements of operations, statements of cash flows, and statements of stockholders' equity.
	d.    Cash and cash equivalents
	Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash in banks, investments in certificates of deposit with original maturities of 90 days or less, and money market funds.
	e.    Available for sale securities
	Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses recorded as a component of equity, unless a decline in value of the security is considered other than temporary. Realized gains and losses and other than temporary impairments are recorded in the statement of operations.
	f.    Property and equipment
	Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Buildings and leasehold improvements are depreciated on the straight-line basis over an estimated useful life of 39 years. Plant and equipment and office equipment are generally depreciated on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives ranging from 5 to 10 years. When assets are retired or sold, the costs and related allowances for depreciation are eliminated from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the statement of operations.
	g.    Mining properties, exploration and development costs
	All exploration expenditures, including costs to acquire stationary equipment for use in exploration activities that have no significant alternative future use, are expensed as incurred. Significant property acquisition payments for active exploration properties are capitalized, including payments to acquire mineral rights. Once a feasibility study has been completed, approved by management, and a decision is made to put the ore body into production, expenditures to develop new mines, to define further mineralization in existing ore bodies, and to expand the capacity of operating mines, are capitalized and amortized on the units of production basis over proven and probable reserves. The Company charges to operations the allocable portion of capitalized costs attributable to properties sold. Capitalized costs are allocated to properties sold based on the proportion of claims sold to the claims remaining within the project area.
	h.    Asset impairment
	The Company evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amount may not be recoverable. If the sum of estimated future net cash flows on an undiscounted basis is less than the carrying amount of the related asset grouping, asset impairment is considered to exist. The related impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value. Changes in significant assumptions underlying future cash flow estimates may have a material effect on the Company's financial position and results of operations.
	i.    Fair value measurements
	The Company discloses the inputs used to develop the fair value measurements for the Company's financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as well as the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements in their entirety fall. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
	Level 1:    Unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date.
	Level 2:    Quoted prices in inactive markets for identical assets or liabilities, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, or other observable inputs either directly related to the asset or liability or derived principally from corroborated observable market data.
	Level 3:    Unobservable inputs due to the fact that there is little or no market activity.
	j.    Asset retirement obligations
	A liability is recognized for the present value of estimated environmental remediation (asset retirement obligation), in the period in which the liability is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The offsetting balance is charged to expense as an exploration cost if the liability is incurred during the exploration stage of the related mining project or as an asset if the related mining project is in production. Adjustments are made to the liability for changes resulting from passage of time and changes to either the timing or amount of the original present value estimate underlying the obligation. The Company has an asset retirement obligation associated with its underground evaluation program at the Montanore Project, described more fully in note 7.
	k.    Deferred income taxes
	Deferred income tax is provided for differences between the basis of assets and liabilities for financial and income tax reporting. A deferred tax asset, subject to a valuation allowance, is recognized for estimated future tax benefits of tax-basis operating losses being carried forward. Uncertain tax positions are evaluated in a two-step process, whereby (1) it is determined whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority would be recognized. If income tax related interest and penalties were to be assessed, the Company would charge interest to interest expense, and penalties to general and administrative expense.
	l.    Stock based compensation
	The Company measures and records the costs of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award, recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for such award. Compensation cost is recognized for awards granted and for awards modified, repurchased or cancelled.
	m.    Net loss per share
	Basic earnings or loss per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings or loss per share is calculated on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period plus the effect of potential dilutive shares during the period. Potential dilutive shares include outstanding stock options and warrants. For periods in which a net loss is reported, potential dilutive shares are excluded because they are antidilutive. Therefore, basic loss per share is the same as diluted loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.
	n.    Assumptions and use of estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities known to exist as of the date the financial statements are published, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant areas requiring the use of management assumptions and estimates relate to asset impairments, including long-lived assets and investments, asset retirement obligations, and valuation of stock based compensation and warrant derivatives. Uncertainties with respect to such estimates and assumptions are inherent in the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements; accordingly, it is possible that the actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions, which could have a material effect on the reported amounts of the Company's consolidated financial position and results of operations.
	o.    Recent accounting pronouncements
	In February 2013, FASB issued guidance related to items reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income. The new standard requires disclosure either in a single note or parenthetically on the face of the financial statements of: (i) the effect of significant amounts reclassified from each component of accumulated other comprehensive income based on its sources and (ii) the income statement line items affected by the reclassification. The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance effective January 1, 2013. This guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
	p.    Subsequent events
	The Company evaluated events and transactions subsequent to the balance sheet date of December 31, 2013, for potential recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements.

MINING_PROPERTIES

MINING PROPERTIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
MINING PROPERTIES	'
MINING PROPERTIES	'
	NOTE 2—MINING PROPERTIES
	Montanore:
	The Montanore property is located in northwestern Montana and includes 10 patented mining claims and 825 unpatented mining claims. In August 2002, the Company acquired a controlling interest in the Montanore silver and copper deposit in Sanders and Lincoln Counties, Montana. The Company received a quitclaim deed from Noranda Mineral Corp. ("Noranda") when Noranda elected to withdraw from the project. In December 2002, the Company received a quitclaim deed to all intellectual property connected with studies that Noranda carried out on the project.
	Advance and Iroquois:
	The Advance and Iroquois properties are located in northern Washington State. The Advance property consists of 720 acres of patented mineral rights. Although the Company does not own the overlying surface rights to its patented mineral rights, it does have right of access to explore and mine. The Iroquois property consists of 62 acres of patented mineral and surface rights and 15 unpatented mining claims containing 300 acres.

CERTIFICATES_OF_DEPOSIT

CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT	'
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT	'
	NOTE 3—CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT
	The Company owned two certificates of deposit for a total of $1,559,361 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012. These investments matured in February 2014 and bore interest at the rate of 0.35%.
	The Company also has a certificate of deposit pledged as security for a letter of credit to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality as a reclamation guarantee for the Montanore expansion evaluation program. This certificate of deposit was in the amount of $1,130,271 and $1,124,055 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. It bore interest at the rate of 0.45% as of December 31, 2013 and had a maturity date of January 3, 2014. This certificate of deposit renews automatically each year and is included with reclamation deposits on the Consolidated Balance Sheets for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. The certificate was renewed on January 3, 2014 in the amount of $1,124,055 bearing interest at the rate of 0.40% and expires on January 3, 2015.

AVAILABLEFORSALE_SECURITIES

AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES.	'
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES	'
	NOTE 4—AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES
	Available-for-sale securities are comprised of common stocks which have been valued using quoted market prices in active markets. The following table summarizes the Company's available-for-sale securities:
		December 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Cost	$	11,165	$	11,165
	Unrealized Gains		3,009		8,468
	Fair Market Value	$	14,174	$	19,633

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	'
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	'
	NOTE 5—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
	The following table summarizes the Company's financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the fair value calculation input hierarchy level determined to apply to each asset and liability category. Quoted market prices were used to determine the fair value of available-for-sale securities. See note 6 for further discussion on the fair value measurement technique used to value the warrant derivatives. The Company has no financial assets or liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.
		Balance at		Balance at		Input
		December 31,		December 31,		Hierarchy
		2013		2012		Level
	Assets:
	Available-for-sale securities	$	14,174	$	19,633	Level 1
	Liabilities:
	Asset retirement obligation	$	479,488	$	456,823	Level 3
	The following table presents the fair value reconciliation of Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value during the year ended December 31, 2013:
		Asset
		Retirement
		Obligation
	Balance January 1, 2013	$	456,823
	Accretion expense		22,665
	Balance December 31, 2013	$	479,488

WARRANT_DERIVATIVES

WARRANT DERIVATIVES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
WARRANT DERIVATIVES	'
WARRANT DERIVATIVES	'
	NOTE 6—WARRANT DERIVATIVES
	The Company had common share purchase warrants with exercise price reset features which qualified for treatment as a derivative liability. These warrants expired on April 20, 2012. The warrants did not qualify for hedge accounting, and as such, all changes in the fair value of the warrants were recognized in earnings until they expired. These common share purchase warrants did not trade in an active securities market, and as such, the Company estimated the fair value of these warrants using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company reported a gain from the change in fair value of the warrants of $357,977 in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2012.

ASSET_RETIREMENT_OBLIGATIONS

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS	'
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS	'
	NOTE 7—ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
	The Company has an asset retirement obligation ("ARO") associated with its underground evaluation program at the Montanore Project. The ARO resulted from the reclamation and remediation requirements of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality as outlined in the Company's permit to carry out the evaluation program.
	Estimated reclamation costs were discounted using a credit adjusted risk-free interest rate of 4.78% from the time the Company expects to pay the retirement obligation to the time it incurred the obligation, which is estimated at 25 years. The following table summarizes activity in the Company's ARO.
		Year Ended		Year Ended
		December 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Balance January 1,	$	456,823	$	435,171
	Accretion expense		22,665		21,652
	Balance December 31,	$	479,488	$	456,823
	The Company has a certificate of deposit which is pledged as security for a Letter of Credit to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality as a reclamation guarantee for the Montanore expansion evaluation program which is discussed further in note 3.

CONCENTRATION_OF_CREDIT_RISK

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK	'
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK	'
	NOTE 8—CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
	The Company maintains most of its cash and cash equivalents in one financial institution. To date, the Company has not experienced a material loss or lack of access to its invested cash or cash equivalents; however, no assurance can be provided that access to the Company's invested cash and cash equivalents will not be impacted by adverse conditions in the financial markets. The Company's total uninsured bank deposit balance totaled approximately $6,629,000 as of December 31, 2013.

STOCKHOLDERS_EQUITY

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	'
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	'
	NOTE 9—STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
	Common Shares:
	On March 8, 2011, the Company completed a public offering of 4,800,000 shares of common stock at a price of $3.15 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of $15,120,000 ($14,212,800 in net proceeds after deducting underwriting commissions and a corporate finance fee but before deducting offering expenses). The underwriters were granted an over-allotment option to purchase an additional 720,000 shares exercisable for a period of 30 days following the closing. On April 4, 2011, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment option for 320,000 shares of common stock at a price of $3.15 per share. The gross proceeds resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option were $1,008,000 ($947,520 in net proceeds after deducting underwriting commissions and a corporate finance fee but before deducting offering expenses). Therefore, the total offering was 5,120,000 shares of common stock, resulting in aggregate net proceeds of $15,160,320 before deducting offering expenses.
	On April 20, 2007, the Company completed a public offering of 6,000,000 units at a price of $5.00 per unit. Each unit was comprised of one share of common stock and one-half of one common stock purchase warrant, with each full warrant being exercisable to purchase one share of common stock at a price of $5.75 per share. No warrants related to this offering were exercised before they expired on April 20, 2012.
	On November 2, 2007, the Company sold 2,500,000 common shares at a price of $4.00 per share in a private placement to one investor. In connection with the stock sale, the Company entered into a Right of First Refusal agreement (the "ROFR") which grants a twenty-year right of first proposal and a right to match third-party proposals, to purchase all or any portion of silver mined, produced or recovered by the Company in the State of Montana. The ROFR does not apply to trade sales and spot sales in the ordinary course of business or to forward sales, in each case, for which no upfront payment is received by the Company.
	In October 2005, the Company sold 1,016,667 common shares at a price of $6.00 per share. In connection with the stock sales, the Company granted warrants to purchase up to 737,084 shares of common stock at $8.25 per share. During the term of the warrants, the exercise price of the warrants was reduced to $2.56 per share and the number of common shares issuable upon exercise increased to 2,375,368 shares to comply with the anti-dilution provisions of the warrant agreement. The warrants expired on April 20, 2012. During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, no warrants were exercised. Cumulative warrants exercised relating to this issue were 269,620 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.
	Preferred Shares:
	The Company has authorized 10,000,000 shares of no par value preferred stock. Through December 31, 2013, the Company had not issued any preferred shares.

STOCK_OPTIONS

STOCK OPTIONS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
STOCK OPTIONS	'
STOCK OPTIONS	'
	NOTE 10—STOCK OPTIONS
	The Company has four equity incentive plans: the 2003 Stock Option Plan (which includes both qualified and nonqualified options), the 2003 Consultant Stock Compensation Plan, the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, and the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (collectively, the "Plans"). Under all of the equity incentive plans, the option exercise price may not be less than 100% of the fair market value per share on the date of grant, the stock options are exercisable within ten years from the date of the grant of the option, and the vesting schedule of the options is at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
	Under the 2003 Stock Option Plan and Consultant Stock Compensation Plan, both of which expired in February 2014, the Company could grant options to purchase up to 3,000,000 shares and 700,000 shares of authorized and unissued common stock, respectively. Under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2007 Plan"), which provides for the issuance of both qualified and nonqualified stock options and restricted shares to directors, employees and consultants of the Company, the Company may issue up to 3,000,000 shares of the Company's authorized but unissued common stock.
	The Board of Directors authorized the Company to establish the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan ("2012 Plan") which was approved by the shareholders in June 2012. The Company may grant options to purchase up to 3,000,000 common shares, bought on the market or otherwise, at the discretion of the Board. The 2012 Plan provides for the issuance of incentive stock options to employees and nonqualified stock options to directors, employees and consultants of the Company. No participant is eligible to be granted more than 200,000 common shares during any calendar year.
	A summary of the option activity under the Plans as of December 31, 2013, and changes during the year then ended, is presented below:
		Number of			Weighted-			Weighted-		Aggregate
		Options			Average			Average		Intrinsic
					Exercise			Remaining		Value
					Price			Contractual
								Term
	Outstanding at January 1, 2013		3,622,000		$	1.81
	Granted		1,430,000		$	0.74
	Forfeited or expired		(389,000	)	$	1.23
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013		4,663,000		$	1.53			2.9	$	9,360
	Exercisable at December 31, 2013		4,075,000		$	1.67			2.59	$	9,360
	The fair value for each option award is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the assumptions noted in the following table. Volatility for the years presented is based on the historical volatility of the Company's common stock over the expected life of the option. The risk-free rate for periods within the expected term of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The Company does not foresee the payment of dividends in the near term.
		Years Ended
		December 31,
		2013			2012
	Weighted average risk-free interest rate		0.54	%		0.3	%
	Weighted average volatility		70.56	%		72.33	%
	Expected dividend yield		—			—
	Weighted average expected life (in years)		3			3
	Weighted average grant-date fair value	$	0.35		$	0.56
	During the year ended December 31, 2013, there were no stock options exercised. During the year ended December 31, 2012, there were 265,000 options exercised with a weighted average exercise price of $1.06. The total intrinsic value of the options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2012 was $212,522.
	A summary of the status of the Company's nonvested options as of December 31, 2013 and changes during the year then ended is presented below:
		Number of			Weighted-
		Options			Average
					Grant-Date
					Fair Value
	Nonvested at January 1, 2013		—			—
	Issued		910,000		$	0.27
	Vested		(312,000	)	$	0.27
	Forfeited		(10,000	)	$	0.27
	Nonvested at December 31, 2013		588,000		$	0.27
	As of December 31, 2013, there was $70,688 of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Plans. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of less than one year.
	Total compensation costs recognized for stock-based employee compensation awards was $401,533 and $306,230 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These costs were included in general and administrative and technical services and exploration expenses on the Statements of Operations. Total costs recognized for stock-based compensation awards for services performed by outside parties were $23,079 and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Cash received from options exercised under all share-based payment arrangements for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $0 and $275,400, respectively.

DEFERRED_INCOME_TAX

DEFERRED INCOME TAX	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
DEFERRED INCOME TAX	'
DEFERRED INCOME TAX	'
	NOTE 11—DEFERRED INCOME TAX
	As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had net deferred tax assets that were fully reserved by valuation allowances. Following are the components of such assets and allowances:
		Years Ended December 31,
		2013			2012
	Deferred tax assets:
	Net operating loss carryforwards	$	22,390,000		$	20,340,000
	Stock-based compensation		550,000			650,000
	Property and equipment		1,250,000			1,250,000
	Asset retirement obligation		170,000			160,000
	Total deferred tax assets		24,360,000			22,400,000
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Property, plant and equipment		350,000			480,000
	Net deferred tax asset before valuation allowance		24,010,000			21,920,000
	Less valuation allowance		(24,010,000	)		(21,920,000	)
	Net deferred tax assets	$	—		$	—
	For the periods presented, the effective income tax rate differed from the expected rate because of the effects of changes in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance. Changes in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 relate only to corresponding changes in deferred tax assets for those periods.
	As of December 31, 2013, the Company had federal tax-basis net operating loss carryforwards totaling approximately $65,870,000 which will expire in various amounts from 2018 through 2033. The Company is subject to examination of its income tax filings in the United States and various state jurisdictions for the 2010 through 2013 tax years. Within each of these jurisdictions the Company has examined its material tax positions and determined that they would more likely than not be sustained.

COMMITMENTS

COMMITMENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
COMMITMENTS	'
COMMITMENTS	'
	NOTE 12—COMMITMENTS
	Operating Leases:
	The Company leases office space and equipment. The following is a schedule by years of future minimum rental payments required under operating leases that have initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2013.
	Years ending December 31:
	2014		48,500
	2015		50,000
	2016		8,500
	Total minimum payments required	$	107,000
	Employment Agreements:
	The Company has employment agreements with certain executives. The agreements include a provision for severance pay equal to a multiple of each executive's salary. To receive severance, termination must be without cause and cannot be a result of death or disability. Additionally, severance must be paid if the executive resigns for good reason within one year following a change in control of the Company. As of December 31, 2013, the potential aggregate liability for severance pay under the agreements is $2,100,000.
	Royalties on Patented Mining Claims:
	Two of the Company's patented mining claims, which cover the Montanore deposit, are burdened by a production payment obligation of $0.20 per ton of ore extracted and milled therefrom. The calculation and timing of the production payment are specifically defined by a Purchase and Sale Agreement.
	Exploration Earn-In Agreement
	The Company entered into an Exploration Earn-In Agreement with Estrella Gold Corporation ("Estrella") on April 5, 2012, pursuant to which the Company could acquire 75% of the Estrella gold and silver exploration property located in central Peru by expending $5,000,000 on exploration activities. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company was required to make annual cash payments to Estrella of $100,000 prior to the end of the first agreement year ending on February 28, 2013, and $200,000 prior to the end of each subsequent agreement year until the earn-in was completed. The Company was also required to expend a minimum of $500,000 in exploration and development expenditures in each of the first and second agreement years. The Company was able to terminate this agreement at any time during the earn-in period, however, a minimum of $350,000 in exploration and development expenses was required during the first year of the agreement regardless of whether or not the agreement was terminated. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had met the first year's exploration and development expenditure requirements. During February 2013, the Company made the required $100,000 cash payment prior to the end of the first agreement year and continued the Exploration Earn-In Agreement into the second year. During January 2014, the Company terminated the Exploration Earn-In Agreement.

ORGANIZATION_AND_SUMMARY_OF_SI1

ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	'
Going concern	'
	a.    Going concern
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the assumption that the Company will continue as a going concern and do not include any adjustments that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. The Company is an exploration stage company and has incurred losses since the inception of its exploration stage. The Company does not have sufficient cash to fund normal operations beyond 2014 without raising additional funds. The Company currently does not have a recurring source of revenue sufficient to fund normal operations and its ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on the Company's ability to secure sufficient funding for its future exploration and working capital requirements, which may include the sale if its equity or debt securities, and the eventual profitable exploitation of its mining properties. There can be no assurance that the Company will succeed in securing additional funding on terms acceptable to the Company or at all, or in generating future profitable operations. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Principles of consolidation	'
	b.    Principles of consolidation
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") and include the accounts of Mines Management, Inc., and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Newhi, Inc., Montanore Minerals Corp., Montmin Resources Corp., and Minera Montanore Peru, SAC. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Exploration stage enterprise	'
	c.    Exploration stage enterprise
	Since the Company is in the exploration stage of operation, the Company's financial statements are prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 915 Development Stage Enterprises, as it devotes substantially all of its efforts to acquiring and exploring mining interests that management believes should eventually provide sufficient net profits to sustain the Company's existence. Until such interests are engaged in commercial production, the Company will continue to prepare its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with this standard.
	Financial statements issued by an exploration stage enterprise present financial position, changes in financial position, and results of operations in conformity with U.S. GAAP applicable to established operating enterprises and include the following additional information: (1) cumulative net losses reported as "deficit accumulated during exploration stage" in the stockholders' equity section of the consolidated balance sheets; (2) cumulative amounts from the inception of the exploration stage included on the consolidated statements of operations, statements of cash flows, and statements of stockholders' equity.
Cash and cash equivalents	'
	d.    Cash and cash equivalents
	Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash in banks, investments in certificates of deposit with original maturities of 90 days or less, and money market funds.
Available for sale securities	'
	e.    Available for sale securities
	Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses recorded as a component of equity, unless a decline in value of the security is considered other than temporary. Realized gains and losses and other than temporary impairments are recorded in the statement of operations.
Property and equipment	'
	f.    Property and equipment
	Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Buildings and leasehold improvements are depreciated on the straight-line basis over an estimated useful life of 39 years. Plant and equipment and office equipment are generally depreciated on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives ranging from 5 to 10 years. When assets are retired or sold, the costs and related allowances for depreciation are eliminated from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the statement of operations.
Mining properties, exploration and development costs	'
	g.    Mining properties, exploration and development costs
	All exploration expenditures, including costs to acquire stationary equipment for use in exploration activities that have no significant alternative future use, are expensed as incurred. Significant property acquisition payments for active exploration properties are capitalized, including payments to acquire mineral rights. Once a feasibility study has been completed, approved by management, and a decision is made to put the ore body into production, expenditures to develop new mines, to define further mineralization in existing ore bodies, and to expand the capacity of operating mines, are capitalized and amortized on the units of production basis over proven and probable reserves. The Company charges to operations the allocable portion of capitalized costs attributable to properties sold. Capitalized costs are allocated to properties sold based on the proportion of claims sold to the claims remaining within the project area.
Asset impairment	'
	h.    Asset impairment
	The Company evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amount may not be recoverable. If the sum of estimated future net cash flows on an undiscounted basis is less than the carrying amount of the related asset grouping, asset impairment is considered to exist. The related impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value. Changes in significant assumptions underlying future cash flow estimates may have a material effect on the Company's financial position and results of operations.
Fair value measurements	'
	i.    Fair value measurements
	The Company discloses the inputs used to develop the fair value measurements for the Company's financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as well as the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements in their entirety fall. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
	Level 1:    Unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date.
	Level 2:    Quoted prices in inactive markets for identical assets or liabilities, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, or other observable inputs either directly related to the asset or liability or derived principally from corroborated observable market data.
	Level 3:    Unobservable inputs due to the fact that there is little or no market activity.
Asset retirement obligations	'
	j.    Asset retirement obligations
	A liability is recognized for the present value of estimated environmental remediation (asset retirement obligation), in the period in which the liability is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The offsetting balance is charged to expense as an exploration cost if the liability is incurred during the exploration stage of the related mining project or as an asset if the related mining project is in production. Adjustments are made to the liability for changes resulting from passage of time and changes to either the timing or amount of the original present value estimate underlying the obligation. The Company has an asset retirement obligation associated with its underground evaluation program at the Montanore Project, described more fully in note 7.
Deferred income taxes	'
	k.    Deferred income taxes
	Deferred income tax is provided for differences between the basis of assets and liabilities for financial and income tax reporting. A deferred tax asset, subject to a valuation allowance, is recognized for estimated future tax benefits of tax-basis operating losses being carried forward. Uncertain tax positions are evaluated in a two-step process, whereby (1) it is determined whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority would be recognized. If income tax related interest and penalties were to be assessed, the Company would charge interest to interest expense, and penalties to general and administrative expense.
Stock-based compensation	'
	l.    Stock based compensation
	The Company measures and records the costs of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award, recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for such award. Compensation cost is recognized for awards granted and for awards modified, repurchased or cancelled.
Net loss per share	'
	m.    Net loss per share
	Basic earnings or loss per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings or loss per share is calculated on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period plus the effect of potential dilutive shares during the period. Potential dilutive shares include outstanding stock options and warrants. For periods in which a net loss is reported, potential dilutive shares are excluded because they are antidilutive. Therefore, basic loss per share is the same as diluted loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.
Assumptions and use of estimates	'
	n.    Assumptions and use of estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities known to exist as of the date the financial statements are published, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant areas requiring the use of management assumptions and estimates relate to asset impairments, including long-lived assets and investments, asset retirement obligations, and valuation of stock based compensation and warrant derivatives. Uncertainties with respect to such estimates and assumptions are inherent in the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements; accordingly, it is possible that the actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions, which could have a material effect on the reported amounts of the Company's consolidated financial position and results of operations.
Recent accounting pronouncements	'
	o.    Recent accounting pronouncements
	In February 2013, FASB issued guidance related to items reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income. The new standard requires disclosure either in a single note or parenthetically on the face of the financial statements of: (i) the effect of significant amounts reclassified from each component of accumulated other comprehensive income based on its sources and (ii) the income statement line items affected by the reclassification. The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance effective January 1, 2013. This guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Subsequent events	'
	p.    Subsequent events
	The Company evaluated events and transactions subsequent to the balance sheet date of December 31, 2013, for potential recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements.

AVAILABLEFORSALE_SECURITIES_Ta

AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES.	'
Schedule of the Company's available-for-sale securities	'
		December 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Cost	$	11,165	$	11,165
	Unrealized Gains		3,009		8,468
	Fair Market Value	$	14,174	$	19,633

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Tables

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	'
Schedule of financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value on a nonrecurring basis	'
		Balance at		Balance at		Input
		December 31,		December 31,		Hierarchy
		2013		2012		Level
	Assets:
	Available-for-sale securities	$	14,174	$	19,633	Level 1
	Liabilities:
	Asset retirement obligation	$	479,488	$	456,823	Level 3
Schedule of fair value reconciliation of level 3 liabilities measured at fair value	'
		Asset
		Retirement
		Obligation
	Balance January 1, 2013	$	456,823
	Accretion expense		22,665
	Balance December 31, 2013	$	479,488

ASSET_RETIREMENT_OBLIGATIONS_T

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS	'
Summary of activity in the Company's ARO	'
		Year Ended		Year Ended
		December 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Balance January 1,	$	456,823	$	435,171
	Accretion expense		22,665		21,652
	Balance December 31,	$	479,488	$	456,823

STOCK_OPTIONS_Tables

STOCK OPTIONS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
STOCK OPTIONS	'
Summary of stock option activity	'
		Number of			Weighted-			Weighted-		Aggregate
		Options			Average			Average		Intrinsic
					Exercise			Remaining		Value
					Price			Contractual
								Term
	Outstanding at January 1, 2013		3,622,000		$	1.81
	Granted		1,430,000		$	0.74
	Forfeited or expired		(389,000	)	$	1.23
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013		4,663,000		$	1.53			2.9	$	9,360
	Exercisable at December 31, 2013		4,075,000		$	1.67			2.59	$	9,360
Schedule of assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options	'
		Years Ended
		December 31,
		2013			2012
	Weighted average risk-free interest rate		0.54	%		0.3	%
	Weighted average volatility		70.56	%		72.33	%
	Expected dividend yield		—			—
	Weighted average expected life (in years)		3			3
	Weighted average grant-date fair value	$	0.35		$	0.56
Summary of nonvested options	'
		Number of			Weighted-
		Options			Average
					Grant-Date
					Fair Value
	Nonvested at January 1, 2013		—			—
	Issued		910,000		$	0.27
	Vested		(312,000	)	$	0.27
	Forfeited		(10,000	)	$	0.27
	Nonvested at December 31, 2013		588,000		$	0.27

DEFERRED_INCOME_TAX_Tables

DEFERRED INCOME TAX (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
DEFERRED INCOME TAX	'
Schedule of components of net deferred tax assets fully reserved by valuation allowances	'
		Years Ended December 31,
		2013			2012
	Deferred tax assets:
	Net operating loss carryforwards	$	22,390,000		$	20,340,000
	Stock-based compensation		550,000			650,000
	Property and equipment		1,250,000			1,250,000
	Asset retirement obligation		170,000			160,000
	Total deferred tax assets		24,360,000			22,400,000
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Property, plant and equipment		350,000			480,000
	Net deferred tax asset before valuation allowance		24,010,000			21,920,000
	Less valuation allowance		(24,010,000	)		(21,920,000	)
	Net deferred tax assets	$	—		$	—

COMMITMENTS_Tables

COMMITMENTS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
COMMITMENTS	'
Schedule by years of future minimum rental payments required under operating leases	'
	Years ending December 31:
	2014		48,500
	2015		50,000
	2016		8,500
	Total minimum payments required	$	107,000

ORGANIZATION_AND_SUMMARY_OF_SI2

ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Building and leasehold improvements	'
Property and equipment	'
Estimated useful lives	'39 years
Plant and equipment and office equipment | Minimum	'
Property and equipment	'
Estimated useful lives	'5 years
Plant and equipment and office equipment | Maximum	'
Property and equipment	'
Estimated useful lives	'10 years

MINING_PROPERTIES_Details

MINING PROPERTIES (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
	acre
Montanore	'
MINING PROPERTIES	'
Number of patented mining properties	10
Number of unpatented mining properties	825
Advance	'
MINING PROPERTIES	'
Area of property (in acres)	720
Iroquois	'
MINING PROPERTIES	'
Patented area of property (in acres)	62
Number of unpatented mining properties	15
Unpatented area of property (in acres)	300

CERTIFICATES_OF_DEPOSIT_Detail

CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT:	'	'
Number of certificates of deposit owned	2	2
Certificate of deposit value	$1,559,361	$1,559,361
Reclamation deposits	1,191,182	1,184,966
Certificates of deposit maturing in February 2014	'	'
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT:	'	'
Certificate of deposit value	1,559,361	1,559,361
Interest rate (as a percent)	0.35%	'
Certificates of deposit maturing on January 3, 2014	'	'
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT:	'	'
Reclamation deposits	1,130,271	1,124,055
Interest rate (as a percent)	0.45%	'
Certificates of deposit renewed and maturing on January 3, 2015	'	'
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT:	'	'
Certificate of deposit value	$1,124,055	'
Interest rate (as a percent)	0.40%	'

AVAILABLEFORSALE_SECURITIES_De

AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES.	'	'
Cost	$11,165	$11,165
Unrealized Gains	3,009	8,468
Fair Market Value	$14,174	$19,633

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Detail

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	'	'	'
Financial assets that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis	$0	'	'
Financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis	0	'	'
Assets:	'	'	'
Available-for-sale securities	14,174	19,633	'
Liabilities:	'	'	'
Asset retirement obligation	479,488	456,823	435,171
Recurring basis | Level 1	'	'	'
Assets:	'	'	'
Available-for-sale securities	14,174	19,633	'
Recurring basis | Level 3	'	'	'
Liabilities:	'	'	'
Asset retirement obligation	$479,488	$456,823	'

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Detail1

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details 2) (Asset Retirement Obligation, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Asset Retirement Obligation	'
Fair value reconciliation of level 3 liabilities measured at fair value	'
Balance at the beginning of the period	$456,823
Accretion expense	22,665
Balance at the end of the period	$479,488

WARRANT_DERIVATIVES_Details

WARRANT DERIVATIVES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended	137 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013
WARRANT DERIVATIVES	'	'
Gain (loss) from warrant derivatives	$357,977	$476,381

ASSET_RETIREMENT_OBLIGATIONS_D

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		137 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS	'	'	'
Credit adjusted risk-free interest rate used to discount estimated reclamation costs (as a percent)	4.78%	'	'
Estimated retirement obligation term	'25 years	'	'
Summary of activity in the ARO	'	'	'
Balance at the beginning of the period	$456,823	$435,171	'
Accretion expense	22,665	21,652	135,301
Balance at the end of the period	$479,488	$456,823	$479,488

CONCENTRATION_OF_CREDIT_RISK_D

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK (Details) (Cash and cash equivalents, Concentration of credit risk, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
	item
Cash and cash equivalents | Concentration of credit risk	'
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK:	'
Number of financial institutions	1
Uninsured bank deposit balance	$6,629,000

STOCKHOLDERS_EQUITY_Details

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Details) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

137 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

61 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Apr. 04, 2011

Mar. 08, 2011

Apr. 04, 2011

Apr. 20, 2007

Apr. 20, 2012

Nov. 02, 2007

Oct. 31, 2005

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Oct. 31, 2005

Public offering 2011 transaction

Public offering 2011 transaction

Public offering 2011 transaction

Public offering 2007 transaction

Public offering 2007 transaction

Private placement 2007 transaction

The 2005 transaction

The 2005 transaction

The 2005 transaction

The 2005 transaction

item

Maximum

Common Shares:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of shares issued or sold

'

'

'

4,800,000

'

'

'

2,500,000

1,016,667

'

'

'

Issue price (in dollars per share)

'

'

$3.15

$3.15

$3.15

'

'

$4

$6

'

'

'

Gross proceeds

'

'

$1,008,000

$15,120,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net proceeds

275,400

74,881,436

947,520

14,212,800

15,160,320

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of shares that can be purchased by the underwriters under over-allotment option

'

'

'

720,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Period after closing for which shares granted under over-allotment option are exercisable

'

'

'

'30 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of shares issued on exercise of over-allotment option by underwriters

'

'

320,000

'

320,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total offering of shares of common stock

'

'

'

'

5,120,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of units issued in public offering excluding over-allotment option

'

'

'

'

'

6,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Issue price (in dollars per unit)

'

'

'

'

'

$5

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of shares of common stock per unit

'

'

'

'

'

1

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of warrants per unit

'

'

'

'

'

0.5

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of shares of common stock that can be purchased with one warrant

'

'

'

'

'

1

'

'

'

'

'

'

Warrants exercised (in shares)

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

Number of investors

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1

'

'

'

'

Period time of right of first proposal and a right to match third-party proposals

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'20 years

'

'

'

'

Upfront payments received for ROFR not applying to trade sales and spot sales

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$0

'

'

'

'

Warrants

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of shares of common stock that can be purchased on exercise of warrants

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,375,368

'

737,084

Cumulative warrants exercised (in shares)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

269,620

269,620

'

Warrants exercised (in shares)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

'

Exercise Price (in dollars per share)

'

'

'

'

'

$5.75

'

'

$8.25

$2.56

'

'

Preferred Shares:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Authorized preferred shares

10,000,000

10,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

STOCK_OPTIONS_Details

STOCK OPTIONS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
	item
Stock options	'	'
Number of equity incentive plans	4	'
Number of Options	'	'
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in shares)	3,622,000	'
Granted (in shares)	1,430,000	'
Forfeited or expired (in shares)	-389,000	'
Outstanding at the end of the period (in shares)	4,663,000	3,622,000
Exercisable at the end of the period (in shares)	4,075,000	'
Exercised (in shares)	0	265,000
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	'	'
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)	$1.81	'
Granted (in dollars per share)	$0.74	'
Forfeited or expired (in dollars per share)	$1.23	'
Outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	$1.53	$1.81
Exercisable at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	$1.67	'
Expired (in dollars per share)	'	$1.06
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term	'	'
Outstanding at the end of the period	'2 years 10 months 24 days	'
Exercisable at the end of the period	'2 years 7 months 2 days	'
Aggregate Intrinsic Value	'	'
Outstanding at the end of the period	$9,360	'
Exercisable at the end of the period	9,360	'
Additional disclosure for stock options	'	'
Intrinsic value of awards exercised	'	212,522
Assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options	'	'
Weighted average risk-free interest rate (as a percent)	0.54%	0.30%
Weighted average volatility (as a percent)	70.56%	72.33%
Weighted average expected life	'3 years	'3 years
Weighted-average grant-date fair value (in dollars per share)	$0.35	$0.56
Number of Options	'	'
Issued (in shares)	910,000	'
Vested (in shares)	-312,000	'
Forfeited (in shares)	-10,000	'
Nonvested at the end of the period (in shares)	588,000	'
Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value	'	'
Vested (in dollars per share)	$0.27	'
Issued (in dollars per share)	$0.27	'
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$0.27	'
Nonvested at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	$0.27	'
Disclosures for share-based compensation cost	'	'
Unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements	70,688	'
Total compensation costs recognized for stock-based employee compensation awards	401,533	306,230
Costs recognized for stock-based compensation awards for services performed by outside parties	23,079	0
Cash received from options exercised	$0	$275,400
Maximum	'	'
Stock options	'	'
Contractual term	'10 years	'
Disclosures for share-based compensation cost	'	'
Expected weighted-average period of recognition of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements	'1 year	'
Minimum	'	'
Stock options	'	'
Option exercise price as percentage of fair market value per share on the date of grant	100.00%	'
2012 Plan	'	'
Stock options	'	'
Shares authorized for grant under the plans	3,000,000	'
Number of participants eligible to be granted more than 200,000 common shares during any calendar year	0	'
Maximum number of shares to grant a participant in a calendar year	200,000	'
2003 Stock Option Plan	'	'
Stock options	'	'
Shares authorized for grant under the plans	3,000,000	'
Unissued shares of common stock	700,000	'
2007 Plan	'	'
Stock options	'	'
Shares authorized for grant under the plans	3,000,000	'

DEFERRED_INCOME_TAX_Details

DEFERRED INCOME TAX (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Deferred tax assets:	'	'
Net operating loss carryforwards	$22,390,000	$20,340,000
Stock-based compensation	550,000	650,000
Property and equipment	1,250,000	1,250,000
Asset retirement obligation	170,000	160,000
Total deferred tax assets	24,360,000	22,400,000
Deferred tax liabilities:	'	'
Property, plant and equipment	350,000	480,000
Net deferred tax asset before valuation allowance	24,010,000	21,920,000
Less valuation allowance	($24,010,000)	($21,920,000)

DEFERRED_INCOME_TAX_Details_2

DEFERRED INCOME TAX (Details 2) (Federal, USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
Federal	'
Operating loss carryforwards	'
Net operating loss carryforwards	$65,870,000

COMMITMENTS_Details

COMMITMENTS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Leases	'
2014	48,500
2015	50,000
2016	8,500
Total minimum payments required	107,000
Employment Agreements | Executive officers	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Potential aggregate liability for severance pay	2,100,000
Employment Agreements | Executive officers | Maximum	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Resignation period following a change in control of the company resulting in additional severance payment	'1 year
Royalties on patented mining claims | Montanore	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Number of patented mining claims burdened by a production payment obligation	2
Production payment obligation per ton of ore extracted and milled therefrom (in dollars per ton)	0.2

COMMITMENTS_Details_2

COMMITMENTS (Details 2) (Estrella Gold Corp., USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Apr. 05, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013
	First agreement year	First agreement year	First agreement year	Second agreement year	Subsequent agreement year	Exploration activities	Exploration activities
			Minimum	Minimum			First agreement year
							Minimum
COMMITMENTS:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage of Estrella exploration property located in central Peru that could be acquired by the company	'	'	'	'	'	75.00%	'
Exploration activities commitment	'	'	'	'	'	$5,000,000	'
Annual cash payments required to be made to Estrella	'	100,000	'	'	200,000	'	'
Annual cash payments made to Estrella	100,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Exploration and development expenditures	'	'	$500,000	$500,000	'	'	$350,000