FAIR VALUE ACCOUNTING (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Item
Dec. 31, 2013
Item
Dec. 31, 2012
Liabilities:      
Litigation settlement liabilities   $ 200  
Number of shares of common stock required to be issued as a part of settlement   90,300  
Number of vendors to which shares of common stock are required to be issued as a part of settlement 1 1  
Investment in MSC   212,947 273,948
Total Loss   62,963 18,468
Limo Complex
      
Liabilities:      
Total Loss   19,450  
Other United States Properties
      
Liabilities:      
Total Loss   9,497 2,900
MSC
      
Liabilities:      
Investment in MSC   212,947 273,948
Total Loss   95,878  
MSC | Mineral property interests
      
Liabilities:      
Total Loss   152,554  
Litigation settlement agreement with respect to the Los Azules Copper Project | TNR
      
Liabilities:      
Shares of common stock required to be issued as part of settlement     1,000,000
Recurring | Total
      
Assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents   24,321 70,921
Assets   24,321 70,921
Liabilities:      
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   177  
Litigation settlement liabilities     3,830
Liabilities   177 3,830
Recurring | Level 1
      
Assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents   24,321 70,921
Assets   24,321 70,921
Liabilities:      
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   177  
Litigation settlement liabilities     3,830
Liabilities   177 3,830
Nonrecurring | Total
      
Assets:      
Assets   262,490  
Nonrecurring | Total | Telken Tenements
      
Assets:      
Assets   26,442  
Nonrecurring | Total | Este Tenements
      
Assets:      
Assets   5,337  
Nonrecurring | Total | Piramides Tenements
      
Assets:      
Assets   9,736  
Nonrecurring | Total | Tobias Tenements
      
Assets:      
Assets   11,645  
Nonrecurring | Total | Limo Complex
      
Assets:      
Assets   23,438  
Nonrecurring | Total | Other United States Properties
      
Assets:      
Assets   9,610  
Nonrecurring | Total | MSC
      
Liabilities:      
Investment in MSC   176,282  
Nonrecurring | Level 3
      
Assets:      
Assets   262,490  
Nonrecurring | Level 3 | Telken Tenements
      
Assets:      
Assets   26,442  
Nonrecurring | Level 3 | Este Tenements
      
Assets:      
Assets   5,337  
Nonrecurring | Level 3 | Piramides Tenements
      
Assets:      
Assets   9,736  
Nonrecurring | Level 3 | Tobias Tenements
      
Assets:      
Assets   11,645  
Nonrecurring | Level 3 | Limo Complex
      
Assets:      
Assets   23,438  
Nonrecurring | Level 3 | Other United States Properties
      
Assets:      
Assets   9,610  
Nonrecurring | Level 3 | MSC
      
Liabilities:      
Investment in MSC   $ 176,282  
Nonrecurring | Level 3 | MSC | Discounted cash flow | Weighted Average
      
Liabilities:      
Discount Rate (as a percent)   10.00%  
Long Term Gold Price (in dollars per ounce)   1,300  
Long Term Silver Price (in dollars per ounce)   22.75  
Nonrecurring | Level 3 | MSC | Discounted cash flow | Weighted Average | Argentina
      
Liabilities:      
Inflation index (as a percent)   10.00%  
Nonrecurring | Level 3 | MSC | Discounted cash flow | Weighted Average | United States
      
Liabilities:      
Inflation index (as a percent)   1.70%