CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 117 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Sep. 30, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES          
Loss for the period $ (35,092) $ (2,152,013) $ (4,867,463) $ (4,164,536) $ (23,020,116)
Items not affecting cash:          
Amortization 76,205 62,469 204,735 142,035 789,578
Amortization of deferred financing costs 0 0 0 0 46,202
Accretion of asset retirement obligation 4,000 4,000 12,000 12,000 52,262
Shares issued for services 0 0 0 0 202,365
Stock-based compensation 47,670 191,381 469,161 290,803 2,309,089
Option receipts in excess of property value 0 (340,000) (135,000) (340,000) (450,000)
Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss 10,497 (21,019) (2,551) 11,441 (404,507)
Realized gain on sale of trading securities (585,050) 0 (593,816) 0 (848,135)
Purchase of trading securities 0 (1,493,809) (83,157) (1,493,809) (13,411,043)
Proceeds on sale of trading securities 577,295 0 1,662,013 0 13,819,269
Unrealized loss on trading securities 56,782 110,942 286,689 177,932 239,479
Gain on disposal of property or equipment 0 0 0 (260,058) (356,488)
Write-off of mineral property 0 0 0 0 26,000
Expenses paid by stockholders 0 0 0 0 2,700
Write-off of investment in trading securities 0 0 0 0 25,000
Changes in non-cash working capital items:          
(Increase) decrease in receivables and other (4,082) 9,273 213,475 (2,289) (122,659)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities (278,422) 31,814 (499,513) (107,076) 235,654
Increase in due to related party 18,080 0 0 0 50,000
Net cash used in operating activities (112,117) (3,596,962) (3,333,427) (5,733,557) (20,815,350)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES          
Proceeds from issuance of convertible debentures 0 0 0 0 900,000
Deferred financing costs 0 0 0 0 (46,202)
Repurchase of capital stock (50,071) 0 (54,831) 0 (219,831)
Issuance of capital stock, net of financing costs 0 218,675 110,000 1,494,739 22,719,711
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (50,071) 218,675 55,169 1,494,739 23,353,678
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES          
Acquisition of equipment 0 (155,671) 0 (1,005,467) (1,835,129)
Deposit on equipment 0 0 0 0 (151,506)
Restricted cash 0 0 0 (961) (220,961)
Oil and gas property expenditures 0 0 0 0 (250,137)
Acquisition of cash on purchase of subsidiary 0 0 0 0 11,510
Acquisition of subsidiary 0 0 0 0 (25,000)
Option payment received 0 100,000 135,000 525,000 660,000
Proceeds on disposal of assets 0 0 0 288,000 628,390
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 0 (55,671) 135,000 (193,428) (1,182,833)
Change in cash and cash equivalents during the period (162,188) (3,433,958) (3,143,258) (4,432,246) 1,355,495
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period 1,517,683 9,097,834 4,498,753 10,096,122 0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period $ 1,355,495 $ 5,663,876 $ 1,355,495 $ 5,663,876 $ 1,355,495