Document And Entity Information	6 Months Ended
Document And Entity Information	Jun. 30, 2013	Aug. 07, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Dorchester Minerals, L.P.
Document Type	10-Q
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		30,675,431
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001172358
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 13,512	$ 13,792
Trade and other receivables	6,827	5,806
Net profits interests receivable - related party	5,181	6,472
Prepaid expenses	29
Total current assets	25,549	26,070
Other non-current assets	19	19
Total	19	19
Property and leasehold improvements - at cost:
Oil and natural gas properties (full cost method)	344,196	344,196
Accumulated full cost depletion	(253,225)	(246,595)
Total	90,971	97,601
Leasehold improvements	512	512
Accumulated amortization	(426)	(402)
Total	86	110
Total assets	116,625	123,800
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	1,578	448
Current portion of deferred rent incentive	39	39
Total current liabilities	1,617	487
Deferred rent incentive less current portion	30	50
Total liabilities	1,647	537
Commitments and contingencies (Note 2)	0	0
Partnership capital:
General partner	3,364	3,625
Unitholders	111,614	119,638
Total partnership capital	114,978	123,263
Total liabilities and partnership capital	$ 116,625	$ 123,800

Condensed Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Operating revenues:
Lease bonus	$ 35	$ 3,127	$ 78	$ 3,403
Other	8	132	16	166
Total operating revenues	17,295	15,242	30,513	28,675
Costs and expenses:
Operating, including production taxes	1,170	1,199	2,455	2,231
Depletion and amortization	3,268	4,482	6,654	8,794
General and administrative expenses	973	881	1,872	1,684
Total costs and expenses	5,411	6,562	10,981	12,709
Operating income	11,884	8,680	19,532	15,966
Other income, net	141		141	12
Net income	12,025	8,680	19,673	15,978
Allocation of net income:
General partner	385	341	659	625
Unitholders	11,640	8,339	19,014	15,353
Net income per common unit (basic and diluted) (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.38	$ 0.27	$ 0.62	$ 0.50
Weighted average common units outstanding (in Shares)	30,675	30,675	30,675	30,675
Royalty Revenue [Member]
Operating revenues:
Royalties	13,191	11,665	24,812	24,362
Net Profits Interests [Member]
Operating revenues:
Royalties	$ 4,061	$ 318	$ 5,607	$ 744

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 27,678	$ 32,493
Cash flows used in financing activities:
Distributions paid to general partner and unitholders	(27,958)	(31,381)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(280)	1,112
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	13,792	14,238
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 13,512	$ 15,350

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]

1 Basis of Presentation: Dorchester Minerals, L.P. is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership that was formed in December 2001, and commenced operations on January 31, 2003. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Dorchester Minerals, L.P. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Dorchester Minerals Oklahoma LP, Dorchester Minerals Oklahoma GP, Inc., Maecenas Minerals LLP, and Dorchester-Maecenas GP LLC. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments unless indicated otherwise) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of our financial position and operating results for the interim period. Interim period results are not necessarily indicative of the results for the calendar year. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for additional information. Per-unit information is calculated by dividing the income or loss applicable to holders of our Partnership’s common units by the weighted average number of units outstanding. The Partnership has no potentially dilutive securities and, consequently, basic and dilutive income per unit do not differ. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Partnership’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments — The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and payables approximates fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. These estimated fair values may not be representative of actual values of the financial instruments that could have been realized as of quarter close or that will be realized in the future.

Note 2 - Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

2 Contingencies: On January 27, 2006, plaintiff Rapp sued the operating partnership for underpayment of royalty on properties owned and operated in Texas County, Oklahoma. Plaintiff sought certification of a class action. A $500,000 reserve was recorded in Net Profits Revenues on the financial statements in the first quarter of 2012. On October 18, 2012, the District Court approved a class settlement between the parties in the amount of $500,000 plus immaterial future royalty amounts on fuel gas. During December 2012, the operating partnership paid the settlement amount and the litigation was dismissed.

The Partnership and the operating partnership are involved in other legal and/or administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of their businesses, none of which have predictable outcomes and none of which are believed to have any significant effect on consolidated financial position, cash flows, or operating results.

Note 3 - Distributions To Holders Of Common Units

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Partners' Capital Notes [Abstract]

Partners' Capital Notes Disclosure [Text Block]

3 Distributions to Holders of Common Units: Unitholder cash distributions per common unit since 2009 have been:

	Per Unit Amount
	2013		2012		2011		2010		2009
First quarter	$	0.448209	$	0.541883	$	0.426745	$	0.449222	$	0.401205
Second quarter	$	0.395583	$	0.456351	$	0.417027	$	0.412207	$	0.271354
Third quarter			$	0.343252	$	0.455546	$	0.471081	$	0.286968
Fourth quarter			$	0.433232	$	0.448553	$	0.354074	$	0.321540

Distributions from first quarter of 2010 through the present were paid on 30,675,431 units; distributions from the second quarter of 2009 through the fourth quarter of 2009 were paid on 29,840,431 units; previous distributions were paid on 28,240,431 units. The second quarter 2013 distribution was paid on August 1, 2013. Fourth quarter distributions shown above are paid in the first calendar quarter of the following year. Our partnership agreement requires the next cash distribution to be paid by November 15, 2013.

Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)	Jun. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Fair Value of Financial Instruments — The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and payables approximates fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. These estimated fair values may not be representative of actual values of the financial instruments that could have been realized as of quarter close or that will be realized in the future.

Note 3 - Distributions To Holders Of Common Units (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Partners' Capital Notes [Abstract]

Distributions Made to Limited Partner, by Distribution [Table Text Block]

	Per Unit Amount
	2013		2012		2011		2010		2009
First quarter	$	0.448209	$	0.541883	$	0.426745	$	0.449222	$	0.401205
Second quarter	$	0.395583	$	0.456351	$	0.417027	$	0.412207	$	0.271354
Third quarter			$	0.343252	$	0.455546	$	0.471081	$	0.286968
Fourth quarter			$	0.433232	$	0.448553	$	0.354074	$	0.321540

Note 2 - Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Note 2 - Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Estimated Litigation Liability		$ 500,000
Litigation Settlement, Amount	$ 500,000

Note 3 - Distributions To Holders Of Common Units (Details) - Unitholder Cash Distributions Per Common Unit (USD $)	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
First Quarter [Member]
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Cash Distribution Per Unit	$ 0.448209	$ 0.541883	$ 0.426745	$ 0.449222	$ 0.401205
Second Quarter [Member]
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Cash Distribution Per Unit	$ 0.395583	$ 0.456351	$ 0.417027	$ 0.412207	$ 0.271354
Third Quarter [Member]
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Cash Distribution Per Unit		$ 0.343252	$ 0.455546	$ 0.471081	$ 0.286968
Fourth Quarter [Member]
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Cash Distribution Per Unit		$ 0.433232	$ 0.448553	$ 0.354074	$ 0.321540

Note 3 - Distributions To Holders Of Common Units (Details)	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2009	Mar. 31, 2009
Partners' Capital Notes [Abstract]
Partners' Capital Account, Units	30,675,431	29,840,431	28,240,431