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The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

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Investments in Privately Held Companies (Details)			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Investments in Privately Held Companies (Details)	Jun. 15, 2018 USD ($) installment	Nov. 02, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) employee subsidiary entity	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) subsidiary entity company	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) employee subsidiary entity item	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) subsidiary entity company	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) entity	Jun. 14, 2018	Nov. 01, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Direct investments \| item					6
Indirect investments \| item					4
Investments, equity method			$ 5,373,000		$ 5,373,000		$ 5,578,000
Payment of first installment					163,000
Remainder portion of payment			$ 1,192,000		$ 1,192,000
Number of consolidated joint ventures \| subsidiary			1	1	1	1
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests			$ 650,000	$ (132,000)	$ 965,000	$ (372,000)
Direct minority investments not consolidated \| entity					3		3
Impairment charge			$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Joint Ventures
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Indirect investments \| entity					4
Number of consolidated joint ventures \| entity			3	3	3	3
Income (loss) from consolidated joint ventures			$ 2,100,000	$ 208,000	$ 3,500,000	$ 196,000
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests			650,000	(132,000)	965,000	(372,000)
Net income (loss) from joint ventures attributable to parent			1,500,000	$ 340,000	2,500,000	568,000
Other assets
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, equity method			9,700,000		9,700,000		$ 9,800,000
Other assets \| Joint Ventures
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Minority investment in consolidated joint venture, included in other assets			4,300,000		4,300,000		4,300,000
Donghai County Dongfang High Purity Electronic Materials Co., Ltd Investment
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, equity method			$ 1,515,000		$ 1,515,000		1,473,000
Percentage of ownership, equity method (in hundredths)			46.00%		46.00%
Xilingol Tongli Germanium Co. Ltd Investment
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, equity method			$ 2,955,000		$ 2,955,000		3,190,000
Percentage of ownership, equity method (in hundredths)			25.00%		25.00%
Emeishan Jia Mei High Purity Metals Co., Ltd Investment
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, equity method			$ 903,000		$ 903,000		915,000
Percentage of ownership, equity method (in hundredths)			25.00%		25.00%
One Gallium Company
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, equity method										$ 0
Impairment charge						$ 313,000
Number of gallium companies with impairment charge \| company				1		1
Beijing JiYa Semiconductor Material Co., Ltd
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Indirect investments \| entity					3
Number of persons on board \| employee			1		1
Employee duration					27 years
Beijing Boyu Semiconductor Vessel Craftwork Technology Co Ltd
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Number of persons on board \| employee			2		2
Nanjing JinMei Gallium Co., Ltd
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Number of new board representatives \| employee					2
Jinmei
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Indirect investments \| entity					1
Majority-Owned Subsidiaries
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, consolidated method			$ 5,269,000		$ 5,269,000		5,269,000
Beijing JiYa Semiconductor Material Co., Ltd Investment
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, consolidated method			$ 3,331,000		$ 3,331,000		3,331,000
Percentage of ownership, consolidated method (in hundredths)			46.00%		46.00%
Nanjing JinMei Gallium Co., Ltd Investment
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, consolidated method			$ 592,000		$ 592,000		592,000
Percentage of ownership, consolidated method (in hundredths)			95.00%		95.00%			83.00%
Additional percentage of ownership, consolidated method	12
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	$ 1,400,000
Number of installments \| installment	2
Payment of first installment	$ 163,000
Nanjing JinMei Gallium Co., Ltd Investment \| Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Remainder portion of payment			$ 1,200,000		$ 1,200,000
Beijing BoYu Semiconductor Vessel Craftwork Technology Co., Ltd Investment
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, consolidated method			$ 1,346,000		$ 1,346,000		$ 1,346,000
Percentage of ownership, consolidated method (in hundredths)			63.00%		63.00%				70.00%
Gain (loss) from equity transaction		$ 0
Beijing BoYu Semiconductor Vessel Craftwork Technology Co., Ltd Investment \| 3rd party investor
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Percentage ownership from issuance of shares		10.00%
Raised additional capital		$ 2,000,000