GUARANTOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended							3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 item	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 Parent company	Mar. 31, 2012 Parent company	Mar. 31, 2013 Parent company Guarantor Subsidiaries	Mar. 31, 2013 Parent company Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc. ("RSGI")	Mar. 31, 2013 Parent company RSCI	Mar. 31, 2013 Issuer	Mar. 31, 2012 Issuer	Sep. 25, 2012 Issuer 2020 Unsecured Senior Notes	Mar. 31, 2013 Guarantor Subsidiaries	Mar. 31, 2012 Guarantor Subsidiaries	Mar. 31, 2013 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries item	Mar. 31, 2012 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	Mar. 31, 2013 Consolidating Adjustments	Mar. 31, 2012 Consolidating Adjustments	Mar. 31, 2013 RSCI RSII	Mar. 31, 2013 RSII Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc. ("RSGI")
GUARANTOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Ownership interest (as a percent)					100.00%	100.00%	100.00%										100.00%	100.00%
Number of domestic subsidiaries													2
Number of financial institutions	3
Debt issued										$ 1,250,000,000
Net sales	934,600,000	909,500,000									179,700,000	202,300,000	807,800,000	768,700,000	(52,900,000)	(61,500,000)
Cost of products sold	660,800,000	566,700,000									127,600,000	145,700,000	585,600,000	482,500,000	(52,400,000)	(61,500,000)
Gross profit	273,800,000	342,800,000									52,100,000	56,600,000	222,200,000	286,200,000	(500,000)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	180,000,000	177,100,000						400,000	300,000		45,500,000	43,700,000	134,100,000	133,100,000
Restructuring and other severance costs	7,100,000	14,200,000									5,300,000	1,700,000	1,800,000	12,500,000
Operating income	86,700,000	151,500,000						(400,000)	(300,000)		1,300,000	11,200,000	86,300,000	140,600,000	(500,000)
Other income (expenses), net:
Intergroup interest, net								17,500,000	18,700,000		(3,100,000)	(4,000,000)	(14,400,000)	(14,700,000)
Interest expense, net	(29,000,000)	(20,500,000)						(22,700,000)	(17,600,000)		(300,000)		(6,000,000)	(2,900,000)
Loss on early extinguishment/modification of debt	(17,600,000)	(9,700,000)							(300,000)			(3,400,000)	(17,600,000)	(6,000,000)
Intergroup other, net											10,700,000	9,300,000	(10,700,000)	(9,300,000)
Foreign exchange loss on financing activities, net	(15,300,000)	(1,000,000)						(13,300,000)			(200,000)	(200,000)	(1,800,000)	(800,000)
Other, net	100,000	0											100,000
Other expenses, net	(61,800,000)	(31,200,000)						(18,500,000)	800,000		7,100,000	1,700,000	(50,400,000)	(33,700,000)
Income before taxes	24,900,000	120,300,000						(18,900,000)	500,000		8,400,000	12,900,000	35,900,000	106,900,000	(500,000)
Income tax (benefit) provision	8,000,000	30,600,000						(7,900,000)	200,000		4,000,000	1,300,000	12,100,000	29,100,000	(200,000)
Net income before equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	16,900,000	89,700,000						(11,000,000)	300,000		4,400,000	11,600,000	23,800,000	77,800,000	(300,000)
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries			18,900,000	75,800,000				29,900,000	75,500,000		13,900,000	8,700,000	18,900,000	75,800,000	(81,600,000)	(235,800,000)
Net income	16,900,000	89,700,000	18,900,000	75,800,000				18,900,000	75,800,000		18,300,000	20,300,000	42,700,000	153,600,000	(81,900,000)	(235,800,000)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,000,000	(13,900,000)											2,000,000	(13,900,000)
Net income attributable to Rockwood Holdings, Inc. shareholders	$ 18,900,000	$ 75,800,000	$ 18,900,000	$ 75,800,000				$ 18,900,000	$ 75,800,000		$ 18,300,000	$ 20,300,000	$ 44,700,000	$ 139,700,000	$ (81,900,000)	$ (235,800,000)