Multiemployer plan number description.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Multiemployer plan withdrawal liability period contributions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of contributions made to multiemployer plans by the employer. A multiemployer plan is a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 80
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170332&loc=SL14450702-114947

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 80
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170332&loc=SL14450691-114947

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 80
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (e)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170332&loc=SL14450657-114947

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indicate the multiemployer plan's certified zone status as currently required by the Pension Protection Act of 2006 or a subsequent amendment thereof. The zone status categories are red (critical status), orange (seriously endangered), yellow (endangered), and green (none of the above). The acceptable values are "red", "orange", "yellow", "green", "other", and "NA". A multiemployer plan is a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 80
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170332&loc=SL14450657-114947

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MultiemployerPlansCertifiedZoneStatus
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	us-types:zoneStatusItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Expiration date of the collective bargaining arrangement requiring contributions to the multiemployer plan, in CCYY-MM-DD format. A multiemployer plan is a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 80
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170332&loc=SL14450657-114947

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the significant collective-bargaining arrangements within the range of expiration dates for collective-bargaining arrangements requiring contributions to a multiemployer plan as well as other information to help investors understand the significance of the collective-bargaining agreements and when they expire. A multiemployer plan is a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 80
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170332&loc=SL14450657-114947

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MultiemployerPlansCollectiveBargainingArrangementExpirationDateDescription
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indicate whether the employer paid a surcharge to the pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers. The acceptable values are "no", "yes", and "NA".

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 80
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (f)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170332&loc=SL14450657-114947

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	us-types:surchargeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the obligation recognized by withdrawing from a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanNameAxis=slca_LiunaMember
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanNameAxis=slca_IuoeMember
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- Details

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Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanNameAxis=slca_CentralStatesSoutheastAndSouthwestAreasPensionPlanMember
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Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits - Summary of Multiemployer Pension Plan (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
LIUNA
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits
EIN/Pension Plan No.		52-6074345/001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status		Red	Red
Company Contributions	$ 124,000	$ 182,000	$ 149,000
Surcharge Imposed		Yes
Expiration Date of CBA		May 31, 2017
IUOE
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits
EIN/Pension Plan No.		36-6052390/001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status		Green	Green
Company Contributions	22,000	$ 29,000	$ 28,000
Surcharge Imposed		No
Expiration Date of CBA		Jul. 29, 2018
CSSS
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits
EIN/Pension Plan No.		36-6044243/001
Pension Protection Act Zone Status		Red	Red
Company Contributions	51,000	$ 51,000	$ 51,000
Surcharge Imposed		NA
Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Plan
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits
Withdrawal liability from Pension Plan				$ 1,000,000
Withdrawal liability paid on monthly installments	$ 4,000
Description of withdrawal liability payment schedule	The withdrawal liability of $1.0 million will be paid in monthly installments of $4 until 2031.