Mining Properties (Details Textual) (USD $) Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	4 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2006 oz	Mar. 31, 2012 mi	Dec. 31, 2008 oz	Apr. 30, 2002 Martha [Member]	May 23, 2005 Endeavor [Member] oz	Nov. 30, 2007 Joaquin Project - Argentina [Member] acre ha	Dec. 31, 2007 Palmarejo [Member]	Dec. 31, 2007 Common Stock [Member] Palmarejo [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Cost of Acquired Entity, Number of Shares Issued								272
Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash Paid							$ 1,100,000
Cost of Acquired Entity, Total Purchase Price							1,100,000,000
Cost of Acquired Entity, Liabilities Incurred							$ 700,000,000
Property, Plant and Equipment (Textual) [Abstract]
Acquisition of interest in mine				100.00%
Quantity of acquired silver production and reserves					17,700,000
Commenced exploration area						28,450
Equivalent Commenced exploration area in Acres						70,300
Mining Properties (Textual) [Abstract]
Distance of Lynn Canal from mines		45
Cumulative ounces of silver received by CDE Australia			3,800,000
Current ore reserve payable ounces based on current metallurgical recovery and current smelter contract terms			3,700,000
Silver production and reserves payable ounces	20,000,000