Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Prepaid expenses and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	$ (885)	$ (1,406)
Accrued liabilities and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	3,661	2,488
Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	2,981	7,274
Current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	37,279	41,146
Non-current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	84,285	103,952
Forward foreign exchange contracts MXN peso [Member] | Prepaid expenses and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(814)	(376)
Forward foreign exchange contracts MXN peso [Member] | Accrued liabilities and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net		300
Forward foreign exchange contracts MXN peso [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net
Forward foreign exchange contracts MXN peso [Member] | Current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net
Forward foreign exchange contracts MXN peso [Member] | Non-current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net
Canadian Dollar Forward Exchange Contract [Member] | Prepaid expenses and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net
Canadian Dollar Forward Exchange Contract [Member] | Accrued liabilities and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	1,598
Canadian Dollar Forward Exchange Contract [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net
Canadian Dollar Forward Exchange Contract [Member] | Current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net
Canadian Dollar Forward Exchange Contract [Member] | Non-current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net
Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] | Prepaid expenses and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net
Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] | Accrued liabilities and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net
Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net
Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] | Current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	37,279	41,146
Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] | Non-current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	84,285	103,952
Put and call options, net [Member] | Prepaid expenses and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net
Put and call options, net [Member] | Accrued liabilities and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	1,551	2,025
Put and call options, net [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	2,981	7,274
Put and call options, net [Member] | Current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net
Put and call options, net [Member] | Non-current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net
Concentrate sales contracts [Member] | Prepaid expenses and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	(71)	(1,030)
Concentrate sales contracts [Member] | Accrued liabilities and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net	512	163
Concentrate sales contracts [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net
Concentrate sales contracts [Member] | Current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net
Concentrate sales contracts [Member] | Non-current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative, Fair Value, Net