Mining Properties (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	$ 641,305	$ 674,636
Accumulated depletion	(315,541)	(247,562)
Operational mining properties, net	325,764	427,074
Mineral interest	1,753,129	1,822,635
Accumulated depletion	(327,392)	(257,758)
Mineral interest, net	1,425,737	1,564,877
Total mining properties	1,751,501	1,991,951
Palmarejo [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	151,845	155,722
Accumulated depletion	(110,143)	(82,037)
Operational mining properties, net	41,702	73,685
Mineral interest	1,146,572	1,658,389
Accumulated depletion	(300,187)	(235,795)
Mineral interest, net	846,385	1,422,594
Total mining properties	888,087	1,496,279
San Bartolome [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	70,761	70,322
Accumulated depletion	(22,236)	(18,439)
Operational mining properties, net	48,525	51,883
Mineral interest	26,643	26,642
Accumulated depletion	(8,759)	(7,338)
Mineral interest, net	17,884	19,304
Total mining properties	66,409	71,187
Kensington [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	268,351	333,619
Accumulated depletion	(80,032)	(46,649)
Operational mining properties, net	188,319	286,970
Mineral interest	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	0	0
Total mining properties	188,319	286,970
Rochester [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	150,348	114,973
Accumulated depletion	(103,130)	(100,437)
Operational mining properties, net	47,218	14,536
Mineral interest	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	0	0
Total mining properties	47,218	14,536
Endeavor [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Operational mining properties, net	0	0
Mineral interest	408,352	44,033
Accumulated depletion	0	(14,625)
Mineral interest, net	408,352	29,408
Total mining properties	408,352	29,408
Joaquin Project - Argentina [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Operational mining properties, net	0	0
Mineral interest	93,429	93,571
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	93,429	93,571
Total mining properties	93,429	93,571
Other Mining Properties [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	0
Accumulated depletion	0
Operational mining properties, net	0
Mineral interest	78,133
Accumulated depletion	(18,446)
Mineral interest, net	59,687
Total mining properties	$ 59,687