Debt (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 oz	Dec. 31, 2013 oz	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due March 2028 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due March 2028 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due March 2028 [Member]	Feb. 12, 2013 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due March 2028 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Notes due 2021 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Senior Notes due 2021 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Notes due 2021 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 1.25% Convertible Senior Notes due January 2024 (terminated in 2011) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 1.25% Convertible Senior Notes due January 2024 (terminated in 2011) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 1.25% Convertible Senior Notes due January 2024 (terminated in 2011) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Senior Term Notes due December 31, 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Senior Term Notes due December 31, 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Term Notes due December 31, 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Kensington Term Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Kensington Term Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Kensington Term Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Capital Lease Obligations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Capital Lease Obligations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Capital Lease Obligations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other debt obligations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Other debt obligations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other debt obligations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Call Option [Member] Kensington Term Facility [Member] oz	Dec. 31, 2013 Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] oz	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member] Rate	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member] Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] oz
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Ratio of Adjusted Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization to Interest Expense																													3.00
Royalty Guarantees, Commitments, Ounces of Gold																														400,000
Minimum Obligation Paid in Monthly Payments																												4,167
Annual Inflation Compounding Adjustment																												1.00%
Percentage of Actual Gold Production		50.00%
Derivative Average Gold Price in Excess of Minimum Contractual Deduction Rate	$ 400	$ 400
Gold under collars protection																											243,750
Long term debt and capital lease obligations
Current	2,505,000	2,505,000	55,983,000		0	48,081,000		48,700,000	0	0											2,505,000	7,902,000
Non-current	306,130,000	306,130,000	3,460,000		5,334,000	0			300,000,000	0											796,000	3,460,000
Interest expenses incurred for various debt instruments
Interest Expense					466,000	1,581,000	1,581,000		21,853,000	0	0	0	0	1,000	0	0	1,381,000	0	2,339,000	4,383,000	415,000	997,000	1,620,000	291,000	881,000	1,379,000
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Amount	612,000		213,000	0
Accretion of Franco Nevada royalty obligation		17,641,000	19,139,000	22,230,000
Amortization of debt issuance costs		2,143,000	1,146,000	2,050,000
Accretion of debt discount		576,000	2,536,000	2,324,000
Capitalized interest		(2,694,000)	(2,663,000)	(2,175,000)
Total interest expense, net of capitalized interest		$ 41,303,000	$ 26,169,000	$ 34,774,000
Payment of Royalty on Ounces of Gold	259,069	259,069