Mining Properties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	$ 624,370	$ 612,162
Accumulated depletion	(435,251)	(424,642)
Operational mining properties, net	189,119	187,520
Mineral interest	796,533	806,436
Accumulated depletion	(411,548)	(404,737)
Mineral interest, net	384,985	401,699
Total mining properties	574,104	589,219
Palmarejo [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	156,257	151,828
Accumulated depletion	(131,770)	(131,055)
Operational mining properties, net	24,487	20,773
Mineral interest	629,303	629,303
Accumulated depletion	(354,554)	(348,268)
Mineral interest, net	274,749	281,035
Total mining properties	299,236	301,808
Rochester [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	150,648	149,756
Accumulated depletion	(129,100)	(126,242)
Operational mining properties, net	21,548	23,514
Mineral interest	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	0	0
Total mining properties	21,548	23,514
Kensington [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	245,433	238,786
Accumulated depletion	(136,757)	(131,236)
Operational mining properties, net	108,676	107,550
Mineral interest	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	0	0
Total mining properties	108,676	107,550
Wharf [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	32,509	32,318
Accumulated depletion	(6,836)	(5,784)
Operational mining properties, net	25,673	26,534
Mineral interest	45,837	45,837
Accumulated depletion	(12,002)	(10,551)
Mineral interest, net	33,835	35,286
Total mining properties	59,508	61,820
San Bartolome [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	39,523	39,474
Accumulated depletion	(30,788)	(30,325)
Operational mining properties, net	8,735	9,149
Mineral interest	12,868	12,868
Accumulated depletion	(11,471)	(11,400)
Mineral interest, net	1,397	1,468
Total mining properties	10,132	10,617
La Preciosa [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Operational mining properties, net	0	0
Mineral interest	49,085	49,085
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	49,085	49,085
Total mining properties	49,085	49,085
Joaquin Project - Argentina [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Operational mining properties, net	0	0
Mineral interest	10,000	10,000
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	10,000	10,000
Total mining properties	10,000	10,000
Other Mining Properties [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	$ 0	0
Accumulated depletion		0
Operational mining properties, net	$ 0	0
Mineral interest	49,440	59,343
Accumulated depletion	(33,521)	(34,518)
Mineral interest, net	15,919	24,825
Total mining properties	$ 15,919	$ 24,825