Mining Properties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	$ 657,386	$ 612,162
Accumulated depletion	(458,840)	(424,642)
Operational mining properties, net	198,546	187,520
Mineral interest	784,365	806,436
Accumulated depletion	(430,857)	(404,737)
Mineral interest, net	353,508	401,699
Total mining properties	552,054	589,219
Palmarejo [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	169,892	151,828
Accumulated depletion	(133,685)	(131,055)
Operational mining properties, net	36,207	20,773
Mineral interest	629,303	629,303
Accumulated depletion	(371,589)	(348,268)
Mineral interest, net	257,714	281,035
Total mining properties	293,921	301,808
Rochester [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	154,997	149,756
Accumulated depletion	(134,429)	(126,242)
Operational mining properties, net	20,568	23,514
Mineral interest	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	0	0
Total mining properties	20,568	23,514
Kensington [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	259,468	238,786
Accumulated depletion	(147,932)	(131,236)
Operational mining properties, net	111,536	107,550
Mineral interest	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	0	0
Total mining properties	111,536	107,550
Wharf [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	33,344	32,318
Accumulated depletion	(11,001)	(5,784)
Operational mining properties, net	22,343	26,534
Mineral interest	45,837	45,837
Accumulated depletion	(18,335)	(10,551)
Mineral interest, net	27,502	35,286
Total mining properties	49,845	61,820
San Bartolome [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	39,685	39,474
Accumulated depletion	(31,793)	(30,325)
Operational mining properties, net	7,892	9,149
Mineral interest	12,868	12,868
Accumulated depletion	(11,632)	(11,400)
Mineral interest, net	1,236	1,468
Total mining properties	9,128	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	0
Operational mining properties, net	0	0
Mineral interest	37,272	59,343
Accumulated depletion	(29,301)	(34,518)
Mineral interest, net	7,971	24,825
Total mining properties	$ 7,971	$ 24,825