Mining Properties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	$ 707,100	$ 687,964
Accumulated depletion	(481,374)	(471,874)
Operational mining properties, net	225,726	216,090
Mineral interest	778,365	784,365
Accumulated depletion	(454,884)	(442,000)
Mineral interest, net	323,481	342,365
Total mining properties	549,207	558,455
Palmarejo [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	179,562	174,890
Accumulated depletion	(137,215)	(134,995)
Operational mining properties, net	42,347	39,895
Mineral interest	629,303	629,303
Accumulated depletion	(393,532)	(381,686)
Mineral interest, net	235,771	247,617
Total mining properties	278,118	287,512
Rochester [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	171,543	165,230
Accumulated depletion	(139,519)	(138,244)
Operational mining properties, net	32,024	26,986
Mineral interest	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	0	0
Total mining properties	32,024	26,986
Kensington [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	279,095	271,175
Accumulated depletion	(159,485)	(154,744)
Operational mining properties, net	119,610	116,431
Mineral interest	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	0	0
Total mining properties	119,610	116,431
Wharf [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	37,562	37,485
Accumulated depletion	(12,530)	(11,699)
Operational mining properties, net	25,032	25,786
Mineral interest	45,837	45,837
Accumulated depletion	(20,106)	(19,249)
Mineral interest, net	25,731	26,588
Total mining properties	50,763	52,374
San Bartolome [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	39,338	39,184
Accumulated depletion	(32,625)	(32,192)
Operational mining properties, net	6,713	6,992
Mineral interest	12,868	12,868
Accumulated depletion	(11,762)	(11,695)
Mineral interest, net	1,106	1,173
Total mining properties	7,819	8,165
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
Accumulated depletion
Operational mining properties, net		0
Mineral interest		10,000
Accumulated depletion		0
Mineral interest, net		10,000
Total mining properties		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	41,272	37,272
Accumulated depletion	(29,484)	(29,370)
Mineral interest, net	11,788	7,902
Total mining properties	$ 11,788	$ 7,902