Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017		Jun. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2017		Jun. 30, 2016		Dec. 31, 2016
Financial information relating to reporting segments
Revenue	$ 173,354		$ 180,197		$ 379,492		$ 326,833
Royalty Revenue			1,810				3,561
Revenues	173,354		182,007		379,492		330,394
Costs applicable to sales	125,621	[1]	100,465	[2]	258,333	[3]	202,020	[4]
Amortization	32,946		37,505		73,050		65,470
Exploration	7,813		2,233		13,065		3,963
Write-downs	0		0		0		4,446
Other operating expenses	11,408		11,764		26,122		24,244
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	(9,342)		0		(9,342)		0
Fair value adjustments, net	336		(3,579)		(864)		(12,274)
Interest expense, net	(3,749)		(10,875)		(7,335)		(21,995)
Other, net	4,136		(1,857)		25,275		(543)
Income and mining tax benefit (expense)	2,098		768		(8,948)		(1,338)
Net income (loss)	(10,955)		14,497		7,708		(5,899)
Assets, Net	1,096,251	[5]	1,113,959	[6]	1,096,251	[5]	1,113,959	[6]	$ 1,122,038
Capital expenditures	37,482		23,288		61,461		45,460
Palmarejo [Member]
Financial information relating to reporting segments
Revenue	53,235		48,272		130,939		78,085
Royalty Revenue			0				0
Revenues			48,272				78,085
Costs applicable to sales	33,894	[1]	22,865	[2]	76,895	[3]	43,903	[4]
Amortization	14,431		14,765		34,581		22,054
Exploration	3,124		562		4,755		1,363
Write-downs			0				0
Other operating expenses	310		278		611		593
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	0		0		0		0
Fair value adjustments, net	0		(840)		0		(5,704)
Interest expense, net	(102)		(425)		(227)		1,159
Other, net	(498)		(4,360)		(127)		(5,595)
Income and mining tax benefit (expense)	(3,229)		3,153		(14,415)		(3,251)
Net income (loss)	(2,353)		7,330		(672)		965
Assets, Net	397,254	[5]	427,938	[6]	397,254	[5]	427,938	[6]
Capital expenditures	11,202		8,863		17,432		17,678
Rochester [Member]
Financial information relating to reporting segments
Revenue	32,791		35,761		71,770		65,743
Royalty Revenue			0				0
Revenues			35,761				65,743
Costs applicable to sales	24,161	[1]	21,721	[2]	50,600	[3]	44,206	[4]
Amortization	4,938		5,437		10,754		10,750
Exploration	315		188		459		297
Write-downs			0				0
Other operating expenses	831		700		1,641		1,381
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	0		0		0		0
Fair value adjustments, net	336		(2,687)		(864)		(4,936)
Interest expense, net	(133)		(181)		(250)		352
Other, net	2,344		(3,860)		2,312		(3,857)
Income and mining tax benefit (expense)	44		8		(454)		415
Net income (loss)	5,137		995		9,060		(451)
Assets, Net	241,381	[5]	207,764	[6]	241,381	[5]	207,764	[6]
Capital expenditures	13,816		3,885		24,384		7,174
Kensington [Member]
Financial information relating to reporting segments
Revenue	35,567		36,469		73,531		72,212
Royalty Revenue			0				0
Revenues			36,469				72,212
Costs applicable to sales	27,988	[1]	22,611	[2]	56,431	[3]	47,029	[4]
Amortization	8,347		9,808		17,525		18,157
Exploration	1,980		977		2,819		930
Write-downs			0				0
Other operating expenses	350		257		695		509
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	0		0		0		0
Fair value adjustments, net	0		0		0		0
Interest expense, net	(113)		(34)		(153)		77
Other, net	(57)		1		(865)		(19)
Income and mining tax benefit (expense)	0		0		0		0
Net income (loss)	(3,268)		2,783		(4,957)		5,491
Assets, Net	207,103	[5]	196,403	[6]	207,103	[5]	196,403	[6]
Capital expenditures	8,649		7,536		14,170		15,626
Wharf [Member]
Financial information relating to reporting segments
Revenue	27,013		34,005		57,264		61,934
Royalty Revenue			0				0
Revenues			34,005				61,934
Costs applicable to sales	15,768	[1]	14,342	[2]	32,088	[3]	29,803	[4]
Amortization	2,549		5,128		5,660		9,179
Exploration	3		0		3		0
Write-downs			0				0
Other operating expenses	632		688		1,251		1,181
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	0		0		0		0
Fair value adjustments, net	0		0		0		0
Interest expense, net	(17)		(27)		(36)		27
Other, net	336		204		425		214
Income and mining tax benefit (expense)	(1,060)		(352)		(2,017)		236
Net income (loss)	7,320		13,672		16,634		21,722
Assets, Net	104,311	[5]	113,821	[6]	104,311	[5]	113,821	[6]
Capital expenditures	1,471		1,511		2,358		2,921
San Bartolome [Member]
Financial information relating to reporting segments
Revenue	23,814		25,185		44,398		46,463
Royalty Revenue			0				0
Revenues			25,185				46,463
Costs applicable to sales	23,392	[1]	18,645	[2]	41,614	[3]	36,142	[4]
Amortization	2,212		1,853		3,623		3,607
Exploration	0		0		0		0
Write-downs			0				0
Other operating expenses	298		1,076		1,050		1,367
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	0		0		0		0
Fair value adjustments, net	0		0		0		0
Interest expense, net	(5)		(7)		(12)		10
Other, net	92		411		371		726
Income and mining tax benefit (expense)	245		848		214		723
Net income (loss)	(1,756)		4,863		(1,316)		5,340
Assets, Net	62,864	[5]	83,814	[6]	62,864	[5]	83,814	[6]
Capital expenditures	375		1,317		763		1,838
Other Mining Properties [Member]
Financial information relating to reporting segments
Revenue	934		505		1,590		2,396
Royalty Revenue			1,810				3,561
Revenues			2,315				5,957
Costs applicable to sales	418	[1]	281	[2]	705	[3]	937	[4]
Amortization	469		514		907		1,723
Exploration	2,391		506		5,029		1,373
Write-downs			0				4,446
Other operating expenses	8,987		8,765		20,874		19,213
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	(9,342)		0		(9,342)		0
Fair value adjustments, net	0		(52)		0		(1,634)
Interest expense, net	(3,379)		(10,201)		(6,657)		20,370
Other, net	1,919		5,747		23,159		7,988
Income and mining tax benefit (expense)	6,098		(2,889)		7,724		3,215
Net income (loss)	(16,035)		(15,146)		(11,041)		(38,966)
Assets, Net	83,338	[5]	84,219	[6]	83,338	[5]	84,219	[6]
Capital expenditures	$ 1,969		$ 176		$ 2,354		$ 223

[1] Excludes amortization

[2] Excludes amortization

[3] Excludes amortization

[4] Excludes amortization

[5] Segment assets include receivables, prepaids, inventories, property, plant and equipment, and mineral interest

[6] Segment assets include receivables, prepaids, inventories, property, plant and equipment, and mineral interests