Mining Properties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	$ 730,657	$ 687,964
Accumulated depletion	(491,959)	(471,874)
Operational mining properties, net	238,698	216,090
Mineral interest	778,365	784,365
Accumulated depletion	(466,816)	(442,000)
Mineral interest, net	311,549	342,365
Total mining properties	550,247	558,455
Palmarejo [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	185,416	174,890
Accumulated depletion	(139,170)	(134,995)
Operational mining properties, net	46,246	39,895
Mineral interest	629,303	629,303
Accumulated depletion	(404,134)	(381,686)
Mineral interest, net	225,169	247,617
Total mining properties	271,415	287,512
Rochester [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	181,199	165,230
Accumulated depletion	(141,026)	(138,244)
Operational mining properties, net	40,173	26,986
Mineral interest	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	0	0
Total mining properties	40,173	26,986
Kensington [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	286,801	271,175
Accumulated depletion	(165,193)	(154,744)
Operational mining properties, net	121,608	116,431
Mineral interest	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	0	0
Total mining properties	121,608	116,431
Wharf [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	37,818	37,485
Accumulated depletion	(13,476)	(11,699)
Operational mining properties, net	24,342	25,786
Mineral interest	45,837	45,837
Accumulated depletion	(21,176)	(19,249)
Mineral interest, net	24,661	26,588
Total mining properties	49,003	52,374
San Bartolome [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	39,423	39,184
Accumulated depletion	(33,094)	(32,192)
Operational mining properties, net	6,329	6,992
Mineral interest	12,868	12,868
Accumulated depletion	(11,839)	(11,695)
Mineral interest, net	1,029	1,173
Total mining properties	7,358	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	(29,667)	(29,370)
Mineral interest, net	11,605	7,902
Total mining properties	$ 11,605	$ 7,902