Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Derivative instruments Settlement
Average forward price		$ 1,380
Average strike price	1,755.42
Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] | 2011 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	8,422,000
Derivative average gold price in excess of minimum contractual Deduction Rate	485,000
Notional ounces	17,348
Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] | 2012 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	24,865,000
Derivative average gold price in excess of minimum contractual Deduction Rate	497,000
Notional ounces	50,004
Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] | 2013 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	25,097,000
Derivative average gold price in excess of minimum contractual Deduction Rate	502,000
Notional ounces	50,004
Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] | Thereafter [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	76,792,000
Derivative average gold price in excess of minimum contractual Deduction Rate	493,000
Notional ounces	155,617
Mexican peso forward purchase contracts [Member] | 2011 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Fair value of foreign exchange contracts	7,800,000
Average forward price	12,485
Mexican peso forward purchase contracts [Member] | 2012 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Fair value of foreign exchange contracts	16,800,000
Average forward price	11,701
Mexican peso forward purchase contracts [Member] | 2013 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Fair value of foreign exchange contracts	0
Average forward price	0
Notional ounces	0
Mexican peso forward purchase contracts [Member] | Thereafter [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Fair value of foreign exchange contracts	0
Average forward price	0
Notional ounces	0
Mexican Peso Notional Amount [Member] | 2011 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Notional ounces	97,385
Mexican Peso Notional Amount [Member] | 2012 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Notional ounces	196,568
Silver ounces received from Mandalay [Member] | 2011 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	382,000
Average forward price	18.35
Notional ounces	20,833
Silver ounces received from Mandalay [Member] | 2012 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	1,535,000
Average forward price	18.42
Notional ounces	83,333
Silver ounces received from Mandalay [Member] | 2013 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	0
Average forward price	0.00
Notional ounces	0
Silver ounces received from Mandalay [Member] | Thereafter [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	0
Average forward price	0.00
Notional ounces	0
Silver concentrate sales agreements [Member] | 2011 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	16,417,000
Derivative average price	39.58
Notional ounces	414,767
Silver concentrate sales agreements [Member] | 2012 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	0
Derivative average price	0.00
Notional ounces	0
Silver concentrate sales agreements [Member] | 2013 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	0
Derivative average price	0.00
Notional ounces	0
Silver concentrate sales agreements [Member] | Thereafter [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	0
Derivative average price	0.00
Notional ounces	0
Gold concentrates sales agreements [Member] | 2011 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	13,676,000
Derivative average price	1,781
Notional ounces	7,679
Gold concentrates sales agreements [Member] | 2012 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	0
Derivative average price	0
Notional ounces	0
Gold concentrates sales agreements [Member] | 2013 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	0
Derivative average price	0
Notional ounces	0
Gold concentrates sales agreements [Member] | Thereafter [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	0
Derivative average price	0
Notional ounces	0
Gold put options purchased [Member] | 2011 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	900,000
Average strike price	887
Notional ounces	15,000
Gold put options purchased [Member] | 2012 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	2,880,000
Average strike price	923
Notional ounces	68,000
Gold put options purchased [Member] | 2013 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	1,800,000
Average strike price	928
Notional ounces	45,000
Gold put options purchased [Member] | Thereafter [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	720,000
Average strike price	991
Notional ounces	77,000
Gold call options sold [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Notional ounces	32,500
Gold call options sold [Member] | 2011 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	0
Average strike price	2,000
Notional ounces	2,500
Gold call options sold [Member] | 2012 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	2,160,000
Average strike price	1,839
Notional ounces	58,000
Gold call options sold [Member] | 2013 [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	1,800,000
Average strike price	1,827
Notional ounces	45,000
Gold call options sold [Member] | Thereafter [Member]
Derivative instruments Settlement
Derivative, Notional Amount	720,000
Average strike price	$ 1,960
Notional ounces	77,000