Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Franco-Nevada warrant [Member] | Prepaid expenses and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value		$ 0
Franco-Nevada warrant [Member] | Other non-current Assets [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value		0
Franco-Nevada warrant [Member] | Accrued liabilities and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value		0
Franco-Nevada warrant [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value		0
Franco-Nevada warrant [Member] | Current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value		28,745
Franco-Nevada warrant [Member] | Non-current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value		133,258
Forward foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Prepaid expenses and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	0	328
Forward foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Other non-current Assets [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	0	0
Forward foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Accrued liabilities and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	3,786	323
Forward foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	0	0
Forward foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	0	0
Forward foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Non-current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	0	0
Gold lease facility [Member] | Prepaid expenses and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value		0
Gold lease facility [Member] | Other non-current Assets [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value		0
Gold lease facility [Member] | Accrued liabilities and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value		2,213
Gold lease facility [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value		0
Gold lease facility [Member] | Current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value		0
Gold lease facility [Member] | Non-current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value		0
Gold forward contracts [Member] | Prepaid expenses and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value		425
Gold forward contracts [Member] | Other non-current Assets [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value		0
Gold forward contracts [Member] | Accrued liabilities and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value		0
Gold forward contracts [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value		0
Gold forward contracts [Member] | Current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value		0
Gold forward contracts [Member] | Non-current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value		0
Silver ounces received from Mandalay [Member] | Prepaid expenses and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	989	531
Silver ounces received from Mandalay [Member] | Other non-current Assets [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	244	1,063
Silver ounces received from Mandalay [Member] | Accrued liabilities and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	0	0
Silver ounces received from Mandalay [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	0	0
Silver ounces received from Mandalay [Member] | Current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	0	0
Silver ounces received from Mandalay [Member] | Non-current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	0	0
Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] | Prepaid expenses and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	0
Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] | Other non-current Assets [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	0
Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] | Accrued liabilities and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	0
Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	0
Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] | Current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	39,766
Palmarejo gold production royalty [Member] | Non-current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	139,659
Put and call options, net [Member] | Prepaid expenses and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	0	0
Put and call options, net [Member] | Other non-current Assets [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	0	0
Put and call options, net [Member] | Accrued liabilities and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	5,910	1,471
Put and call options, net [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	27,025	13,277
Put and call options, net [Member] | Current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	0	0
Put and call options, net [Member] | Non-current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	0	0
Concentrate sales contracts [Member] | Prepaid expenses and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	169	1,703
Concentrate sales contracts [Member] | Other non-current Assets [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	0	0
Concentrate sales contracts [Member] | Accrued liabilities and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	2,828	23
Concentrate sales contracts [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	0	0
Concentrate sales contracts [Member] | Current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	0	0
Concentrate sales contracts [Member] | Non-current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	0	0
Prepaid expenses and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	1,158	2,987
Other non-current Assets [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Asset, Fair Value	244	1,063
Accrued liabilities and other [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	12,524	4,030
Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	27,025	13,277
Current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	39,766	28,745
Non-current portion of royalty obligation [Member]
Fair value of the derivative instruments
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	$ 139,659	$ 133,258