Note 5 - Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

	2013			2012			2011
Current:
Domestic	$	2,963		$	(7,086	)	$	(4,282	)
Foreign		(175	)		(459	)		(752	)
Total current income tax benefit (provision)		2,788			(7,545	)		(5,034	)
Deferred:
Domestic		247			(1,334	)		(76,944	)
Foreign		6,760			—			—
Total deferred income tax benefit (provision)		7,007			(1,334	)		(76,944	)
Total income tax benefit (provision)	$	9,795		$	(8,879	)	$	(81,978	)

Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign [Table Text Block]

	2013			2012			2011
Domestic	$	(1,681	)	$	37,025		$	244,833
Foreign		(33,244	)		(13,192	)		(11,691	)
Total	$	(34,925	)	$	23,833		$	233,142

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

	2013					2012					2011
Computed “statutory” benefit (provision)	$	12,224		35	%	$	(8,342	)	35	%	$	(81,600	)	35	%
Percentage depletion		3,946		11			5,575		(24	)		13,751		(6	)
Change in valuation allowance other than utilization		(3,870	)	(11	)		(3,837	)	16			(3,822	)	2
State taxes, net of federal taxes		720		2			(1,110	)	5			(10,890	)	5
Transaction costs		(1,743	)	(5	)		—		—			—		—
Foreign currency translation of monetary assets		3,445		10			—		—			—		—
Rate differential on foreign earnings		(4,255	)	(12	)		(780	)	3			(634	)	—
Other		(672	)	(2	)		(385	)	2			1,217		(1	)
	$	9,795		28	%	$	(8,879	)	37	%	$	(81,978	)	35	%

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]

	December 31,
	2013			2012
Deferred tax assets:
Accrued reclamation costs	$	39,262		$	45,653
Deferred exploration		35,267			32,396
Foreign net operating losses		27,923			20,247
Domestic net operating losses		54,181			44,814
AMT credit carryforwards		22,155			24,603
Pension and benefit obligation		10,354			12,488
Miscellaneous		31,077			17,437
Total deferred tax assets		220,219			197,638
Valuation allowance		(27,155	)		(23,030	)
Total deferred tax assets		193,064			174,608
Deferred tax liabilities:
Miscellaneous		(5,966	)		(1,262	)
Properties, plants and equipment		(238,497	)		(57,583	)
Total deferred tax liabilities		(244,463	)		(58,845	)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	$	(51,399	)	$	115,763

Summary of Positions for which Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Table Text Block]

	2013			2012			2011
Balance at beginning of year	$	(23,030	)	$	(22,895	)	$	(19,073	)
Increase related to non-utilization of net operating loss carryforwards and non-recognition of deferred tax assets due to uncertainty of recovery		(3,870	)		(3,837	)		(3,822	)
Decrease related to utilization and expiration of deferred tax assets, other		(255	)		3,702			—
Balance at end of year	$	(27,155	)	$	(23,030	)	$	(22,895	)