Note 5 - Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

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

	2014			2013			2012
Current:
Domestic	$	7,761		$	2,963		$	(7,086	)
Foreign		(619	)		(175	)		(459	)
Total current income tax benefit (provision)		7,142			2,788			(7,545	)
Deferred:
Domestic		(1,572	)		247			(1,334	)
Foreign		(330	)		6,760			—
Total deferred income tax benefit (provision)		(1,902	)		7,007			(1,334	)
Total income tax benefit (provision)	$	5,240		$	9,795		$	(8,879	)

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

	2014			2013			2012
Domestic	$	(1,505	)	$	(1,681	)	$	37,025
Foreign		14,089			(33,244	)		(13,192	)
Total	$	12,584		$	(34,925	)	$	23,833

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

	2014					2013					2012
Computed “statutory” benefit (provision)	$	(4,405	)	35	%	$	12,224		35	%	$	(8,342	)	35	%
Percentage depletion		6,034		(48	)		3,946		11			5,575		(24	)
Change in valuation allowance other than utilization		(6,314	)	50			(3,870	)	(11	)		(3,837	)	16
State taxes, net of federal taxes		1,671		(13	)		720		2			(1,110	)	5
Transaction costs		—		—			(1,743	)	(5	)		—		—
Foreign currency translation of monetary assets		16,368		(130	)		3,445		10			—		—
Rate differential on foreign earnings		(5,938	)	47			(4,255	)	(12	)		(780	)	3
Compensation		(1,308	)	10			(326	)	(1	)		(444	)	2
Other		(868	)	7			(346	)	(1	)		59		—
	$	5,240		(42	)%	$	9,795		28	%	$	(8,879	)	37	%

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

	December 31,
	2014			2013
Deferred tax assets:
Accrued reclamation costs	$	20,573		$	39,262
Deferred exploration		32,225			35,267
Foreign net operating losses		25,790			27,923
Domestic net operating losses		73,018			54,181
AMT credit carryforwards		14,698			22,155
Pension and benefit obligation		16,876			10,354
Foreign exchange gain		16,555			2,488
Miscellaneous		29,976			28,589
Total deferred tax assets		229,711			220,219
Valuation allowance		(32,094	)		(27,155	)
Total deferred tax assets		197,617			193,064
Deferred tax liabilities:
Miscellaneous		(7,620	)		(5,966	)
Properties, plants and equipment		(232,397	)		(238,497	)
Total deferred tax liabilities		(240,017	)		(244,463	)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	$	(42,400	)	$	(51,399	)

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

	2014			2013			2012
Balance at beginning of year	$	(27,155	)	$	(23,030	)	$	(22,895	)
Increase related to non-utilization of net operating loss carryforwards and non-recognition of deferred tax assets due to uncertainty of recovery		(6,314	)		(3,870	)		(3,837	)
Decrease related to utilization and expiration of deferred tax assets, other		1,375			(255	)		3,702
Balance at end of year	$	(32,094	)	$	(27,155	)	$	(23,030	)