Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended		4 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Feb. 04, 2015	Dec. 11, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Apr. 12, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jul. 30, 2010	Apr. 30, 2009
Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Maximum Environmental Remediation Obligation				$ 2,500,000
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss		1,000,000										177,500
Litigation Settlement, Amount	(13,000)
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value			5,000,000
Contractual Obligations				3,200,000			3,200,000
Commitments For Capital Lease Payments				23,800,000			23,800,000
Surety Bonds				68,900,000	30,000,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount				8,400,000			8,400,000
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs		4
Rio Grande Silver Inc And Emerald Mining And Leasing LLC [Member] | Joint Venture [Member]
Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage				70.00%			70.00%
Greens Creek [Member]
Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Open Purchase Orders				1,400,000			1,400,000
Noncapital Costs				800,000
Lucky Friday [Member]
Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Open Purchase Orders				2,400,000			2,400,000
Noncapital Costs				1,100,000
Casa Berardi [Member]
Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Open Purchase Orders				700,000			700,000
Noncapital Costs				400,000
Senior Notes [Member]
Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt						500,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage						6.875%
Debt Instrument, Increase (Decrease), Net				6,500,000
Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, New Mexico [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Estimated Response Costs							0
Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, New Mexico [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Estimated Response Costs							221,000,000
Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, New Mexico [Member]
Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Payment Of Response Costs							1,100,000	1,100,000	1,100,000
Estimated Response Costs							5,600,000
Liability for Remediation							5,600,000
Carpenter Snow Creek Superfund Site, Cascade County, Montana [Member]
Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Estimated Response Costs										4,500,000
Estimated Future Response Cost										100,000,000
Gilt Edge Mine Superfund Site [Member] | Costs Incurred By The EPA [Member]
Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Incurred Response Costs											225,000,000
Gilt Edge Mine Superfund Site [Member] | Third Party Operator of Mine [Member]
Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Litigation Settlement, Amount											26,000,000
Gilt Edge Mine Superfund Site [Member] | Third Mining Company [Member]
Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Litigation Settlement, Amount											4,200,000
Gilt Edge Mine Superfund Site [Member]
Note 7 - Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Alleged Potential Response Costs											$ 225,000,000