Note 11 - Business Segments and Significant Customers (Details) - Information about Reportable Segments - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Net sales to unaffiliated customers:
Net sales to unaffiliated customers	$ 443,567	$ 500,781	$ 382,589
Income (loss) from operations:
Income (loss) from operations	(35,611)	21,628	(32,394)
Capital additions (including non-cash additions):
Capital additions	160,716	151,085	162,608
Depreciation, depletion and amortization:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	112,585	112,173	82,366
Other significant non-cash items:
Other significant non-cash items	71,204	4,232	4,043
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	2,221,925	2,262,064	2,232,119
Greens Creek [Member]
Net sales to unaffiliated customers:
Net sales to unaffiliated customers	227,833	245,175	263,263
Income (loss) from operations:
Income (loss) from operations	26,536	39,758	62,178
Capital additions (including non-cash additions):
Capital additions	45,962	31,476	57,119
Depreciation, depletion and amortization:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	56,553	63,505	55,265
Other significant non-cash items:
Other significant non-cash items	2,886	2,807	1,961
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	698,265	704,121	744,027
Lucky Friday [Member]
Net sales to unaffiliated customers:
Net sales to unaffiliated customers	66,302	89,757	44,204
Income (loss) from operations:
Income (loss) from operations	868	21,501	(3,563)
Capital additions (including non-cash additions):
Capital additions	60,020	52,193	55,902
Depreciation, depletion and amortization:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	11,262	9,431	7,833
Other significant non-cash items:
Other significant non-cash items	72	72	96
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	393,338	356,482	313,793
Casa Berardi [Member]
Net sales to unaffiliated customers:
Net sales to unaffiliated customers	149,432	165,849	75,122
Income (loss) from operations:
Income (loss) from operations	(1,557)	11,828	(15,708)
Capital additions (including non-cash additions):
Capital additions	35,302	48,615	41,425
Depreciation, depletion and amortization:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	43,674	38,198	18,030
Other significant non-cash items:
Other significant non-cash items	2,229	847	474
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	779,423	800,961	821,058
San Sebastian Unit [Member]
Income (loss) from operations:
Income (loss) from operations	(9,269)	(5,780)	(6,445)
Capital additions (including non-cash additions):
Capital additions	4,623
Other significant non-cash items:
Other significant non-cash items	13
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	22,238	1,529	1,491
Other Segments [Member]
Income (loss) from operations:
Income (loss) from operations	(52,189)	(45,679)	(68,856)
Capital additions (including non-cash additions):
Capital additions	14,809	18,801	8,162
Other significant non-cash items:
Other significant non-cash items	66,004	506	1,512
Identifiable assets:
Identifiable assets	328,661	398,971	351,750
Segment Depreciation Depletion and Amortization [Member]
Depreciation, depletion and amortization:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	$ 111,489	$ 111,134	$ 81,128