Segment Information - Segment Information Mining (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 25, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 3,172,147	$ 3,778,310	$ 5,012,697
Operating (loss) income	(1,109,389)	527,526	835,430
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	(14,311)	0	0
Interest income	10,710	9,760	8,781
Interest expense	(64,139)	(65,108)	(66,285)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(1,177,129)	472,178	777,926
Depreciation and amortization	142,366	133,593	113,519
Capital expenditures	71,336	91,077	153,418
Total assets	3,712,446	5,592,349	5,786,525
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(115,989)	(143,688)	(173,020)
Operating (loss) income	(28,723)	(43,531)	(45,234)
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	0
Interest income	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(28,723)	(43,531)	(45,234)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0
Capital expenditures	0	0	0
Total assets	0	0	0
Underground
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,777,865	2,078,894	2,691,039
Operating (loss) income	(1,151,659)	285,316	388,808
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	0
Interest income	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(1,151,659)	285,316	388,808
Depreciation and amortization	82,993	74,781	60,042
Capital expenditures	31,714	42,525	73,286
Total assets	1,842,701	3,486,486	3,676,120
Surface
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,510,271	1,843,104	2,494,678
Operating (loss) income	173,739	342,819	539,926
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	0
Interest income	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	173,739	342,819	539,926
Depreciation and amortization	56,031	55,937	50,512
Capital expenditures	38,677	43,846	71,643
Total assets	1,725,355	1,929,807	1,917,717
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0
Operating (loss) income	(102,746)	(57,078)	(48,070)
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	(14,311)
Interest income	10,710	9,760	8,781
Interest expense	(64,139)	(65,108)	(66,285)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(170,486)	(112,426)	(105,574)
Depreciation and amortization	3,342	2,875	2,965
Capital expenditures	945	4,706	8,489
Total assets	$ 144,390	$ 176,056	$ 192,688