Segment Information - Segment Information Mining (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2016	Oct. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,371,400	$ 3,172,147	$ 3,778,310
Operating (loss) income	(41,412)	(1,109,389)	527,526
Loss on early debt retirement	0	(14,311)	0
Interest income	4,582	10,710	9,760
Interest expense	(50,341)	(64,139)	(65,108)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(87,171)	(1,177,129)	472,178
Depreciation and amortization	141,900	142,366	133,593
Capital expenditures	42,690	71,336	91,077
Total assets	3,426,431	3,712,446	5,592,349
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(100,021)	(115,989)	(143,688)
Operating (loss) income	(24,478)	(28,723)	(43,531)
Loss on early debt retirement		0
Interest income	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(24,478)	(28,723)	(43,531)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0
Capital expenditures	0	0	0
Total assets	0	0	0
Underground
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,293,699	1,777,865	2,078,894
Operating (loss) income	(47,606)	(1,151,659)	285,316
Loss on early debt retirement		0
Interest income	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(47,606)	(1,151,659)	285,316
Depreciation and amortization	77,188	82,993	74,781
Capital expenditures	30,070	31,714	42,525
Total assets	1,564,164	1,842,701	3,486,486
Surface
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,177,722	1,510,271	1,843,104
Operating (loss) income	90,523	173,739	342,819
Loss on early debt retirement		0
Interest income	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	90,523	173,739	342,819
Depreciation and amortization	61,297	56,031	55,937
Capital expenditures	12,002	38,677	43,846
Total assets	1,539,418	1,725,355	1,929,807
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0
Operating (loss) income	(59,851)	(102,746)	(57,078)
Loss on early debt retirement		(14,311)
Interest income	4,582	10,710	9,760
Interest expense	(50,341)	(64,139)	(65,108)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(105,610)	(170,486)	(112,426)
Depreciation and amortization	3,415	3,342	2,875
Capital expenditures	618	945	4,706
Total assets	$ 322,849	$ 144,390	$ 176,056