Goodwill and Other Intangibles Changes in Goodwill (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 1,460,552	[1],[2]
Reclass from assets held for sale	6,586	[3]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	18,750
Balance at end of period	1,484,182	[1]
All Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	0	[1],[2]
Reclass from assets held for sale	6,586	[3]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0
Balance at end of period	6,586	[1]
Reportable Segments | Lithium and Advanced Materials
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	1,267,505	[1],[2]
Reclass from assets held for sale	0	[3]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	14,169
Balance at end of period	1,279,968	[1]
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	20,319	[1],[2]
Reclass from assets held for sale	0	[3]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0
Balance at end of period	20,319	[1]
Reportable Segments | Refining Solutions
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	172,728	[1],[2]
Reclass from assets held for sale	0	[3]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	4,581
Balance at end of period	177,309	[1]
Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of Rockwood	(1,706)	[4]
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | All Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of Rockwood	0	[4]
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Reportable Segments | Lithium and Advanced Materials
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of Rockwood	(1,706)	[4]
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of Rockwood	0	[4]
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Reportable Segments | Refining Solutions
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of Rockwood	$ 0	[4]

[1] As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, $1.5 billion of Goodwill was classified as Assets held for sale in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. See Note 3, “Divestitures,” for additional information.

[2] The December 31, 2015 balances have been recast to reflect a change in segments. See Note 12, “Segment Information,” for further details.

[3] Represents Goodwill of the fine chemistry services business, which was reported in Assets held for sale on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2015. See Note 3, “Divestitures,” for additional information.

[4] Represents final purchase price adjustments for the Rockwood acquisition recorded in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016. Excludes $3.2 million of final purchase price adjustments for businesses reported as discontinued operations.