Segment and Geographic Area Information Identifiable Assets and Goodwill by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	$ 8,161,207		$ 9,597,954		$ 5,202,437
Goodwill	1,540,032		1,460,552	[1],[2]	243,262	[2]
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	130,595		517,695		268,555
Goodwill	6,586		0	[1],[2]	8,589	[2]
Reportable Segments | Lithium and Advanced Materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	3,809,883		3,658,669		351,175
Goodwill	1,348,261		1,267,505	[1],[2]	21,697	[2]
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	724,218		699,929		734,071
Goodwill	20,319		20,319	[1],[2]	20,319	[2]
Reportable Segments | Refining Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	913,923		937,445		1,100,361
Goodwill	164,866		172,728	[1],[2]	192,657	[2]
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	2,582,588	[3]	575,314		2,748,275	[3]
Discontinued Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	$ 0		$ 3,208,902		$ 0

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

[2] The December 31, 2015 and 2014 balances have been recast to reflect a change in segments. See Note 25, “Segment and Geographic Area Information,” for further details.

[3] As of December 31, 2016, Corporate included the net proceeds received from the sale of the Chemetall Surface Treatment business completed on December 14, 2016, less the repayment of the term loans and commercial paper using those proceeds. As of December 31, 2014, Corporate included net proceeds received from the issuance of the 2014 Senior Notes, which, together with borrowings from our Commercial Paper Notes, August 2014 Term Loan Agreement and Cash Bridge Facility, were used to finance the cash portion of the Merger Consideration, pay related fees and expenses and repay our senior notes which matured on February 1, 2015. See Note 2, “Acquisitions,” Note 3, “Divestitures,” and Note 14, “Long-Term Debt” for additional details about these transactions.