Quarterly Financial Summary (Unaudited) (Footnote) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016		Sep. 30, 2016	[1]	Jun. 30, 2016		Mar. 31, 2016	[1]	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Gain (loss) on sales of businesses, net	$ 0	[1]	$ 0		$ 974	[1]	$ 121,324			$ 122,298	$ 0	$ 0
Net benefit from release of tax reserves									$ 43,100		$ 42,700	$ 2,500
Metal Sulfides Business
Gain (loss) on sales of businesses, net										11,500
Mineral Flame Retardants and Specialty Chemicals Businesses
Gain (loss) on sales of businesses, net										112,300
Chemetall Surface Treatment
Discrete non-cash charge					$ 416,700
Gain on sale of business, net of tax	$ 135,000
Corporate | Wafer Reclaim
Gain (loss) on sales of businesses, net										$ (1,500)

[1] Included in Gain on sales of businesses, net for the year ended December 31, 2016 is $11.5 million and $112.3 million related to the sales of the metal sulfides business and the minerals-based flame retardants and specialty chemicals business, respectively, both of which closed in the first quarter of 2016. In addition, Gain on sales of businesses, net for the year ended December 31, 2016 includes a loss of $1.5 million on the sale of our wafer reclaim business. See Note 3, “Divestitures,” for additional information.