Goodwill and Other Intangibles Changes in Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	[2]	$ 1,460,552	[1]	$ 243,262
Reclass to assets held for sale		6,586	[3]	(46,794)	[4]
Reclass from assets held for sale		6,586	[3]	(46,794)	[4]
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(38,955)		(70,534)
Goodwill, Ending Balance		1,540,032		1,460,552	[1],[2]
All Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	[2]	0	[1]	8,589
Reclass to assets held for sale		6,586	[3]	(46,794)	[4]
Reclass from assets held for sale		6,586	[3]	(46,794)	[4]
Foreign currency translation adjustments		0		(2,946)
Goodwill, Ending Balance		6,586		0	[1],[2]
Reportable Segments | Lithium and Advanced Materials
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	[2]	1,267,505	[1]	21,697
Reclass to assets held for sale		0	[3]	0	[4]
Reclass from assets held for sale		0	[3]	0	[4]
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(31,093)		(47,659)
Goodwill, Ending Balance		1,348,261		1,267,505	[1],[2]
Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	[2]	20,319	[1]	20,319
Reclass to assets held for sale		0	[3]	0	[4]
Reclass from assets held for sale		0	[3]	0	[4]
Foreign currency translation adjustments		0		0
Goodwill, Ending Balance		20,319		20,319	[1],[2]
Reportable Segments | Refining Solutions
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	[2]	172,728	[1]	192,657
Reclass to assets held for sale		0	[3]	0	[4]
Reclass from assets held for sale		0	[3]	0	[4]
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(7,862)		(19,929)
Goodwill, Ending Balance		164,866		172,728	[1],[2]
Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of Rockwood		(1,706)	[5]	1,334,618
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | All Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of Rockwood		0	[5]	41,151
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Reportable Segments | Lithium and Advanced Materials
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of Rockwood		(1,706)	[5]	1,293,467
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of Rockwood		0	[5]	0
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. | Reportable Segments | Refining Solutions
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of Rockwood		0	[5]	$ 0
Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd.
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other acquisitions	[6]	113,555
Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. | All Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other acquisitions	[6]	0
Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. | Reportable Segments | Lithium and Advanced Materials
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other acquisitions	[6]	113,555
Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. | Reportable Segments | Bromine Specialties
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other acquisitions	[6]	0
Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. | Reportable Segments | Refining Solutions
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other acquisitions	[6]	$ 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] Represents Goodwill of the fine chemistry services business, which was reported in Assets held for sale on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2015, but reclassified back to Goodwill during the year end December 31, 2016. See Note 3, “Divestitures,” for additional information.

[4] Represents Goodwill of the minerals-based flame retardants and specialty chemicals, fine chemistry services and metal sulfides businesses. See Note 3, “Divestitures,” for additional information.

[5] Represents final purchase price adjustments for the Rockwood acquisition recorded for the year ended December 31, 2016. Excludes $3.2 million of final purchase price adjustments for businesses reported as discontinued operations.

[6] Represents preliminary purchase price adjustments for the Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. acquisition recorded for the year ended December 31, 2016. See Note 2, “Acquisitions,” for additional information.