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Fixed Assets Write-Off

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Gain related to a refund form Chilean authorities

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Inventory markup

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Repayment of Redemption Premium

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Reversal of previously recorded expenses of a disposed business

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Utilization of Inventory Markup

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Amount of increase (decrease) in the asset retirement obligation from changes in the amount or timing of the estimated cash flows associated with the settlement of the obligation.

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Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination.

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This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

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Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of real estate or properties that were intended to be sold or held for capital appreciation or rental income. This element refers to the gain (loss) included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds of the sale. This element is a noncash adjustment to net income when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

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Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

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The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Amount of restructuring charges, remediation cost, and asset impairment loss.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Segment Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Footnote) (Details) $ in Thousands, € in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 EUR (€)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017	Feb. 01, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Acquisition and integration related costs	$ 2,201		$ 14,281
Utilization of inventory markup			10,606
Restructuring and other, net			12,905
Repayments of long-term debt	0		751,209
Repayment of debt premium			45,200
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0		52,801
Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd.
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Inventory markup			23,100
Sales de Magnesio Ltda.
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interests acquired					50.00%
Cost of goods sold
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Acquisition and integration related costs	1,000		8,900
Write-off of fixed assets at JBC	1,100
Restructuring and other, net			2,900
Cost of goods sold \| Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd.
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Utilization of inventory markup			10,600
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Acquisition and integration related costs	1,200		5,400
Gain related to a refund form Chilean authorities	1,400
Restructuring and other, net			4,200
Other (expenses) income, net
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Environmental charges related to a site formerly owned by Albemarle	15,600
Reversal of previously recorded expenses of a disposed business	$ 200
Asset retirement obligation charges			3,200
Loss on sale of properties			(2,100)
Research and development expenses
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other, net			$ 5,800
3.00% Senior Notes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate			3.00%
1.875% Senior Notes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	1.875%		1.875%	1.875%
4.50% Senior Notes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	4.50%		4.50%	4.50%
Senior Notes \| 3.00% Senior Notes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt			$ 0
Senior Notes \| 1.875% Senior Notes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt \| €		€ 307.0
Senior Notes \| 4.50% Senior Notes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt			$ 174,700