Segment Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Footnote) (Details) $ in Thousands, € in Millions	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 EUR (€)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017	Feb. 01, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Acquisition and integration related costs	$ 6,510	$ 6,479			$ 8,712	$ 20,760
Utilization of inventory markup		11,921				22,527
Restructuring and other		4,235				17,141
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				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	1,800			1,900	10,700
Write-off of fixed assets at JBC					1,100
Utilization of inventory markup		11,900				22,500
Restructuring and other						2,900
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Acquisition and integration related costs	5,500	4,700			6,800	10,100
Gain related to a refund form Chilean authorities					(1,400)
Restructuring and other		4,200				8,400
Reversal of purchase accounting accrual		1,000
Other expenses, net
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revision of previously recorded expenses of a disposed business	$ 1,200				1,000
Environmental charges related to a site formerly owned by Albemarle					$ 15,600
Loss on sale of properties		(2,000)				(2,100)
Revision of tax indemnification expense		$ 1,200
Asset retirement obligation charges						3,200
Research and development expenses
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring and other						$ 5,800
3.00% Senior Notes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate			3.00%	3.00%
1.875% Senior Notes
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	1.875%		1.875%	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%	4.50%		4.50%
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