Financial Data for Continuing Operations for Corporations Reportable Business Segments (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 691,347,000	$ 428,629,000
Net Sales	631,876,000	379,678,000
Earnings (Loss) from operations	25,571,000	(15,898,000)
Aggregates Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	526,083,000	366,315,000
Net Sales	476,557,000	322,330,000
Earnings (Loss) from operations	8,748,000	(15,796,000)
Cement
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	102,100,000
Net Sales	96,565,000
Earnings (Loss) from operations	12,229,000
Magnesia Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	63,164,000	62,314,000
Net Sales	58,754,000	57,348,000
Earnings (Loss) from operations	17,789,000	16,285,000
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	691,347,000	428,629,000
Net Sales	631,876,000	379,678,000
Earnings (Loss) from operations	25,571,000	(15,898,000)
Operating Segments | Mid-America Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	140,834,000	115,708,000
Net Sales	129,705,000	106,533,000
Earnings (Loss) from operations	(4,203,000)	(11,766,000)
Operating Segments | Southeast Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	64,678,000	59,820,000
Net Sales	59,770,000	55,381,000
Earnings (Loss) from operations	(1,548,000)	(6,111,000)
Operating Segments | West Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	320,571,000	190,787,000
Net Sales	287,082,000	160,416,000
Earnings (Loss) from operations	14,499,000	2,081,000
Operating Segments | Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings (Loss) from operations	$ (13,195,000)	$ (16,387,000)