Financial Data for Continuing Operations for Corporations Reportable Business Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 1,082,249	$ 1,003,723	$ 2,695,014	$ 2,101,578
Net Sales	1,005,218	917,942	2,487,342	1,899,557
Earnings (Loss) from operations	179,498	115,956	342,052	196,300
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	903,940	823,636	2,180,424	1,792,457
Net Sales	837,441	749,749	2,003,383	1,612,095
Earnings (Loss) from operations	180,794	163,629	310,431	234,688
Operating Segments | Mid-America Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	289,735	271,096	688,217	627,331
Net Sales	265,653	244,309	632,772	569,545
Earnings (Loss) from operations	85,693	71,185	148,385	116,703
Operating Segments | Southeast Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	82,949	73,217	229,144	208,205
Net Sales	78,283	68,042	214,536	194,148
Earnings (Loss) from operations	7,576	329	10,845	(7,084)
Operating Segments | West Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	531,256	479,323	1,263,063	956,921
Net Sales	493,505	437,398	1,156,075	848,402
Earnings (Loss) from operations	87,525	92,115	151,201	125,069
Operating Segments | Cement
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	116,135	115,743	324,134	115,743
Net Sales	110,519	109,521	307,489	109,521
Earnings (Loss) from operations	2,758	18,278	37,455	18,278
Operating Segments | Magnesia Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	62,174	64,344	190,456	193,378
Net Sales	57,258	58,672	176,470	177,941
Earnings (Loss) from operations	16,996	17,697	53,537	54,976
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings (Loss) from operations	$ (21,050)	$ (83,648)	$ (59,371)	$ (111,642)