Description of the Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Description of the Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Number of reporting segments	3
Steel Operations
Segment Reporting Information
Percentage of external net sales	59.00%	60.00%
Metals Recycling and Ferrous Resources Operations
Segment Reporting Information
Number of iron making initiatives	2
Percentage of external net sales	35.00%	35.00%
Steel Fabrication Operations
Segment Reporting Information
Percentage of external net sales	5.00%	4.00%