Taxes (Schedule Of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Taxes [Abstract]
Income tax expense at statutory rate	$ 46,933	$ 61,800	$ 8,888
Percentage depletion allowance	(61,971)	(49,152)	(29,463)
State taxes, net of effect of federal taxes	(3,055)	2,299	(61)
Change in valuation allowance	2,416	(383)	725
Other, net	8,088	3,150	3,136
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	$ (7,589)	$ 17,714	$ (16,775)

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The sum of the current income tax expense or benefit and the deferred income tax expense or benefit pertaining to continuing operations.

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to changes in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets in the period.

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The amount of income tax expense or benefit for the period computed by applying the domestic federal statutory tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations.

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to the different methods of depletion allowed under generally accepted accounting principles and enacted tax laws.

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The sum of other amounts reflected in the reconciliation of the statutory tax provision (benefit) to the actual tax provision (benefit).

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The portion of the difference, between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations, that is attributable to state and local income tax expense or benefit.

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