Mining Properties (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		4 Months Ended	6 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2006 oz	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2008 oz	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2002 Martha [Member]	May 23, 2005 Endeavor [Member] oz	Nov. 30, 2007 Joaquin Project - Argentina [Member] acre ha	Jun. 30, 2012 Martha [Member]		Jun. 30, 2011 Martha [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment (Textual) [Abstract]
Acquisition of interest in mine								100.00%
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use		$ 4,813	$ 0		$ 4,813	$ 0					$ 4,813
Assets		$ 3,233,510			$ 3,233,510		$ 3,264,441				$ 13,070	[1]	$ 19,341	[1]
Quantity of acquired silver production and reserves									17,700,000
Commenced exploration area										28,450
Equivalent Commenced exploration area in Acres										70,300
Mining Properties (Textual) [Abstract]
Cumulative ounces of silver received by CDE Australia				4,000,000
Current ore reserve payable ounces based on current metallurgical recovery and current smelter contract terms				3,500,000
Silver production and reserves payable ounces	20,000,000

[1] Segment assets consist of receivables, prepaids, inventories, property, plant and equipment, and mining properties