Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / oz	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / oz	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) $ / oz	Jan. 29, 2013
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Write-downs	$ 313,337	$ 1,472,721	$ 772,993
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use, Net of Tax	$ 276,500	$ 1,021,800	$ 593,200
Long-Lived Assets, Impairment Testing, Commodity, Silver, Price per Ounce | $ / oz	17.50	19.00	25.00
Long-Lived Assets, Impairment Testing, Commodity, Gold, Price per Ounce | $ / oz	1,200	1,275	1,450
Rochester [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Expected Royalty Duration	2.5
Palmarejo [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Expected Royalty Duration	0.7
Convertible Senior Notes Due March 2028 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.25%	3.25%
Senior Notes due 2021 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	7.875%	7.875%		7.875%
Senior Notes due 2021 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount (Premium), Net	$ 5,300	$ 7,300
Minimum [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	7.50%
Maximum [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	11.00%
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Property, Plant and Equipment, Other Types [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	7.50%	8.00%	8.50%
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Property, Plant and Equipment, Other Types [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	11.00%	10.75%	10.50%
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Other Mining Properties [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	7.50%	8.00%	8.50%
Discounted Cash Flow [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Other Mining Properties [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	11.00%	10.75%	10.50%