Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / oz	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / oz	Sep. 30, 2016	Apr. 19, 2016 USD ($)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-Lived Assets, Impairment Testing, Commodity, Silver, Price per Ounce | $ / oz		17.50	19.00
Write-downs	$ 4,446	$ 313,337	$ 1,472,721
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use, Net of Tax	$ 3,900	$ 276,500	$ 1,021,800
Long-Lived Assets, Impairment Testing, Commodity, Gold, Price per Ounce | $ / oz		1,200	1,275
Rochester [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Expected Royalty Duration	1.66
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%		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%
Short Term Credit Agreement [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance expense		$ 5,000
Senior Notes due 2021 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount (Premium), Net	$ 2,000	$ 5,300
McEwen Mining Inc, El Gallo, Magistral Mine [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Transfer of Financial Assets Accounted for as Sales, Cash Proceeds Received for Assets Derecognized, Amount					$ 6,300
Disposition of Assets, Contingent Consideration, Asset					$ 1,000