Mining Properties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	$ 687,964	$ 612,162
Accumulated depletion	(471,874)	(424,642)
Operational mining properties, net	216,090	187,520
Mineral interest	784,365	806,436
Accumulated depletion	(442,000)	(404,737)
Mineral interest, net	342,365	401,699
Total mining properties	558,455	589,219
Palmarejo [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	174,890	151,828
Accumulated depletion	(134,995)	(131,055)
Operational mining properties, net	39,895	20,773
Mineral interest	629,303	629,303
Accumulated depletion	(381,686)	(348,268)
Mineral interest, net	247,617	281,035
Total mining properties	287,512	301,808
Rochester [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	165,230	149,756
Accumulated depletion	(138,244)	(126,242)
Operational mining properties, net	26,986	23,514
Mineral interest	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	0	0
Total mining properties	26,986	23,514
Kensington [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	271,175	238,786
Accumulated depletion	(154,744)	(131,236)
Operational mining properties, net	116,431	107,550
Mineral interest	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	0	0
Total mining properties	116,431	107,550
Wharf [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	37,485	32,318
Accumulated depletion	(11,699)	(5,784)
Operational mining properties, net	25,786	26,534
Mineral interest	45,837	45,837
Accumulated depletion	(19,249)	(10,551)
Mineral interest, net	26,588	35,286
Total mining properties	52,374	61,820
San Bartolome [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	39,184	39,474
Accumulated depletion	(32,192)	(30,325)
Operational mining properties, net	6,992	9,149
Mineral interest	12,868	12,868
Accumulated depletion	(11,695)	(11,400)
Mineral interest, net	1,173	1,468
Total mining properties	8,165	10,617
La Preciosa [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Operational mining properties, net	0	0
Mineral interest	49,085	49,085
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	49,085	49,085
Total mining properties	49,085	49,085
Joaquin Project - Argentina [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Operational mining properties, net	0	0
Mineral interest	10,000	10,000
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Mineral interest, net	10,000	10,000
Total mining properties	10,000	10,000
Other Mining Properties [Member]
Mining Properties
Operational mining properties:	0	0
Accumulated depletion	0	0
Operational mining properties, net	0	0
Mineral interest	37,272	59,343
Accumulated depletion	(29,370)	(34,518)
Mineral interest, net	7,902	24,825
Total mining properties	$ 7,902	$ 24,825