Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Changes in carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at December 31, 2014	$ 416,155
Changes to goodwill	2,996	[1]
Foreign currency translation	(12,813)
Balance at September 30, 2015	406,338
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment
Changes in carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at December 31, 2014	400,006
Changes to goodwill	(493)	[1]
Foreign currency translation	(12,813)
Balance at September 30, 2015	386,700
Harsco Industrial Segment
Changes in carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at December 31, 2014	6,839
Changes to goodwill	0	[1]
Foreign currency translation	0
Balance at September 30, 2015	6,839
Harsco Rail Segment
Changes in carrying amounts of goodwill
Balance at December 31, 2014	9,310
Changes to goodwill	3,489	[1]
Foreign currency translation	0
Balance at September 30, 2015	$ 12,799

[1] Changes to goodwill in the Harsco Rail Segment relate to the acquisitions of Protran and JK Rail. See Note 4, Acquisitions. In addition, the change to goodwill in the Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment relates to the allocation of goodwill associated with the sale of the Company's Pakistan-based chromium operations.