Review of Operations by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Operations by segment
Total revenues	$ 372,541	$ 353,281
Operating income from continuing operations	27,908	9,431
Interest income	512	535
Interest expense	(11,653)	(12,363)
Change in fair value to the unit adjustment liability and loss on dilution of equity method investment	0	(12,217)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	16,767	(14,614)
Depreciation and Amortization	32,228	36,045
Capital Expenditures	16,989	16,951
Operating Segments
Operations by segment
Operating income from continuing operations	35,219	18,318
Corporate
Operations by segment
Total revenues	34	0
Operating income from continuing operations	(7,311)	(8,887)
Depreciation and Amortization	1,471	1,868
Capital Expenditures	545	25
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment | Operating Segments
Operations by segment
Total revenues	247,034	229,672
Operating income from continuing operations	26,429	6,941
Depreciation and Amortization	27,880	31,025
Capital Expenditures	15,472	15,420
Harsco Industrial Segment | Operating Segments
Operations by segment
Total revenues	65,885	61,869
Operating income from continuing operations	2,804	6,471
Depreciation and Amortization	1,840	1,718
Capital Expenditures	752	1,134
Harsco Rail Segment | Operating Segments
Operations by segment
Total revenues	59,588	61,740
Operating income from continuing operations	5,986	4,906
Depreciation and Amortization	1,037	1,434
Capital Expenditures	$ 220	$ 372