SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Intangible Assets) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 years
Molybdenum Sales, Treatment and Refining and Power and Tire Contracts [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum (in years)	1
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum (in years)	10
Royalty payments [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum (in years)	1
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum (in years)	12
Patents and process technology [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum (in years)	10
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum (in years)	20