Debt and Notes Payable - Summary of long-term debt to financial institutions (Details)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed Rate term note payable to a U.S. bank, with an interest rate of 6.65% due January 1, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fixed Rate term note payable to a U.S. bank, with an interest rate of 6.65% due January 1, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Term note payable to a U.S. equipment financing company, with an interest rate of 5.24% due April 1, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Term note payable to a U.S. equipment financing company, with an interest rate of 5.24% due April 1, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed rate Euro term note payable to a Netherlands bank, with an interest rate of 7.8% due July 1, 2029 TOR Processing and Trade USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed rate Euro term note payable to a Netherlands bank, with an interest rate of 7.8% due July 1, 2029 TOR Processing and Trade EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fixed rate Euro term note payable to a Netherlands bank, with an interest rate of 7.8% due July 1, 2029 TOR Processing and Trade USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed rate Euro term note payable to a Netherlands bank, with an interest rate of 4.6% due January 31, 2030 TOR Processing and Trade USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed rate Euro term note payable to a Netherlands bank, with an interest rate of 4.6% due January 31, 2030 TOR Processing and Trade EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fixed rate Euro term note payable to a Netherlands bank, with an interest rate of 4.6% due January 31, 2030 TOR Processing and Trade USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed rate Euro term note payable to a Netherlands bank, with an interest rate of 4.05% due July 31, 2015 TOR Processing and Trade USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed rate Euro term note payable to a Netherlands bank, with an interest rate of 4.05% due July 31, 2015 TOR Processing and Trade EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fixed rate Euro term note payable to a Netherlands bank, with an interest rate of 4.05% due July 31, 2015 TOR Processing and Trade USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed rate Euro term note payable to a Netherlands bank, with an interest rate of 4.25% due July 5, 2014 TOR Processing and Trade USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed rate Euro term note payable to a Netherlands bank, with an interest rate of 4.25% due July 5, 2014 TOR Processing and Trade EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fixed rate Euro term note payable to a Netherlands bank, with an interest rate of 4.25% due July 5, 2014 TOR Processing and Trade USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Malaysian Ringgit term note payable to a Malaysian bank, with an interest rate of 5.2% due March 1, 2015 TOR Minerals Malaysia USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Malaysian Ringgit term note payable to a Malaysian bank, with an interest rate of 5.2% due March 1, 2015 TOR Minerals Malaysia EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2012 Malaysian Ringgit term note payable to a Malaysian bank, with an interest rate of 5.2% due March 1, 2015 TOR Minerals Malaysia MYR	Dec. 31, 2011 Malaysian Ringgit term note payable to a Malaysian bank, with an interest rate of 5.2% due March 1, 2015 TOR Minerals Malaysia USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 3,518,000	$ 3,481,000	$ 1,309,000	$ 1,680,000		$ 35,000	$ 363,000	€ 275,000	$ 413,000	$ 395,000	€ 299,000	$ 412,000	$ 143,000	€ 108,000	$ 205,000	$ 442,000	€ 334,000	$ 736,000	$ 866,000	€ 2,647,000	2,647,000
Less current maturities	1,202,000	813,000
Total long-term debt and notes payable - financial institutions	$ 2,316,000	$ 2,668,000