Debt - Long-term Debt - Financial Institutions (Parentheticals) (Details)	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Fixed Rate term note payable to a U.S. bank, with an interest rate of 5.5% due January 1, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on note payable	5.50%	5.50%
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
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on note payable	7.80%	7.80%
Fixed rate Euro term note payable to a Netherlands bank, with an interest rate of 3.3% due January 31, 2030 | TOR Processing and Trade
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on note payable	3.30%	3.30%
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
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on note payable	4.05%	4.05%
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
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on note payable	4.25%	4.25%
Malaysian Ringgit term note payable to a Malaysian bank, with an interest rate of 5.2% due March 1, 2015 | TOR Minerals Malaysia
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on note payable	5.20%	5.20%