Other Income (Expense)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
Other Income (Expense)	Other Income (Expense) Other income (expense) primarily includes foreign currency transaction gains or losses, which result from changes in exchange rates between the designated functional currency and the currency in which a transaction is denominated as well as gains and losses on derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges. During 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded a $31.7 million loss, $28.1 million loss and a $7.0 million gain, respectively. For 2011, other expense was primarily attributable to other expense of $24.4 million attributable to foreign currency transaction gains and losses which resulted from changes in exchange rates in the various regions in which the Company operate, primarily Africa, South America, and Mexico, and losses of $6.1 million on derivative instruments which were not designated as cash flow hedges. For 2010, expense was primarily attributable to the $29.8 million Venezuelan currency devaluation, as well as other income of $7.7 million attributable to foreign currency transaction gains and losses which resulted from changes in exchange rates in the various countries in which the Company operates and losses of $6.0 million on derivative instruments which were not designated as cash flow hedges. During 2009 the Company recorded other income (expense) primarily related to foreign currency transaction gains and losses. On January 8, 2010, the Venezuelan government announced the devaluation of its currency, BsF, and established a two-tier foreign exchange structure. Due to the impact of the devaluation of its currency by the Venezuelan government, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $29.8 million in the first quarter of 2010 related to the remeasurement of the local balance sheet on the date of the devaluation at the official non-essential rate. The functional currency of the Company’s subsidiary in Venezuela is the U.S. dollar. See Item 7 “Venezuela Operations” for additional information. Effective January 1, 2011, the Central Bank of Venezuela and the Ministry of Finance published an amendment to Convenio Cambiario No. 14 (the Exchange Law), whereby the official exchange rate was set at 4.30 BsF per U.S. dollar, eliminating the 2.60 BsF per U.S. dollar rate previously established for essential goods in the first quarter of 2010. Thereafter, the Company can only import copper at the 4.30 BsF per U.S. dollar rate. In the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company purchased 19.1 million pounds of copper at the 4.30 BsF per U.S. dollar rate recording no foreign currency gains or losses. In the second quarter of 2010, the Company received authorization to purchase dollars to import copper at the official exchange rate for essential goods of 2.60 BsF per U.S. dollar. In 2010, the Company recorded $16.6 million in foreign exchange gains related to transactions completed at the 2.60 BsF per U.S. dollar essential rate. Copper imports prior to the approval were imported at the parallel rate of about 6.88 BsF per U.S. dollar, which was closed on June 9, 2010. In 2010, the Company recorded $10.7 million in foreign exchange losses related to copper imports at this parallel rate. Refer to Item 7 - MD&A – Venezuelan Operations for additional detail.

Other Income (Expense)

Other income (expense) primarily includes foreign currency transaction gains or losses, which result from changes in exchange rates between the designated functional currency and the currency in which a transaction is denominated as well as gains and losses on derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges. During 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded a $31.7 million loss, $28.1 million loss and a $7.0 million gain, respectively. For 2011, other expense was primarily attributable to other expense of $24.4 million attributable to foreign currency transaction gains and losses which resulted from changes in exchange rates in the various regions in which the Company operate, primarily Africa, South America, and Mexico, and losses of $6.1 million on derivative instruments which were not designated as cash flow hedges. For 2010, expense was primarily attributable to the $29.8 million Venezuelan currency devaluation, as well as other income of $7.7 million attributable to foreign currency transaction gains and losses which resulted from changes in exchange rates in the various countries in which the Company operates and losses of $6.0 million on derivative instruments which were not designated as cash flow hedges. During 2009 the Company recorded other income (expense) primarily related to foreign currency transaction gains and losses.

On January 8, 2010, the Venezuelan government announced the devaluation of its currency, BsF, and established a two-tier foreign exchange structure. Due to the impact of the devaluation of its currency by the Venezuelan government, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $29.8 million in the first quarter of 2010 related to the remeasurement of the local balance sheet on the date of the devaluation at the official non-essential rate. The functional currency of the Company’s subsidiary in Venezuela is the U.S. dollar. See Item 7 “Venezuela Operations” for additional information.

Effective January 1, 2011, the Central Bank of Venezuela and the Ministry of Finance published an amendment to Convenio Cambiario No. 14 (the Exchange Law), whereby the official exchange rate was set at 4.30 BsF per U.S. dollar, eliminating the 2.60 BsF per U.S. dollar rate previously established for essential goods in the first quarter of 2010. Thereafter, the Company can only import copper at the 4.30 BsF per U.S. dollar rate. In the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company purchased 19.1 million pounds of copper at the 4.30 BsF per U.S. dollar rate recording no foreign currency gains or losses. In the second quarter of 2010, the Company received authorization to purchase dollars to import copper at the official exchange rate for essential goods of 2.60 BsF per U.S. dollar. In 2010, the Company recorded $16.6 million in foreign exchange gains related to transactions completed at the 2.60 BsF per U.S. dollar essential rate. Copper imports prior to the approval were imported at the parallel rate of about 6.88 BsF per U.S. dollar, which was closed on June 9, 2010. In 2010, the Company recorded $10.7 million in foreign exchange losses related to copper imports at this parallel rate. Refer to Item 7 - MD&A – Venezuelan Operations for additional detail.