Business Combination (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	May 09, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2014
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred [Abstract]
Cash consideration transferred to AMCOL shareholders	$ 1,519.4
AMCOL notes repaid at close	325.6
Total consideration transferred to debt and equity holders	1,845.0
Cash acquired	42.7
Total consideration transferred to debt and equity holders, net of cash acquired	1,802.3
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Goodwill		770.9	64.4	65.8
Deferred tax liability on increase of goodwill		322.3
Acquisition related costs		19.1	0	0
Unaudited pro forma summary of Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract]
Net sales		2,098.6	2,045.1
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for taxes and equity in earnings		180.1	93.7
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax		124.7	74.1
Impairment charge		23.7	0	0
Preliminary Allocation Previously Reported [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Accounts receivable					235.7
Inventories					156.6
Other current assets					63.7
Mineral rights					528.8
Plant, property and equipment					378.8
Goodwill					704.7
Intangible assets					217.9
Other non-current assets					48.4
Total assets acquired					2,334.6
Accounts payable					66.4
Accrued expenses					60.9
Non-current deferred tax liability					319.1
Other non-current liabilities					85.9
Total liabilities assumed					532.3
Net assets acquired					1,802.3
Increase/(Decrease) [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Accounts receivable		0
Inventories		0.7
Other current assets		1.3
Mineral rights		6.7
Plant, property and equipment		(7.6)
Goodwill		3.4
Intangible assets		(3.6)
Other non-current assets		3.0
Total assets acquired		3.9
Accounts payable		0
Accrued expenses		0.7
Non-current deferred tax liability		3.2
Other non-current liabilities		0
Total liabilities assumed		3.9
Net assets acquired		0
Preliminary Allocation As Updated [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Accounts receivable		235.7
Inventories		157.3
Other current assets		65.0
Mineral rights		535.5
Plant, property and equipment		371.2
Goodwill		708.1
Intangible assets		214.3
Other non-current assets		51.4
Total assets acquired		2,338.5
Accounts payable		66.4
Accrued expenses		61.6
Non-current deferred tax liability		322.3
Other non-current liabilities		85.9
Total liabilities assumed		536.2
Net assets acquired		1,802.3
Ashapura Minechem Limited [Member]
Unaudited pro forma summary of Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract]
Gain on sale of investment, before tax			12.6
Gain on sale of investment, after tax			11.6
AMCOL International Corporation [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Consideration received (in dollars per share)	$ 45.75
Debt instrument face amount	1,560.0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Deferred tax liability on increase of goodwill		322.3
Acquisition related costs		19.1
Net sales		715.2
Operating income		56.4
Post Acquisition Period		237 days
AMCOL International Corporation [Member] | Technology [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Acquisition of intangible assets with useful life		12 years
AMCOL International Corporation [Member] | Tradenames [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Acquisition of intangible assets with useful life		34 years
AMCOL's South African Chromite [Member]
Unaudited pro forma summary of Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract]
Impairment charge			52.3
After-tax impairment charges			42.0
AMCOL's Health and Beauty [Member]
Unaudited pro forma summary of Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract]
Impairment charge			6.6
After-tax impairment charges			$ 4.2