Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net (loss) income	$ (28,160)	$ 54,532
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depletion, depreciation and amortization	49,681	50,134
Loss on long-term investments	204	59
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net	4,010	0
Impairment of non-producing mineral properties	46,772	0
Amortization/accretion on investment premium/discount	1,688	1,441
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment	(216)	(262)
Foreign currency transaction gain, net	(149)	(5,359)
Deferred income taxes	(12,192)	(3,229)
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	589	554
Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs	1,665	1,929
Accretion of convertible debenture debt discount	12,985	12,746
Share based compensation and other benefits	9,489	10,238
Non-cash capitalized interest	(2,809)	(2,381)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Inventories	2,280	2,657
Trade receivables	554	7,744
Prepaid expenses	(1,674)	(564)
Accrued compensation and benefits	(62)	(986)
Accounts payable	413	(7,088)
Property, production and franchise taxes payable	170	3,102
Income taxes payable	0	788
Accrued workers compensation	32	136
Other operating assets	(7,607)	559
Other operating liabilities	(1,982)	4,943
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	75,681	131,693
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(83,386)	(87,038)
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment	387	323
Purchases of investments	(230,392)	(174,941)
Proceeds from maturities of investments	153,902	131,441
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(159,489)	(130,215)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Payments on debt and capital lease obligations	(62,582)	(31,536)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	60	988
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(62,522)	(30,548)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Net decrease	(146,330)	(29,070)
Balance at beginning of period	280,286	286,687
BALANCE AT END OF PERIOD	$ 133,956	$ 257,617

Deferred Income Tax Expense, Net of Adjustment to Additional Paid in Capital

No definition available.

Name:	swc_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseNetOfAdjustmentToAdditionalPaidInCapital
Namespace Prefix:	swc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The sum of the periodic adjustments of the differences between securities' face values and purchase prices that are charged against earnings. This is called accretion if the security was purchased at a discount and amortization if it was purchased at premium. As a noncash item, this element is an adjustment to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.