Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss	$ (9,146)	$ (16,131)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depletion, depreciation and amortization	37,971	34,319
Gain on sale of long-term investment	(482)	0
Loss on long-term investments	0	53
Impairment of non-producing mineral properties	0	46,772
Amortization / accretion on investment premium / discount	1,218	975
(Gain) loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment	(154)	3
Net foreign currency transaction gain	(1,194)	(137)
Deferred income taxes	(1,526)	(12,592)
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	421	387
Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs	437	610
Accretion of convertible debenture debt discount	8,765	9,127
Share based compensation and other benefits	1,741	6,913
Non-cash capitalized interest	(2,728)	(1,784)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Inventories	(12,435)	630
Trade receivables	(90)	48
Prepaid expenses	(2,839)	(3,285)
Accounts payable	2,121	(117)
Accrued compensation and benefits	(1,850)	(411)
Property, production and franchise taxes payable	1,454	(6)
Income taxes payable	373	0
Accrued workers compensation	409	(352)
Other operating assets	(4,605)	(3,516)
Other operating liabilities	(1,007)	(1,907)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	16,854	59,599
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(38,426)	(58,218)
Proceeds from sale of long-term investment	851	0
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment	154	0
Purchases of investments	(165,742)	(184,660)
Proceeds from maturities and sales of investments	169,745	126,849
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(33,418)	(116,029)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Payments on debt and capital lease obligations	(658)	(1,097)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	1	49
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(657)	(1,048)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Net decrease	(17,221)	(57,478)
Balance at beginning of period	147,336	280,286
BALANCE AT END OF PERIOD	$ 130,115	$ 222,808

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.