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Property, plant and equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
--- | --- | --- | ---
Property, plant and equipments [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Land |  | $ 32,739 | $ 32,702 |
Buildings |  | 230,319 | 237,585 |
Other property, plant and equipment |  | 24,862 | 26,417 |
Transport equipment |  | 3,257 | 3,355 |
Suppliers and accessories |  | 1,872 | 1,773 |
Office equipment |  | 487 | 3,642 |
Network and communication equipment |  | 1,050 | 1,686 |
Mining assets |  | 16,237 | 24,643 |
IT equipment |  | 3,401 | 366 |
Energy generating assets |  | 7,861 | 8,191 |
Construction in progress |  | 165,054 | 170,710 |
Machinery, plant and equipment | [1] | 950,054 | 1,021,640 |
Total |  | 1,437,193 | 1,532,710 | $ 1,683,576
Description of classes of property, plant and equipment [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Pumps |  | 33,614 | 40,306 |
Conveyor belt |  | 24,832 | 28,307 |
Crystallizer |  | 15,519 | 17,585 |
Plant equipment |  | 186,885 | 208,137 |
Water tanks |  | 11,296 | 10,614 |
Filter |  | 18,572 | 21,484 |
Facilities or electrical equipment |  | 105,600 | 111,876 |
Other machinery, plant and equipment |  | 72,812 | 57,298 |
Piping |  | 113,641 | 124,699 |
Pond |  | 275,731 | 299,956 |
Well |  | 46,802 | 50,647 |
Parts |  | 44,750 | 50,731 |
Total | [1] | 950,054 | 1,021,640 |
Gross carrying amount [member] |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipments [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Land |  | 32,739 | 32,702 |
Buildings |  | 610,264 | 582,082 |
Other property, plant and equipment |  | 244,831 | 253,555 |
Transport equipment |  | 11,195 | 10,819 |
Suppliers and accessories |  | 19,498 | 18,259 |
Office equipment |  | 11,105 | 17,731 |
Network and communication equipment |  | 7,356 | 7,522 |
Mining assets |  | 129,028 | 158,514 |
IT equipment |  | 27,038 | 20,316 |
Energy generating assets |  | 36,643 | 34,812 |
Construction in progress |  | 165,054 | 170,710 |
Machinery, plant and equipment |  | 2,938,287 | 2,833,819 |
Total |  | 4,233,038 | 4,140,841 | 4,023,272
Description of classes of property, plant and equipment [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Total |  | 2,938,287 | 2,833,819 |
Accumulated depreciation and amortisation [member] |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipments [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Buildings |  | 379,945 | 344,497 |
Other property, plant and equipment |  | 219,969 | 227,138 |
Transport equipment |  | 7,938 | 7,464 |
Suppliers and accessories |  | 17,626 | 16,486 |
Office equipment |  | 10,618 | 14,089 |
Network and communication equipment |  | 6,306 | 5,836 |
Mining assets |  | 112,791 | 133,871 |
IT equipment |  | 23,637 | 19,950 |
Energy generating assets |  | 28,782 | 26,621 |
Machinery, plant and equipment |  | 1,988,233 | 1,812,179 |
Total |  | 2,795,845 | (2,608,131) | $ (2,339,696)
Description of classes of property, plant and equipment [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Total |  | $ 1,988,233 | $ 1,812,179 |
[1] | Any property, plant and equipment (disposal group) that, at the closing date of the financial statements, is subject to a commitment for sale or where the sales process has been initiated and where the sale is expected to occur within twelve months of that date, is classified by the Company as non-current assets held for sale.

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- Definition The amount of property, plant and equipment representing depreciable buildings and similar structures for use in operations. [Refer: Property, plant and equipment] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_37&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The amount of expenditure capitalised during the construction of non-current assets that are not yet available for use. [Refer: Non-current assets] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_37&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The amount of property, plant and equipment representing land held by the entity for use in operations. [Refer: Property, plant and equipment] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IAS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_37_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The amount of property, plant and equipment representing long-lived, depreciable machinery used in operations. [Refer: Property, plant and equipment] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IAS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_37_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The amount of assets related to mining activities of the entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_37&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The amount of property, plant and equipment representing equipment used to support office functions, not specifically used in the production process. [Refer: Property, plant and equipment] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IAS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -Subparagraph h -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_37_h&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The amount of property, plant and equipment that the entity does not separately disclose in the same statement or note. [Refer: Property, plant and equipment] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_37&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The amount of tangible assets that: (a) are held for use in the production or supply of goods or services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes; and (b) are expected to be used during more than one period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 73 -Subparagraph e -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_73_e&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 54 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_54_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The amount of property, plant and equipment representing vehicles used in the entity's operations, specifically to include aircraft, motor vehicles and ships. [Refer: Property, plant and equipment] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_37&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The value of conveyor belt as of balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The value of other machinery, plant and equipment as of balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The value of Piping as of balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The value of water tanks as of balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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