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Property, plant and equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
--- | --- | --- | ---
Property, plant and equipments [Abstract] |  |  |
Land | $ 24,695 | $ 24,900 |
Buildings | 238,808 | 230,319 |
Other property, plant and equipment | 28,175 | 24,862 |
Transport equipment | 2,892 | 3,257 |
Suppliers and accessories | 4,722 | 1,872 |
Office equipment | 513 | 487 |
Network and communication equipment | 692 | 1,050 |
Mining assets | 11,501 | 16,237 |
IT equipment | 4,980 | 3,401 |
Energy generating assets | 6,117 | 7,861 |
Construction in progress | 207,830 | 165,054 |
Machinery, plant and equipment | 923,898 | 950,054 |
Total | 1,454,823 | 1,429,354 | $ 1,532,710
Description of classes of property, plant and equipment [Abstract] |  |  |
Pumps | 34,145 | 33,614 |
Conveyor belt | 22,082 | 24,832 |
Crystallizer | 27,112 | 15,519 |
Plant equipment | 188,934 | 186,885 |
Water tanks | 14,876 | 11,296 |
Filter | 29,300 | 18,572 |
Facilities or electrical equipment | 96,179 | 105,600 |
Other machinery, plant and equipment | 71,964 | 72,812 |
Piping | 98,498 | 113,641 |
Pond | 250,045 | 275,731 |
Well | 42,903 | 46,802 |
Parts | 47,860 | 44,750 |
Total | 923,898 | 950,054 |
Gross carrying amount [member] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipments [Abstract] |  |  |
Land | 24,695 | 24,900 |
Buildings | 648,719 | 610,264 |
Other property, plant and equipment | 245,731 | 244,831 |
Transport equipment | 11,668 | 11,195 |
Suppliers and accessories | 24,456 | 19,498 |
Office equipment | 11,377 | 11,105 |
Network and communication equipment | 7,505 | 7,356 |
Mining assets | 132,309 | 129,028 |
IT equipment | 29,955 | 27,038 |
Energy generating assets | 36,930 | 36,643 |
Construction in progress | 207,830 | 165,054 |
Machinery, plant and equipment | 3,068,862 | 2,938,287 |
Total | 4,450,037 | 4,225,199 | 4,140,841
Description of classes of property, plant and equipment [Abstract] |  |  |
Total | 3,068,862 | 2,938,287 |
Accumulated depreciation and amortisation [member] |  |  |
Property, plant and equipments [Abstract] |  |  |
Buildings | (409,911) | (379,945) |
Other property, plant and equipment | (217,556) | (219,969) |
Transport equipment | (8,776) | (7,938) |
Suppliers and accessories | (19,734) | (17,626) |
Office equipment | (10,864) | (10,618) |
Network and communication equipment | (6,813) | (6,306) |
Mining assets | (120,808) | (112,791) |
IT equipment | (24,975) | (23,637) |
Energy generating assets | (30,813) | (28,782) |
Machinery, plant and equipment | (2,144,964) | (1,988,233) |
Total | (2,995,214) | (2,795,845) | $ (2,608,131)
Description of classes of property, plant and equipment [Abstract] |  |  |
Total | $ (2,144,964) | $ (1,988,233) |

X
- 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 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_37&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + 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 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_37&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + 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 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_37_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + 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 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_37_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + 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 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_37&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + 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 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -Subparagraph h -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_37_h&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + 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 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_37&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + 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 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 73 -Subparagraph e -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_73_e&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 54 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_54_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + 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 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=16&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_37&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + 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 crystallizer as of balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The value of Energy generating assets as of balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The value of facilities or electrical equipment as of balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The value of filter as of balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The value of It equipment 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 parts 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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Balance Type: | debit
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- Definition The value of plant equipment as of balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The value of pond as of balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The value of pumps as of balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The value of supplies and accessories as of balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | debit
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- Definition The value of water tanks as of balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | debit
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- Definition The value of well as of balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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