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v2.4.1.9

Property, Plant and Equipment, at Cost (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Land | 56,249 us-gaap_Land |  | $ 63,153 us-gaap_Land |
Land improvements | 49,099 us-gaap_LandImprovements |  | 52,452 us-gaap_LandImprovements |
Buildings and improvements | 214,364 us-gaap_BuildingsAndImprovementsGross |  | 235,929 us-gaap_BuildingsAndImprovementsGross |
Machinery and equipment | 1,443,154 us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentGross | [1] | 1,731,247 us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentGross | [1]
Machinery and equipment (major plant components) | 663,297 alb_MachineryAndEquipmentMajorPlantComponents | [2] | 688,284 alb_MachineryAndEquipmentMajorPlantComponents | [2]
Long-term mineral rights and production equipment costs | 85,888 alb_LongTermMineralRightsAndProductionEquipmentCosts |  | 85,514 alb_LongTermMineralRightsAndProductionEquipmentCosts |
Long-term mineral rights and production equipment costs | 108,619 us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross |  | 115,505 us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross |
Total | 2,620,670 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross |  | $ 2,972,084 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross |
Land improvements | Minimum |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life | 5 years |  |  |
Land improvements | Maximum |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life | 30 years |  |  |
Buildings and improvements | Minimum |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life | 10 years |  |  |
Buildings and improvements | Maximum |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life | 45 years |  |  |
Machinery and equipment | Minimum |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life | 2 years |  |  |
Machinery and equipment | Maximum |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life | 19 years |  |  |
Machinery and equipment (major plant components) | Minimum |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life | 20 years |  |  |
Machinery and equipment (major plant components) | Maximum |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life | 45 years |  |  |
Long-term mineral rights and production equipment costs | Minimum |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life | 7 years |  |  |
Long-term mineral rights and production equipment costs | Maximum |  |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life | 60 years |  |  |
[1] | Consists primarily of (1) short-lived production equipment components, office and building equipment and other equipment with estimated lives ranging 2 – 7 years, and (2) production process equipment (intermediate components) with estimated lives ranging 8 – 19 years.
[2] | Consists primarily of (1) production process equipment (major unit components) with estimated lives ranging 20 – 29 years, and (2) production process equipment (infrastructure and other) with estimated lives ranging 30 – 45 years.

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- Definition Long term mineral rights and production equipment costs. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Machinery And Equipment (Major Plant Components) + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount before accumulated depreciation of building structures held for productive use including addition, improvement, or renovation to the structure, including, but not limited to, interior masonry, interior flooring, electrical, and plumbing. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6812-107765 + Details
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- Definition Amount of structure or a modification to a structure under construction. Includes recently completed structures or modifications to structures that have not been placed into service. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229 + Details
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- Definition Amount before accumulated depletion of real estate held for productive use, excluding land held for sale. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6812-107765 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.13) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Amount before accumulated deprecation and depletion of additions or improvements to real estate held for productive use. Examples include, but are not limited to, walkways, driveways, fences, and parking lots. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount before accumulated depreciation of tangible personal property used to produce goods and services, including, but is not limited to, tools, dies and molds, computer and office equipment. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6812-107765 + Details
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- Definition Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.13) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. + References No definition available. + Details
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