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Divestitures Divestitures - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |  |  | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Feb. 01, 2016 | Jan. 04, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Jun. 17, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash proceeds from divestitures, net |  |  |  |  | $ 310,599 | $ 0 |  |
Gain (loss) on sales of businesses, net |  |  | $ 974 | $ 0 | 122,298 | $ 0 |  |
Chemetall Surface Treatment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash consideration |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 3,200,000 |
Net property, plant and equipment |  |  | 161,846 |  | 161,846 |  |  | $ 163,643
Metal Sulfides Business |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash proceeds from divestitures, net |  | $ 137,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  |  | 11,500 |  |  |
Mineral Flame Retardants and Specialty Chemicals Businesses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash proceeds from divestitures, net | $ 187,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  |  | 112,300 |  |  |
Assets held for sale, excluding discontinued operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net property, plant and equipment |  |  | 3,000 |  | 3,000 |  |  | $ 115,865
Magnifin Magnesiaprodukte GmbH & Co. KG |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Corporate | Wafer Reclaim |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  |  | (1,500) |  |  |
United States | Chemetall Surface Treatment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discrete non-cash charge |  |  | 381,500 |  | 381,500 |  |  |
Foreign | Chemetall Surface Treatment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discrete non-cash charge |  |  | $ 35,200 |  | 35,200 |  |  |
Deferred tax liability [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discrete non-cash charge |  |  |  |  | $ 416,700 |  |  |

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