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Divestitures - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |  |  |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 14, 2016 | Feb. 01, 2016 | Jan. 04, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash proceeds from divestitures, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 6,857 | $ 3,325,571 | $ 8,883
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,019) | (84,371) | (2,144)
Actuarial (losses) gains |  |  |  | $ 11,400 |  | $ (26,700) |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | $ 0 | $ 974 | $ 121,324 | 0 | 122,298 | 0
Chemetall Surface Treatment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash proceeds from divestitures, net | $ 3,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of business, before income taxes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (387,980) | 0
Gain on sale of business, net of tax |  |  |  |  |  | $ 135,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Working capital settlement |  |  |  |  | $ 6,900 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,600
Actuarial (losses) gains |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (8,500) | $ 8,900
Tax expense on gain on sale of business |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 253,000 |
Gain (loss) on sales of businesses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 257,000 |  |
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 |
Magnifin Magnesiaprodukte GmbH & Co. KG |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  | 50.00% |  | 0.00% |  | 0.00% |  |  |  | 0.00% | 0.00% | 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) |
Foreign Currency Translation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 | $ (81,421) | $ (27)

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