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Investments Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Feb. 28, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax) |  | $ 84,487 | $ 59,637 | $ 27,978
Dividends received from unconsolidated investments |  | 39,386 | 43,759 | 59,912
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures exceeded the amount of underlying equity in net assets |  | 13,800 | (6,800) |
Excess amount paid for joint ventures remaining to be amortized |  | 400 | 600 |
Return of capital from unconsolidated investment |  | 0 | 0 | 98,000
Termination of Tianqi Lithium Corporation option agreement | $ 13,100 | 0 |  |
Marketable equity securities |  | 30,653 | 27,570 |
Joint ventures |  | 499,756 | 429,794 |
Significant Unconsolidated Joint Venture |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Investment in significant unconsolidated joint ventures |  | 479,100 | 404,600 |
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax) |  | 86,800 | 56,800 | 25,400
Undistributed earnings from equity method investees |  | 127,500 | 99,400 |
Dividends received from unconsolidated investments |  | $ 38,100 | $ 42,100 | $ 58,100
Windfield Holdings |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  | 49.00% | 49.00% | 49.00%
Return of capital from unconsolidated investment |  |  |  | $ 98,000
Rockwood Lithium GmbH |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage | 100.00% |  |  |
Saudi Organometallic Chemicals Company |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax) |  | $ 3,800 |  |
Ownership percentage |  | 50.00% |  |
Joint ventures |  | $ 4,500 |  |
Benefit Protection Trust |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Marketable equity securities |  | $ 25,500 | $ 22,000 |
Windfield Holdings |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  | 49.00% |  |
Carrying value of unconsolidated investment |  | $ 355,200 | 288,600 |
Other Variable Interest Entities Excluding Windfield Holdings |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Carrying value of unconsolidated investment |  | $ 8,700 | 8,800 |
Jordan Bromine Company Limited |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  | 50.00% |  |
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Utilization of inventory markup |  |  | $ 103,400 |
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments | Rockwood Holdings, Inc. |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Utilization of inventory markup |  |  |  | $ 27,100
Minimum | Rockwood Lithium GmbH |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  | 20.00% |  |
Maximum | Rockwood Lithium GmbH |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  | 30.00% |  |

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