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Segment Information - Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments (Footnote) (Details) $ in Thousands, € in Millions | 3 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2017 EUR (€) | Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 | Feb. 01, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs | $ 2,201 |  | $ 14,281 |  |
Utilization of inventory markup |  |  | 10,606 |  |
Restructuring and other, net |  |  | 12,905 |  |
Repayments of long-term debt | 0 |  | 751,209 |  |
Repayment of debt premium |  |  | 45,200 |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt | 0 |  | 52,801 |  |
Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Inventory markup |  |  | 23,100 |  |
Sales de Magnesio Ltda. |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of equity interests acquired |  |  |  |  | 50.00%
Cost of goods sold |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs | 1,000 |  | 8,900 |  |
Write-off of fixed assets at JBC | 1,100 |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other, net |  |  | 2,900 |  |
Cost of goods sold | Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Utilization of inventory markup |  |  | 10,600 |  |
Selling, general and administrative expenses |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs | 1,200 |  | 5,400 |  |
Gain related to a refund form Chilean authorities | 1,400 |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other, net |  |  | 4,200 |  |
Other (expenses) income, net |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Environmental charges related to a site formerly owned by Albemarle | 15,600 |  |  |  |
Reversal of previously recorded expenses of a disposed business | $ 200 |  |  |  |
Asset retirement obligation charges |  |  | 3,200 |  |
Loss on sale of properties |  |  | (2,100) |  |
Research and development expenses |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other, net |  |  | $ 5,800 |  |
3.00% Senior Notes |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, interest rate |  |  | 3.00% |  |
1.875% Senior Notes |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, interest rate | 1.875% |  | 1.875% | 1.875% |
4.50% Senior Notes |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, interest rate | 4.50% |  | 4.50% | 4.50% |
Senior Notes | 3.00% Senior Notes |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Repayments of long-term debt |  |  | $ 0 |  |
Senior Notes | 1.875% Senior Notes |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Repayments of long-term debt | € |  | € 307.0 |  |  |
Senior Notes | 4.50% Senior Notes |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Repayments of long-term debt |  |  | $ 174,700 |  |

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- Definition Gain related to a refund form Chilean authorities + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in the asset retirement obligation from changes in the amount or timing of the estimated cash flows associated with the settlement of the obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 35 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392603&loc=d3e7123-110846 + Details
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- Definition Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463 + Details
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- Definition This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 23 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84229725&loc=d3e1043-128460 + Details
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