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Investments Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Feb. 28, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax) |  | $ 89,264 | $ 84,487 | $ 59,637
Dividends received from unconsolidated investments |  | 57,415 | 39,386 | 43,759
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures exceeded the amount of underlying equity in net assets |  | 400 | 13,800 |
Excess amount paid for joint ventures remaining to be amortized |  | 100 | 400 |
Termination of Tianqi Lithium Corporation option agreement | $ 13,100 |  | 0 |
Marketable equity securities |  | 33,513 | 30,653 |
Significant Unconsolidated Joint Venture |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Investment in significant unconsolidated joint ventures |  | 466,100 | 479,100 |
Equity in net income of unconsolidated investments (net of tax) |  | 88,800 | 86,800 | 56,800
Undistributed earnings from equity method investees |  | 159,900 | 127,500 |
Dividends received from unconsolidated investments |  | $ 56,400 | $ 38,100 | $ 42,100
Windfield Holdings |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  | 49.00% | 49.00% | 49.00%
Rockwood Lithium GmbH |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage | 100.00% |  |  |
Benefit Protection Trust |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Marketable equity securities |  | $ 26,300 | $ 25,500 |
Windfield Holdings |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  | 49.00% |  |
Carrying value of unconsolidated investment |  | $ 349,600 | 355,200 |
Other Variable Interest Entities Excluding Windfield Holdings |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Carrying value of unconsolidated investment |  | $ 8,100 | $ 8,700 |
Jordan Bromine Company Limited |  |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage |  | 50.00% |  |
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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