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Acquisitions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |  |  | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Feb. 01, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Gain on acquisition |  |  | $ 0 | $ 6,221 | $ 0
Other acquisitions |  |  | 11,403 | 44,367 | 126,747
Goodwill |  | $ 1,540,032 | 1,567,169 | 1,610,355 | 1,540,032
Inventories |  |  | 700,540 | 592,781 |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  | 0 | 0 | 57,384
Sales de Magnesio Ltda. |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of equity interests acquired | 50.00% |  |  |  |
Total purchase price | $ 8,300 |  |  |  |
Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Other acquisitions |  | $ 145,000 |  |  |
Accounts receivable |  |  |  | 600 |
Property, plant and equipment |  |  |  | 24,100 |
Other intangibles |  |  |  | 46,300 |
Accounts payable |  |  |  | 2,800 |
Deferred tax liabilities |  |  |  | 6,300 |
Fair value of net working capital |  |  |  | 6,200 |
Inventories |  |  |  | 37,100 |
Inventory markup |  |  |  | 23,100 |
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life |  | 17 years |  |  |
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  |  |  | 52,100
Other significant projects |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  |  |  | 5,300
Patents and technology | Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life |  | 20 years |  |  |
Customer lists and relationships | Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life |  | 13 years |  |  |
Other | Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life |  | 20 years |  |  |
Other expenses, net | Sales de Magnesio Ltda. |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Gain on acquisition |  |  |  | 6,200 |
Cost of sales |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  | 3,700 | 14,300 |
Selling, general and administrative expenses |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Acquisition and integration related costs |  |  | 15,700 | 19,600 |
Reportable Segments | Lithium |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  | $ 1,326,980 | $ 1,354,779 | 1,389,089 | $ 1,326,980
Reportable Segments | Lithium | Jiangxi Jiangli New Materials Science and Technology Co. Ltd. |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  | $ 83,100 |

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- Definition Amount of liabilities incurred for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business and related party payables, assumed at the acquisition date. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84161108&loc=d3e4845-128472 + Details
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- Definition Amount of intangible assets, excluding goodwill, acquired at the acquisition date. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84161108&loc=d3e4845-128472 + Details
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