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Note 4. Commitments and Contingencies (Detail) (USD $) | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  | 4 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  | 9 Months Ended | 21 Months Ended | 33 Months Ended | 43 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 31, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2011 | Apr. 30, 2011 | Jan. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009 | Apr. 30, 2009 | Sep. 30, 2003 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2007 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Feb. 01, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2002 | Sep. 30, 2011 Greens Creek [Member] | Sep. 30, 2011 Greens Creek [Member] | Sep. 30, 2011 Greens Creek [Member] | Sep. 30, 2011 Lucky Friday [Member] | Sep. 30, 2011 Lucky Friday [Member] | Oct. 08, 2012 Accrual For Basin Claims Cash [Member] | Oct. 08, 2013 Accrual For Basin Claims Cash [Member] | Aug. 01, 2014 Accrual For Basin Claims Proceeds From Warrants [Member] | Aug. 01, 2014 Warrants Minimum Exercise Price [Member] | Aug. 01, 2014 Warrants Minimum Exercise Price [Member]
SuretyBonds | $ 96,400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Future Clean Up Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,300,000,000 | 359,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
AllocatedShareOfLiability |  |  |  |  |  |  | 31.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Claims For Natural Resource Damages, Lower Range |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,000,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Claims For Natural Resource Damages, Upper Range |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,400,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Other Debt |  |  |  |  | 482,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
PaymentsUnderConsentDecree | 168 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments for Legal Settlements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 25,000,000 | 15,000,000 | 56,400,000 |  |
Investment Warrants, Exercise Price (in Dollars per share) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2.45 | $ 2.50
Superfund Rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.69% |  | 0.74% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Accrued Liabilities, Noncurrent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 262.3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from Insurance Settlement, Operating Activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum Environmental Remediation Obligation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
AdministrativePenalty |  |  |  |  |  | 177,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
IncurredResponseCosts |  |  |  | 91,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
EstimatedFutureResponseCost |  | 100,000,000 |  | 72,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
ContributionAndCostRecovery |  |  | 9,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
EstimatedResponseCosts |  | 4,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase Commitment, Remaining Minimum Amount Committed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncapital Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 400,000 | 0.3 |  | 0.4 |  |  |  |  |
Accounts Payable, Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8.2 |  |  | 1.6 |  |  |  |  |  |
ApproximateCapitalLeaseObligationIncludingInterest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 600,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Annual Maintenance Fee | $ 0.6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
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