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Note 7. Commitments and Contingencies (Detail) (USD $) | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 36 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 31, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2011 | Mar. 31, 2010 | Jan. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2007 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 08, 2011
Environmental Litigation And Related Claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 264,400,000
Payments for Legal Settlements | 168,000,000 |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Surety Bonds | 96,400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 96,400,000 |  |  |  |
Payments Under Consent Decree | 168,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from Warrant Exercises (in Dollars) | 1,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,786,000 | 53,093,000 |  | 10,500,000 |  |
Superfund Rate |  |  |  |  |  | 0.74% | 0.69% |  |  |  |  |
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 95,100,000 |
Proceeds from Insurance Settlement, Operating Activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,200,000 |  |  |
Maximum Environmental Remediation Obligation |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,500,000 |  |  |  |  |
Administrative Penalty |  |  |  |  |  |  | 177,500 |  |  |  |  |
Incurred Response Costs |  |  | 5,300,000 | 91,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated Future Response Cost |  | 100,000,000 |  | 72,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contribution And Cost Recovery |  |  |  | 9,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Accrued Liabilities, Noncurrent |  |  |  |  | 2,040,000 |  | 2,040,000 |  |  | 2,040,000 |  |
Estimated Response Costs |  | 4,500,000 | 2.7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contractual Obligations |  | 9.3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments For Capital Lease Payments |  |  |  |  | 10,800,000 |  | 10,800,000 |  |  | 10,800,000 |  |
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount |  | 600,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Annual Maintenance Fee |  | 600,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Johnny M Site [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments to Acquire Land |  |  |  | 1,875,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-Capital Costs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contractual Obligations |  | 0.01 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Warrants Minimum Exercise Price [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment Warrants, Exercise Price (in Dollars per share) | $ 2.44 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Greens Creek [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts Payable, Other |  |  |  |  | 1,875,000 |  | 1,875,000 |  |  | 1,875,000 |  |
Open Purchase Orders |  |  |  |  | 9.9 |  | 9.9 |  |  | 9.9 |  |
Noncapital Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  | 600,000 |  |  |  |  |
Payment Due By October 8, 2012 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments for Legal Settlements | 25,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payment Due By October 8, 2013 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments for Legal Settlements | 15,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payment Due By August 2014 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments for Legal Settlements | 55,400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lucky Friday [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts Payable, Other |  |  |  |  | 165,000,000,000 |  | 165,000,000,000 |  |  | 165,000,000,000 |  |
Open Purchase Orders |  |  |  |  | 0.1 |  | 0.1 |  |  | 0.1 |  |
Noncapital Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 100,000 |  |  |  |  |
Warrants Maximum Exercise Price [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment Warrants, Exercise Price (in Dollars per share) | $ 2.49 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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