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Note 4 - Environmental and Reclamation Activities (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block] |
|  | 2012 |  | 2011
Operating properties: |  |  |  |
Greens Creek |  | $ | 32,856 |  |  | $ | 36,123 |
Lucky Friday |  |  | 1,469 |  |  |  | 1,520 |
Non-operating properties: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
San Sebastian |  |  | 200 |  |  |  | 218 |
Grouse Creek |  |  | 2,484 |  |  |  | 13,262 |
Coeur d’Alene Basin |  |  | 70,786 |  |  |  | 95,081 |
Republic |  |  | 3,538 |  |  |  | 3,538 |
All other sites |  |  | 1,882 |  |  |  | 4,069 |
Total |  |  | 113,215 |  |  |  | 153,811 |
Reclamation and closure costs, current |  |  | (19,845 | ) |  |  | (42,248 | )
Reclamation and closure costs, long-term |  | $ | 93,370 |  |  | $ | 111,563 |
Accrued Reclamation And Closure Cost Liability Activity Table Text Block |
Balance at January 1, 2010 |  | $ | 131,201 |
Accruals for estimated costs |  |  | 196,067 |
Payment of reclamation obligations |  |  | (8,471 | )
Balance at December 31, 2010 |  |  | 318,797 |
Accruals for estimated costs |  |  | 7,869 |
Payment of reclamation obligations |  |  | (172,855 | )
Balance at December 31, 2011 |  |  | 153,811 |
Accruals for estimated costs |  |  | 4,325 |
Revision of estimated cash flows due to changes in reclamation plans |  |  | (3,738 | )
Payment of reclamation obligations |  |  | (41,183 | )
Balance at December 31, 2012 |  | $ | 113,215 |
Schedule of Change in Asset Retirement Obligation [Table Text Block] |
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |
Balance January 1 |  | $ | 37,643 |  |  | $ | 36,397 |
Changes in obligations due to changes in reclamation plans |  |  | (3,720 | ) |  |  | 387 |
Accretion expense |  |  | 1,128 |  |  |  | 1,119 |
Payment of reclamation obligations |  |  | (726 | ) |  |  | (260 | )
Balance at December 31 |  | $ | 34,325 |  |  | $ | 37,643 |

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- Definition Tabular disclosure of the changes in carrying amount of a liability for asset retirement obligations, for changes such as new obligations, changes in estimates of existing obligations, spending on existing obligations, property dispositions, and foreign currency translation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13201-110859 + Details
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