XML 38 R50.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Apr. 30, 2013
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Assets held for sale | $ 0 | $ 0 |  |
Non current restricted investments | 209,990,000 |  |  |
Impairments of goodwill | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Insurance coverage of general liability and auto liability risks | 100,000,000 |  |  | 100,000,000
Insurance policy covering pollution liability | 50,000,000 |  |  |
Tax benefit recognized | Greater than 50% |  |  |
US Treasury [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Non current restricted investments | 130,000,000 |  |  |
Original maturity period | 13 weeks |  |  |
CD [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Original maturity period | No longer than approximately 26 weeks. |  |  |
Balance in excess of FDIC-insured limits | 80,000,000 |  |  |
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Balance in excess of FDIC-insured limits | 600,000 |  |  |
Non Current Restricted Cash [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Balance in excess of FDIC-insured limits | 49,800,000 |  |  |
Noncurrent Restricted Cash [Member] | CD [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Balance in excess of FDIC-insured limits | $ 79,800,000 |  |  |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership interest in equity method investment | 20.00% |  |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ownership interest in equity method investment | 50.00% |  |  |

X
- Definition The balance of an asset deposited or invested that are in excess of the FDIC-insured limit. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_BalanceInExcessOfFdicInsuredLimits
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of cash and cash equivalents that are in excess of the FDIC-insured limit + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_CashCashEquivalentsInExcessOfFdicInsuredLimits
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Certificate Of Deposit Original Maturity Period + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_CertificateOfDepositOriginalMaturityPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Insurance coverage of general liability and auto liability risks. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_InsuranceCoverageOfGeneralLiabilityAndAutoLiabilityRisks
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Insurance policy covering pollution liability. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_InsurancePolicyCoveringPollutionLiability
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | lxu_SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tax benefit recognized. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_TaxBenefitRecognized
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Long-lived assets that are held for sale apart from normal operations and anticipated to be sold in less than one year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e1107-107759 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleLongLived
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of loss from the write-down of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13854-109267 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13777-109266 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The noncurrent cash, cash equivalents and investments that is restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits classified as long-term; that is not expected to be released from such existing restrictions within one year of the balance sheet date or operating cycle, whichever is longer. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. Includes noncurrent cash equivalents and investments that are similarly restricted as to withdrawal, usage or disposal. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant