v2.4.1.9
PROPERTY, PLANT, EQUIPMENT, AND MINERAL PROPERTIES (Schedule of Property, Plant, Equipment, and Mineral Properties) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Property, plant, equipment, and mineral properties    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross $ 907,002us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross $ 904,382us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
Accumulated depreciation (288,768)us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment (271,294)us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Depreciable assets, net 618,234ipi_Depreciableassetsnet 633,088ipi_Depreciableassetsnet
Mineral properties and development costs 163,741us-gaap_MineralPropertiesGross 163,197us-gaap_MineralPropertiesGross
Accumulated depletion (19,508)us-gaap_MineralPropertiesAccumulatedDepletion (17,544)us-gaap_MineralPropertiesAccumulatedDepletion
Total depletable assets, net 144,233ipi_MineralPropertiesAndDevelopmentCostsNet 145,653ipi_MineralPropertiesAndDevelopmentCostsNet
Property, Plant, Equipment and Mineral Properties, Net 770,188us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet 785,250us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Building and Building Improvements [Member]    
Property, plant, equipment, and mineral properties    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 269,090us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_BuildingAndBuildingImprovementsMember
268,032us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_BuildingAndBuildingImprovementsMember
Machinery and Equipment [Member]    
Property, plant, equipment, and mineral properties    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 530,332us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember
529,358us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember
Vehicles [Member]    
Property, plant, equipment, and mineral properties    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 13,581us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_VehiclesMember
13,799us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_VehiclesMember
Office Equipment [Member]    
Property, plant, equipment, and mineral properties    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 19,363us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_OfficeEquipmentMember
19,260us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_OfficeEquipmentMember
Land Improvements [Member]    
Property, plant, equipment, and mineral properties    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross 74,636us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandImprovementsMember
73,933us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandImprovementsMember
Land [Member]    
Property, plant, equipment, and mineral properties    
Land 909us-gaap_Land
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandMember
909us-gaap_Land
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandMember
Construction in Progress [Member]    
Property, plant, equipment, and mineral properties    
Construction in Progress, Gross $ 6,812us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressMember
$ 5,600us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressMember