BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Information by Segment) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands |
3 Months Ended |
9 Months Ended |
Sep. 30, 2016 |
Sep. 30, 2015 |
Mar. 31, 2015 |
Sep. 30, 2016 |
Sep. 30, 2015 |
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Sales |
$ 43,643
|
$ 53,692
|
$ 53,692
|
$ 168,760
|
$ 244,364
|
| Less: Freight costs |
8,187
|
5,348
|
5,348
|
27,450
|
23,158
|
| Warehousing and handling costs |
2,616
|
3,199
|
3,199
|
7,818
|
10,383
|
| Cost of goods sold |
35,272
|
42,151
|
42,151
|
136,899
|
180,868
|
| Lower-of-cost-or-market inventory adjustments |
5,192
|
4,427
|
4,427
|
17,129
|
10,063
|
| Costs associated with abnormal production and other |
0
|
6,910
|
6,910
|
1,707
|
6,910
|
| Gross (Deficit) Margin |
(7,624)
|
(8,343)
|
(8,343)
|
(22,243)
|
12,982
|
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense |
8,756
|
20,355
|
$ 20,355
|
32,965
|
61,028
|
| Operating Segments [Member] | Potash [Member] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Sales |
35,357
|
41,997
|
|
128,248
|
189,819
|
| Less: Freight costs |
6,722
|
3,575
|
|
20,156
|
15,258
|
| Warehousing and handling costs |
2,072
|
2,655
|
|
6,358
|
8,435
|
| Cost of goods sold |
29,027
|
33,729
|
|
108,816
|
147,049
|
| Lower-of-cost-or-market inventory adjustments |
4,856
|
4,427
|
|
16,793
|
10,063
|
| Costs associated with abnormal production and other |
0
|
6,910
|
|
650
|
6,910
|
| Gross (Deficit) Margin |
(7,320)
|
(9,299)
|
|
(24,525)
|
2,104
|
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense |
8,090
|
16,324
|
|
28,970
|
49,958
|
| Operating Segments [Member] | Trio [Member] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Sales |
8,286
|
11,695
|
|
40,512
|
54,545
|
| Less: Freight costs |
1,465
|
1,773
|
|
7,294
|
7,900
|
| Warehousing and handling costs |
544
|
544
|
|
1,460
|
1,948
|
| Cost of goods sold |
6,245
|
8,422
|
|
28,083
|
33,819
|
| Lower-of-cost-or-market inventory adjustments |
336
|
0
|
|
336
|
0
|
| Costs associated with abnormal production and other |
0
|
0
|
|
1,057
|
0
|
| Gross (Deficit) Margin |
(304)
|
956
|
|
2,282
|
10,878
|
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense |
597
|
3,294
|
|
3,150
|
9,588
|
| Corporate/Other [Member] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
| Sales |
0
|
0
|
|
0
|
0
|
| Less: Freight costs |
0
|
0
|
|
0
|
0
|
| Warehousing and handling costs |
0
|
0
|
|
0
|
0
|
| Cost of goods sold |
0
|
0
|
|
0
|
0
|
| Lower-of-cost-or-market inventory adjustments |
0
|
0
|
|
0
|
0
|
| Costs associated with abnormal production and other |
0
|
0
|
|
0
|
0
|
| Gross (Deficit) Margin |
0
|
0
|
|
0
|
0
|
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense |
$ 69
|
$ 737
|
|
$ 845
|
$ 1,482
|