Molycorp (MCPIQ) 10-Q 7 May 14 2014 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	6-May-14
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'Molycorp, Inc.	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001489137	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-14	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	244,712,409
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q1	'

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$236,050	$314,317
Trade accounts receivable, net	51,591	61,757
Inventory (Note 4)	166,630	171,783
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	34,854	29,210
Total current assets	489,125	577,067
Non-current assets:	'	'
Deposits	26,005	25,997
Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 5)	1,756,090	1,762,874
Inventory (Note 4)	24,996	25,329
Intangible assets, net	324,964	330,867
Investments	47,152	48,875
Goodwill	228,750	228,750
Other non-current assets	6,554	7,043
Total non-current assets	2,414,511	2,429,735
Total assets	2,903,636	3,006,802
Current liabilities:	'	'
Trade accounts payable	63,670	84,449
Accrued expenses	55,426	48,501
Debt and capital lease obligations (Note 6)	16,885	16,362
Other current liabilities	3,582	4,063
Total current liabilities	139,563	153,375
Non-current liabilities:	'	'
Asset retirement obligation	16,218	16,966
Deferred tax liabilities (Note 7)	79,284	85,481
Debt and capital lease obligations (Note 6)	1,371,924	1,363,916
Other non-current liabilities	9,850	10,002
Total non-current liabilities	1,477,276	1,476,365
Total liabilities	1,616,839	1,629,740
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)	'	'
Stockholders’ equity:	'	'
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 350,000,000 shares authorized at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (Note 8)	245	241
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 350,000,000 shares authorized at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (Note 8)	0	2
Additional paid-in capital	2,191,404	2,194,405
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-7,303	-6,451
Accumulated deficit	-926,535	-840,474
Total Molycorp stockholders’ equity	1,257,811	1,347,723
Noncontrolling interests	28,986	29,339
Total stockholders’ equity	1,286,797	1,377,062
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$2,903,636	$3,006,802

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Common stock, par value	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, authorized	350,000,000	350,000,000
Preferred stock, par value	'	$0.00
Preferred stock, authorized	'	5,000,000

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'
Revenues	$118,526	$145,398
Costs of sales:	'	'
Costs excluding depreciation and amortization	-125,473	-135,531
Depreciation and amortization	-16,147	-14,172
Gross loss	-23,094	-4,305
Operating expenses:	'	'
Selling, general and administrative	-17,956	-26,551
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	-7,201	-8,210
Research and development	-2,766	-6,405
Operating loss	-51,017	-45,471
Other expenses:	'	'
Other income (expense)	474	-451
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	-35,639	-11,649
Loss before income taxes and equity earnings	-86,182	-57,571
Income tax benefit	1,907	22,490
Equity in loss of affiliates	-1,723	-3,072
Net loss	-85,998	-38,153
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-63	-818
Net loss attributable to Molycorp stockholders	-86,061	-38,971
Other comprehensive loss:	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-852	-3,294
Comprehensive loss	-86,850	-41,447
Comprehensive loss attributable to:	'	'
Molycorp stockholders	-86,787	-40,629
Noncontrolling interest	-63	-818
Comprehensive loss	-86,850	-41,447
Earnings per share of common stock (Note 9):	'	'
Dividends on Convertible Preferred Stock	-2,846	-2,846
Loss attributable to common stockholders	($88,907)	($41,817)
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic	221,374,589	153,314,081
Basic earnings (loss) per share: (in dollars per share)	($0.40)	($0.27)
Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted	221,374,589	153,314,081
Diluted earnings (loss) per share: (in dollars per share)	($0.40)	($0.27)

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $)

Total

Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock

Total Molycorp Stockholders' Equity

Total Molycorp Stockholders' Equity

Common Stock

Common Stock

Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock

Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock

Additional Paid-In Capital

Additional Paid-In Capital

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Accumulated deficit

Non controlling interests

In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified

Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock

Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock

Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock

Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2012

$1,251,258

'

$1,216,046

'

$139

'

$2

'

$1,691,429

'

($9,433)

($466,091)

$35,212

Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012

'

'

'

'

138,773,538

'

2,070,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Stock-based compensation

-325

'

-325

'

0

'

'

'

-325

'

'

'

'

Stock-based compensation (in shares)

'

'

'

'

-7,749

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Component of 5.50% convertible debt

21,815

'

21,815

'

'

'

'

'

21,815

'

'

'

'

Deferred taxes on component of convertible debt

-8,508

'

-8,508

'

'

'

'

'

-8,508

'

'

'

'

Conversion of Exchangeable Shares (in shares)

'

'

'

'

10,476

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Conversion of shares (in shares)

'

'

'

'

1,253

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Issuance of Primary Shares

248,140

'

248,140

'

43

'

'

'

248,097

'

'

'

'

Issuance of Primary Shares (in shares)

'

'

'

'

43,125,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Issuance of Borrowed Shares

7

'

7

'

7

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Issuance of Borrowed Shares (in shares)

'

'

'

'

6,666,666

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net loss

-38,153

'

-38,971

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-38,971

818

Preferred dividends

-2,846

'

-2,846

'

'

'

'

'

-2,846

'

'

'

'

Distribution to noncontrolling interests

-1,286

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-1,286

Other comprehensive loss

-3,294

'

-3,294

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-3,294

'

'

Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2013

1,466,808

'

1,432,064

'

189

'

2

'

1,949,662

'

-12,727

-505,062

34,744

Balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2013

'

'

'

'

188,569,184

'

2,070,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2013

1,377,062

'

1,347,723

'

241

'

2

'

2,194,405

'

-6,451

-840,474

29,339

Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013

'

'

'

'

240,380,094

'

2,070,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Stock-based compensation

103

'

103

'

'

'

'

'

103

'

'

'

'

Stock-based compensation (in shares)

'

'

'

'

177,491

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Conversion of Exchangeable Shares (in shares)

'

'

'

'

392

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Conversion of shares (in shares)

'

'

'

'

1,281

4,140,000

'

-2,070,000

'

'

'

'

'

Conversion of shares

7

0

7

0

'

4

'

-2

7

-2

'

'

'

Net loss

-85,998

'

-86,061

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-86,061

63

Preferred dividends

-2,846

'

-2,846

'

'

'

'

'

-2,846

'

'

'

'

Distribution to noncontrolling interests

-435

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-435

Other comprehensive loss

-852

'

-852

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-852

'

'

Other

-244

'

-263

'

'

'

'

'

-263

'

'

'

19

Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2014

$1,286,797

'

$1,257,811

'

$245

'

$0

'

$2,191,404

'

($7,303)

($926,535)

$28,986

Balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2014

'

'

'

'

244,699,258

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net loss	($85,998)	($38,153)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash from operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	23,348	22,532
Deferred income tax benefit	-6,097	-29,475
Inventory write-downs	17,371	22,125
Release of inventory step-up value	577	2,497
Stock-based compensation	822	-325
Foreign exchange loss	4	2,197
Equity in results of affiliates	1,723	3,072
Other operating adjustments	250	-5,221
Net change in operating assets and liabilities (Note 14)	2,215	-15,877
Net cash used in operating activities	-45,785	-36,628
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Investment in joint ventures	0	-3,423
Capital expenditures	-29,752	-181,103
Other investing activities	493	-90
Net cash used in investing activities	-29,259	-184,616
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Repayments of debt	-489	-11,108
Net proceeds from sale of common stock	0	248,147
Issuance of 5.50% Convertible Notes	0	165,600
Payments of preferred dividends	-2,846	-2,846
Dividend paid to noncontrolling interests	-435	-1,286
Other financing activities	1,323	-79
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	-2,447	398,428
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	-776	-140
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-78,267	177,044
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	314,317	227,790
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	236,050	404,834
Non-cash financing activities and investing activities:	'	'
Change in accrued capital expenditures	($19,415)	($82,646)

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and Regulation S-X promulgated under the Exchange Act, and reflect all adjustments that are normal and recurring in nature, which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for the fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows at March 31, 2014, and for all periods presented. While the December 31, 2013 balance sheet information was derived from our audited financial statements, for interim periods, GAAP and Regulation S-X do not require all information and related disclosures that are required in the annual financial statements and, as a result, all disclosures required by GAAP and Regulation S-X for annual financial statements have not been included in this report. Therefore, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2013 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 3, 2014.
	The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Investments in joint ventures where we do not exert control, but have the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee, are accounted for under the equity method of investment. All other investments are accounted at cost.
	The prior period amount of "Equity in results of affiliates" in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows has been broken out from "Other operating adjustments" to conform to the current period presentation. Additionally, nominal prior period revenues and expenses related to an asset disposal that we finalized in the first quarter of 2014, have been reclassified to "Other expense" in the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. Such reclassifications did not affect our results of operations.
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of the financial statements, in accordance with GAAP, requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions. Significant estimates we made in the accompanying financial statements include the collectability of accounts receivable, the recoverability of inventory, the useful lives and recoverability of long-lived assets such as property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, goodwill and investments, capital leases, uncertain tax positions, the realizability of deferred tax assets, and the adequacy of the asset retirement obligation.
	Significant Accounting Policies
	A summary of our significant accounting policies can be found in Item 8, Note 2 of the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 3, 2014.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740), Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). Based on this update, an entity is required to present unrecognized tax benefits as a decrease in a net operating loss, similar tax loss or tax credit carryforward if certain criteria are met. The determination of whether a deferred tax asset is available is based on the unrecognized tax benefit and the deferred tax asset that exists at the reporting date and presumes disallowance of the tax position at the reporting date. This guidance will eliminate the diversity in practice in the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits but will not alter the way in which entities assess deferred tax assets for realizability. The amendments are effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The amendments were applied prospectively to unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. The adoption of this updated guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements and related disclosures.
	In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830), Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). The amendments specify that a cumulative translation adjustment ("CTA") should be released into earnings when an entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets within a consolidated foreign entity and the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity. For sales of an equity method investment that is a foreign entity, a pro rata portion of CTA attributable to the investment would be recognized in earnings when the investment is sold. When an entity sells either a part or all of its investment in a consolidated foreign entity, CTA would be recognized in earnings only if the sale results in the parent no longer having a controlling financial interest in the foreign entity. In addition, CTA should be recognized in earnings in a business combination achieved in stages (i.e., a step acquisition). The amendments are effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The amendments were to be applied prospectively to derecognition events occurring after the effective date. However, since we did not have any derecognition events in the three months ended March 31, 2014, the adoption of this updated guidance did not impact on our financial statements and related disclosures.

Liquidity_and_Capital_Requirem

Liquidity and Capital Requirements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Capital Requirements [Abstract]	'
Liquidity and Capital Requirements	'
	Liquidity and Capital Requirements
	We expect to use our cash balances of $236.1 million as of March 31, 2014, as well as cash generated from operations in certain business units to fund our capital expenditures, debt service and other cash requirements. Capital expenditures for our Molycorp Mountain Pass facility are expected to total approximately $41.0 million for the remainder of 2014, including remaining payments for certain capital expenditures incurred as of March 31, 2014, and $50.0 million in 2015. Additionally, we expect to spend approximately $20.0 million on maintenance and expansion capital expenditures across all other business units for the remainder of 2014. While our cash balances as of March 31, 2014, cash generated from operations in certain business units, and available and planned financing are expected to be sufficient to satisfy our cash needs throughout the next twelve months, the amount of our cash requirements continues to be dependent on (i) the accuracy of our cost estimates for capital expenditures, (ii) our ability to ramp-up run rates at our Molycorp Mountain Pass facility pursuant to our expectations without further delays, and to achieve lower cash costs of production as a result of further optimization of operations at our Molycorp Mountain Pass facility, (iii) stable or improved market conditions, (iv) our ability to sell our production of rare earths (including our ability to sell our cerium through market acceptance of SorbX® or otherwise), (v) our ability to repatriate cash generated from our global operations, and (vi) the absence of payments on current and future contingent liabilities. If these assumptions prove inaccurate, our estimates could prove incorrect and we may need additional financing.
	As part of our cash management procedures, we continue to evaluate opportunities to reduce costs and improve our liquidity, including potential proceeds from additional revolving credit facilities or other financing arrangements, although we do not have any firm commitments for such financing. Additionally, we have utilized and will continue to utilize lease financing for certain heavy mobile equipment and vehicles.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	Segment Information
	Our operations are organized into four reportable segments, each reflecting a unique combination of product lines and technologies: Resources, Chemicals and Oxides, Magnetic Materials and Alloys, and Rare Metals. The primary measurement we use to measure the financial performance of each reportable segment is OIBDA (Operating income before depreciation, amortization and accretion).
	Three months ended March 31, 2014	Resources			Chemicals and Oxides			Magnetic Materials and Alloys			Rare Metals			Corporate and other (a)			Eliminations(b)			Total Molycorp, Inc.
		(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	External	$	3,111		$	40,271		$	54,720		$	20,424					$	—		$	118,526
	Inter-segment	12,453			6,285			1,218			—						(19,956		)	—
	Total revenues	$	15,564		$	46,556		$	55,938		$	20,424					$	(19,956	)	$	118,526
	OIBDA	$	(36,445	)	$	3,299		$	13,676		$	(70	)
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion	(13,091		)	(3,872		)	(4,237		)	(2,093		)
	Operating (loss) income	$	(49,536	)	$	(573	)	$	9,439		$	(2,163	)	$	(7,109	)	$	(1,075	)	$	(51,017	)
	Other income																			474
	Interest expense, net of capitalized interest																			(35,639		)
	Loss before income taxes and equity earnings																			$	(86,182	)
	Three months ended March 31, 2013	Resources			Chemicals and Oxides			Magnetic Materials and Alloys			Rare Metals			Corporate and other (a)			Eliminations(b)			Total Molycorp, Inc.
		(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	External	$	14,658		$	49,600		$	54,678		$	26,462					$	—		$	145,398
	Inter-segment	2,645			14,610			—			—						(17,255		)	—
	Total revenues	$	17,303		$	64,210		$	54,678		$	26,462					$	(17,255	)	$	145,398
	OIBDA	$	(31,073	)	$	2,231		$	12,243		$	5,553
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion	(9,053		)	(5,537		)	(5,480		)	(2,253		)
	Operating (loss) income	$	(40,126	)	$	(3,306	)	$	6,763		$	3,300		$	(11,564	)	$	(538	)	$	(45,471	)
	Other expense																			(451		)
	Interest expense, net of capitalized interest																			(11,649		)
	Loss before income taxes and equity earnings																			$	(57,571	)
	(a)	Includes business development costs, personnel costs, stock-based compensation, accounting and legal fees, occupancy expense, information technology costs and interest expense.
	(b)	Consist of inter-segment sales and gross profits elimination as well as eliminations of lower of cost or market adjustments related to inter-segment inventory.

Inventory

Inventory	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventory	'
	Inventory
	At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, our inventory consisted of the following:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Current:
	Concentrate stockpiles	$	30	$	24
	Raw materials	49,613		42,627
	Work in process	38,340		41,962
	Finished goods	56,672		65,662
	Materials and supplies	21,975		21,508
	Total current	$	166,630	$	171,783
	Long-term:
	Concentrate stockpiles	$	4	$	4
	Raw materials	24,992		25,325
	Total long-term	$	24,996	$	25,329
	Assessment of normal production levels
	For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we determined that an additional $25.0 million and $22.0 million, respectively, of production costs would have been inventoriable had we been operating at normal production levels. These costs were excluded from inventory and included in costs of sales as incurred. In both periods, the large majority of these production costs related to lower than anticipated production volumes and abnormal consumption of the primary chemical reagents used during the optimization phase of our new separation processes at the Resources segment.
	Write-downs of inventory
	Due to the decline in some rare earths prices and low inventory turnover, we recognized write-downs of $16.2 million and $19.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, to reduce some of our inventory to the lower of cost or market. During the same interim periods, we recognized write-downs of stockpile inventory totaling $1.2 million and $2.4 million, respectively, due to adjustments of the estimated REO content in the stockpile. Our Resources segment was mostly affected by these charges, which were recorded in costs of sales in both interim periods.

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_n

Property, Plant and Equipment, net	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	'
	Property, Plant and Equipment, net
	We capitalized expenditures of $12.3 million and $120.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, the majority of which related to the expansion and modernization efforts, and certain other capital projects at our Molycorp Mountain Pass facility (Resources segment). In the first quarter of 2014, there was no interest capitalized on assets under construction. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, the expenditures above included capitalized interest of $21.5 million. Capitalized interest is typically added to "Construction in progress" until the asset is complete and ready for its intended use. Subsequently, capitalized interest is allocated to the pertinent asset class, generally "Land improvements", "Building and improvements" or "Plant and equipment", and amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset.
	At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, our property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:
		March 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Land	$	12,841		$	12,822
	Land improvements	304,372			327,029
	Buildings and improvements	557,839			418,510
	Plant and equipment	448,774			288,603
	Vehicles	2,968			2,986
	Computer software	12,424			12,424
	Furniture and fixtures	1,044			1,044
	Construction in progress (a)	486,913			755,107
	Natural gas delivery facility under capital lease	15,658			15,658
	Mining equipment under capital lease	9,287			7,370
	Mineral properties	23,912			23,999
	Property, plant and equipment at cost	1,876,032			1,865,552
	Less accumulated depreciation	(119,942		)	(102,678		)
	Property, plant and equipment, net	$	1,756,090		$	1,762,874
	(a)	Primarily related to expenditures at the Molycorp Mountain Pass facility.
	Mineral properties and development costs, which are referred to collectively as mineral properties, include acquisition costs, drilling costs, and the cost of other development work associated with our Molycorp Mountain Pass facility, all of which are capitalized.

Debt_and_Capital_Lease_Obligat

Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	'
	Debt and Capital Lease Obligations
	The following table provides a summary of the current and non-current portions of our debt outstanding and capital lease obligations at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
		March 31, 2014							31-Dec-13
		Current				Non-Current			Current				Non-Current
		(In thousands)
	Bank loans due May 2014 - September 2017	$	14,140			$	2,344		$	14,128			$	2,699
	3.25% Convertible Notes, net of discount, due June 2016	—				209,211			—				207,028
	6.00% Convertible Notes, net of discount, due June 2017	—				350,594			—				346,708
	5.00% Debentures, net of discount, due December 2017	—				2,349			—				2,493
	5.50% Convertible Notes, net of discount, due February 2018	—				149,471			—				148,198
	10% Senior Notes, net of discount, due June 2020	—				637,788			—				637,435
	Total debt	14,140				1,351,757			14,128				1,344,561
	Capital lease obligations	2,745				20,167			2,234				19,355
	Total debt and capital lease obligations	$	16,885			$	1,371,924		$	16,362			$	1,363,916
	Weighted average interest rate on the bank loans was 3.29% and 3.59% at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Scheduled minimum debt repayments, excluding capital lease obligations, are $13.8 million for the remainder of 2014, $1.5 million in 2015, $230.8 million in 2016, $416.7 million in 2017, $172.5 million in 2018 and $650.0 million thereafter. As of March 31, 2014, we were in compliance with all applicable covenants related to our indebtedness, which are all affirmative in nature and contain customary "Change of control" provisions.
	The following table presents a reconciliation of the principal amount to the net carrying value for each of our Convertible Notes and our Senior Notes at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and provides the interest cost of each instrument for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:
		3.25% Convertible Notes						6.00% Convertible Notes							5.50% Convertible Notes					10% Senior Notes
		March 31,			December 31,			March 31,			December 31,				March 31,			December 31,		March 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013			2014			2013				2014			2013		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Principal amount	$	230,000		$	230,000		$	414,000		$	414,000			$	172,500		172,500		$	650,000		$	650,000
	Unamortized debt discount	(20,789		)	(22,972		)	(63,406		)	(67,292		)		(23,029		)	(24,302	)	(12,212		)	(12,565		)
	Net carrying amount	$	209,211		$	207,028		$	350,594		$	346,708			$	149,471		148,198		$	637,788		$	637,435
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013			2014			2013				2014			2013		2014			2013
	Interest cost (a)	$	4,058		$	3,920		$	10,150		$	9,813			$	3,659		2,297		$	16,639		$	16,605
	(a) Interest cost includes the coupon interest, accretion of the initial equity component of the convertible notes (3.25% - $36,227; 6.00% - $68,695; and 5.50% - $21,815), accretion of the underwriting discounts and amortization of the issuance costs allocated to the liability component.
	Senior Secured Obligations
	The 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 ("Senior Notes") are our senior secured obligations and are guaranteed by certain of our domestic subsidiaries ("Guarantors"). The Senior Notes are secured by a first-priority security interest on substantially all of our property and assets and those of the Guarantors, subject to some exceptions for certain "Excluded Assets," such as:
	•	Leasehold interests in real property;
	•	Certain capital leases that constitute permitted liens;
	•	Certain motor vehicles;
	•	Assets owned by foreign subsidiaries or, subject to certain limitations, MMA;
	•	Assets with a fair market value of less than $15.0 million as to which the board of directors determine in good faith (and certify to the collateral agent) that the costs of obtaining or perfecting such security interest are excessive in relation to the practical benefit to the holder of the Notes of the security afforded thereby (based on the value of such asset);
	•	Cash collateral for letters of credit or hedging obligations (up to 105% of the underlying obligations);
	•	Certain deposit accounts;
	•	The equity interests of immaterial subsidiaries and, subject to certain limitations, MMA;
	•	Voting stock of foreign subsidiaries in excess of 65.0% of the voting stock; and
	•	Other pledges of stock of a guarantor to the extent that Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act would require the filing of separate financial statements of such guarantor.
	Capital Leases
	We lease certain mining and other equipment under agreements with various durations that have been determined to be capital leases. Those agreements contain purchase options at the end of the lease term and are generally at market interest rates. At March 31, 2014, total future minimum payments on our capital leases were $50.4 million and are due as follows: $5.7 million for the remainder of 2014, $7.6 million in 2015, $7.6 million in 2016, $6.5 million in 2017, $5.1 million in 2018 and $17.8 million thereafter. The aggregate amount of future minimum lease payments at March 31, 2014 includes total executory costs of $1.6 million and imputed interest of $25.8 million.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	Our effective income tax rate can vary significantly quarter-to-quarter for various reasons, including the mix and volume of business in lower tax jurisdictions, in jurisdictions with tax holidays and tax incentives, and in jurisdictions for which no deferred tax assets have been recognized because management believed it was not more likely than not that future taxable profit would be available against which tax losses and deductible temporary differences could be utilized. Our effective income tax rate can also vary due to the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations, operating losses, changes in our provisions related to tax uncertainties, and changes in our assertion relating to indefinitely reinvesting undistributed earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries.
	For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, our effective tax rate was 2.2% and 39.1%, respectively. The March 31, 2014 effective tax rate was impacted primarily by valuation allowance required in the U.S. as a result of tax losses generated during the quarter.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Stockholders' Equity	'
	Stockholders’ Equity
	At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had 244,838,060 and 240,380,138 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, respectively, and at December 31, 2013, we also had 2,070,000 shares of our 5.50% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (“Convertible Preferred Stock”) issued and outstanding.
	On March 1, 2014, each share of our Convertible Preferred Stock automatically converted into two shares of our common stock based on the “maximum conversion rate”, as defined in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. As a result, we issued 4,140,000 shares of our common stock in connection with the automatic conversion of the 2,070,000 shares of the Convertible Preferred Stock. Also on March 1, 2014, we paid the final $2.8 million of the aggregate preferred dividends on the Convertible Preferred Stock to holders of record at the close of business on February 15, 2014.

Earnings_per_Share

Earnings per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings per Share	'
	Earnings per Share
	For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the dividends on the Convertible Preferred Stock were subtracted from net loss attributable to Molycorp stockholders for the purpose of computing the basic and diluted earnings per share.
	Diluted earnings per share reflect the dilutive impact of potential common stock and unvested restricted shares of common stock in the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, if dilutive. For this purpose, the “treasury stock method” and “if-converted method,” as applicable, are used. Under the treasury stock method, assumed proceeds upon the exercise of stock options are considered to be used to purchase common stock at the average market price of the shares during the period. Also under the treasury stock method, fixed awards and non-vested shares, such as restricted stock units, are deemed options for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share. At March 31, 2014 and 2013, all potential common stock under the treasury stock method were antidilutive in nature; consequently, we did not have any adjustments between earnings per share and diluted earnings per share related to stock options and restricted stock units. In applying the if-converted method, conversion is not assumed for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share if the effect would be antidilutive. Convertible preferred stock is antidilutive whenever the amount of the dividend declared in or accumulated for the current period per common share obtainable on conversion, including the deemed dividend in the period from a beneficial conversion feature, exceeds basic earnings per share. Our Convertible Preferred Stock was antidilutive at March 31, 2014 and 2013. Also, under the if-converted method, convertible debt is antidilutive whenever its interest per common share obtainable on conversion, including any deemed interest from a beneficial conversion feature and nondiscretionary adjustments, net of tax, exceeds basic earnings per share. At March 31, 2014 and 2013, our convertible notes were all antidilutive.

StockBased_Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Stock-Based Compensation	'
	Stock-Based Compensation
	The following tables summarize the stock-based awards with significant activity for the quarter ended March 31, 2014:
	PBRSUs	Number of		Weighted Average
		Shares		Grant-Date
				Price
	Unvested at December 31, 2013	697,797		$	7.45
	Granted	744,540		$	4.99
	Forfeited	—		—
	Vested	—		—
	Unvested at March 31, 2014	1,442,337		$	6.18
	RSUs	Number of		Weighted Average
		Shares		Grant-Date
				Price
	Unvested at December 31, 2013	1,076,385		$	9.81
	Granted	714,797		$	4.96
	Forfeited	(14,265	)	$	10.34
	Vested	(27,553	)	$	31.35
	Unvested at March 31, 2014	1,749,364		$	7.48

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	Commitments and Contingencies
	(a)	Future Operating Lease Commitments
	We lease certain office space, trailers and equipment pursuant to lease agreements that have been determined to be operating lease. Remaining annual minimum payments under these leases at March 31, 2014 were as follows:
		Total		Less Than		1 - 3 Years		4 - 5 Years		More Than
				1 Year						5 Years
		(In thousands)
	Operating lease obligations	$	6,000	$	2,576	$	1,992	$	515	$	917
	(b)	Purchase Commitments
	We entered into contractual commitments for the purchase of materials and services from various vendors, primarily in connection with the modernization and expansion efforts at our Molycorp Mountain Pass facility. Future payments for all purchase commitments at March 31, 2014 were as follows:
		Total		Less Than		1 - 3 Years		4 - 5 Years		More Than
				1 Year						5 Years
		(In thousands)
	Purchase obligations and other commitment	$	154,932	$	133,530	$	12,387	$	5,988	$	3,027
	(c)	Labor Contract
	Certain of our employees at our Molycorp Mountain Pass facility are covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the United Steelworkers of America that expires on March 15, 2015. At March 31, 2014, 238 employees, or approximately 61% of the workforce at our Molycorp Mountain Pass facility, were covered by this collective bargaining agreement.
	At March 31, 2014, 170 employees, or approximately 30% of the workforce at our Molycorp Silmet facility, were unionized employees. The contract with the labor union in Estonia is automatically renewed each year unless either party desires to make an amendment. The contract was last amended in February 2012.
	(d)	Reclamation Surety Bonds
	At March 31, 2014, we had placed $28.8 million of surety bonds with California state and regional agencies to secure our Mountain Pass facility closure and reclamation obligations.
	(e)	Purported Class Action and Derivative Lawsuits
	In February 2012, a purported class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against us and certain of our current and former executive officers alleging violations of the federal securities laws. The Consolidated Class Action Complaint filed on July 31, 2012 also names most of our Board members and some of our stockholders as defendants, along with other persons and entities. That Complaint alleges 18 claims for relief arising out of alleged: (1) securities fraud in violation of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, during the proposed class period from February 11, 2011 through November 10, 2011; and (2) materially untrue or misleading statements in registration statements and prospectuses for our public offering of preferred stock in February 2011 and of common stock in June 2011, in violation of the Securities Act of 1933. Our motion to dismiss that Complaint was filed in October 2012 and is pending. We believe that this lawsuit is without merit, and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves against these claims.
	A consolidated shareholder derivative lawsuit filed purportedly on our behalf against us (as a nominal defendant) and certain of our current and former directors, executive officers and shareholders is pending in the Delaware Court of Chancery. In August 2012, a consolidated amended shareholder derivative complaint was filed, asserting causes of action for alleged: (1) breach of fiduciary duty, including the duties of loyalty and due care; (2) breach of fiduciary duty not to trade on or misuse material non-public information; (3) unjust enrichment; and (4) aiding and abetting a breach of fiduciary duty. On our behalf, the plaintiffs in the consolidated derivative action seek, among other things, monetary damages, restitution, and an accounting. The defendants filed motions to dismiss and motions to stay that action in October 2012. Pursuant to an order dated May 15, 2013, the Delaware Court of Chancery stayed the derivative lawsuit pending final disposition of the purported class action lawsuit. On October 9, 2013, certain plaintiffs, on our behalf, filed a Motion to Lift the Stay and for Leave to File an Amended Complaint. All briefs in respect of this motion have been filed, and a hearing on the motion was held on February 7, 2014. Two additional shareholder derivative lawsuits that were filed in the U.S. District Court in Colorado have been dismissed, but the plaintiffs in those cases pursued an appeal of that ruling in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. On August 20, 2013, the Tenth Circuit remanded these cases back to the Colorado District Court. Both we and the plaintiffs have filed their respective briefs in the remanded proceeding and the decision of the Colorado District Court is pending. Subsequently, a different shareholder filed purportedly on our behalf a new shareholder derivative lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Colorado on November 20, 2013. On December 11, 2013, the Colorado District Court sua sponte consolidated the new derivative lawsuit with the two remanded lawsuits, and permitted the plaintiff in the new derivative lawsuit to file a brief in the remanded proceeding. On December 27, 2013, the plaintiff in the new derivative lawsuit filed its brief in the remanded proceeding, and filed a motion to vacate the consolidation order. The decision of the Colorado District Court on each of the remanded proceeding and the motion to vacate the consolidation order is pending. Pursuant to an order the Colorado District Court entered on January 7, 2014, the defendants need not respond to the new derivative lawsuit until the Colorado District Court decides the defendants’ motion to dismiss or stay the remanded proceeding.
	In August 2013, two purported class action lawsuits were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against us and certain of our current and former executive officers, alleging violations of the federal securities laws. The purported class action lawsuits allege claims for relief arising out of alleged securities fraud in violation of the Exchange Act during the proposed class period from August 2, 2012 through August 7, 2013. Pursuant to stipulations and orders of the court dated September 25, 2013 and September 27, 2013, among other things, the deadlines for us and our current and former executive officers to respond to the lawsuits were stayed pending appointment of a lead plaintiff under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Pursuant to an order dated April 2, 2014, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York consolidated the two purported class action lawsuits and appointed a lead plaintiff. The lead plaintiff has until May 19, 2014 to file its consolidated amended complaint in its consolidated claims. We believe that the lawsuits are without merit, and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves against these claims.
	Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation and regulatory proceedings, including the current purported class action lawsuit and derivative lawsuits, we cannot determine with certainty the ultimate outcome of any such litigation or proceedings. If the final resolution of any such litigation or proceedings is unfavorable, our financial condition, operating results and cash flows could be materially affected.

Concentrations

Concentrations	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]	'
Concentrations	'
	Concentrations
	Resources Segment
	There were no significant sales by customer or by product during the first quarter of 2014 and 2013 at the Resources segment.
	Chemicals and Oxides Segment
	Sales of cerium products within the Chemicals and Oxides segment accounted for approximately 10.1% and 11.6% of consolidated revenues in the first quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively. There were no significant sales by customer in this segment in the same interim periods.
	Magnetic Materials and Alloys Segment
	Sales of Neo Powders™ within the Magnetic Materials and Alloys segment were approximately 44.6% and 34.0% of consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. For the same comparative interim periods, sales of Neo Powders™ to Daido Electronics, a subsidiary of one of IMJ’s shareholders, totaled $12.2 million and $8.9 million, respectively. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had accounts receivable from Daido Electronics of $4.1 million and $7.5 million, respectively.
	Rare Metals Segment
	There were no significant sales by product and by customer at the Rare Metals segment in the first quarter of 2014. Sales of tantalum in this segment were approximately 16% of consolidated revenues during the first quarter of 2013.

RelatedParty_Transactions

Related-Party Transactions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Related-Party Transactions	'
	Related-Party Transactions
	We supply Neo Powders™ to Toda Magnequench Magnetic Materials Co. Ltd. (“TMT”), an equity method investee of ours, to produce rare earth magnetic compounds. We then purchase these compounds back from TMT in its normal course of business. There are two other equity method investees with whom we regularly buy and sell products: Keli, which processes rare earth oxides into metals for inclusion in our Neo Powders™, and Ingal Stade, which sells gallium to our rare metals facilities located in Canada and the U.S. We also provide rare metal recycling services to Plansee Holding AG, a privately held Austrian company that is wholly-owned by an Austrian trust, of which one of our Board's directors and other members of his family are beneficiaries.
	During the first quarter of 2014 and 2013, we purchased metals and received services from Keli for a total of $16.9 million and $9.6 million, respectively. Transactions with all other related parties described above were nominal in both interim periods.

Net_Change_in_Operating_Assets

Net Change in Operating Assets and Liabilities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Net Change in Operating Assets and Liabilities	'
Net Change in Operating Assets and Liabilities	'
	Net Change in Operating Assets and Liabilities
	Net change in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions and dispositions, consisted of the following in the first quarter of 2014 and 2013:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Decrease (increase) in operating assets:
	Accounts receivable	$	10,171		$	(10,928	)
	Inventory	(12,157		)	14,367
	Prepaid expenses and other assets	(6,968		)	1,850
	Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
	Accounts payable	(2,065		)	(15,835		)
	Income tax payable	(52		)	5,092
	Interest payable	17,233			(3,746		)
	Asset retirement obligation	(1,125		)	(308		)
	Accrued expenses	(2,822		)	(6,369		)
		$	2,215		$	(15,877	)

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	For assets and liabilities that are required under GAAP to be measured at fair value on a recurring or nonrecurring basis, we refer to a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into the following three broad levels:
	•	Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
	•	Level 2 - Observable inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
	•	Level 3 - Prices or valuation techniques requiring inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
	Our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
		31-Mar-14
		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities				Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
		(Level 1)				(Level 2)		(Level 3)			Total
		(In thousands)
	Assets:
	Cash equivalents	$	117,195			—		—			$	117,195
	Liabilities:
	Derivative liability	—				—		$	5,964		$	5,964
		31-Dec-13
		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities				Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
		(Level 1)				(Level 2)		(Level 3)			Total
		(In thousands)
	Assets:
	Cash equivalents	$	179,052			—		—			$	179,052
	Liabilities:
	Derivative liability	—				—		$	6,089		$	6,089
	The financial assets classified in Level 1 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 consist of money market funds valued based on quoted prices for identical assets in active markets. The derivative liability relates to a share purchase agreement (“SPA”) between NMT Holding GmbH, one of our wholly-owned German subsidiary, and the shareholders of Buss & Buss, a majority-owned subsidiary of ours. The SPA includes a call and a put option on shares of the remaining shareholder and his legal successors. If the call option is exercised by us, a premium is added to the consideration to purchase the underlying shares in Buss & Buss. If the put option is exercised by the remaining shareholder of Buss & Buss or his legal successors, a discount will reduce the cost basis of the securities sold to us. We account for the put option at fair value with changes in fair value recognized currently in earnings. The change in fair value of the put option resulted in a nominal unrealized gain for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, which was recognized in "Interest expense" in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The technique used to fair value the derivative liability classified in Level 3 is the income approach based on a discounted cash flow model.
	The following table presents the fair value of financial liabilities we report at their carrying value:
				31-Mar-14						31-Dec-13
		Classification		Carrying Value			Fair Value			Carrying Value			Fair Value
				(In thousands)
	Long-term debt
	3.25% Convertible Notes due June 2016	(Level 1)		$	209,211		$	179,515		$	207,028		$	161,771
	6.00% Convertible Notes due September 2017	(Level 1)		350,594			339,273			346,708			312,570
	5.50% Convertible Notes due February 2018	(Level 1)		149,471			153,503			148,198			164,015
	10% Senior Secured Notes due June 2020	(Level 1)		637,788			643,500			637,435			646,750
	Total long-term debt			$	1,347,064		$	1,315,791		$	1,339,369		$	1,285,106
	The fair value of the long-term debt listed above is based on the last available market trade of each reporting period. The Debentures are not actively traded, and the difference between their carrying value and fair value is impractical to estimate. The carrying amount of certain other financial instruments, such as trade accounts receivables, trade accounts payable, accrued expenses and bank loans approximate fair value and, therefore, have been excluded from the table above.

Subsidiary_Guarantor_Financial

Subsidiary Guarantor Financial Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Subsidiary Guarantor Financial Information	'
		Subsidiary Guarantor Financial Information
	The Senior Notes are jointly, severally and unconditionally guaranteed by all of Molycorp, Inc.'s existing and future domestic material subsidiaries, as defined in the indenture governing the Senior Notes. The Senior Notes guarantee of a guarantor will automatically terminate, and the obligations of such guarantor under the Senior Notes guarantee will be unconditionally released and discharged, upon (all terms as defined in the indenture governing the Senior Notes):
	-1	any sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition of a majority of the capital stock of (including by way of consolidation or merger) such guarantor by Molycorp or any restricted subsidiary to any person or persons, as a result of which such guarantor is no longer a direct or indirect subsidiary of Molycorp;
	-2	any sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all assets of such guarantor that results in such guarantor having no assets;
	-3	the designation by Molycorp of such guarantor as an unrestricted subsidiary; or
	-4	defeasance or discharge of the Senior Notes;
	provided that any such event occurs in accordance with all other applicable provisions of the indenture.
	Presented below are the condensed consolidating financial statements of Molycorp, Inc. (“Parent”) as issuer, its combined guarantor subsidiaries and its combined non-guarantor subsidiaries, which are presented as an alternative to providing separate financial statements for the guarantors. The accounts of the Parent, the guarantor and non-guarantor subsidiaries are presented using the equity method of accounting for investments in subsidiaries for purposes of these condensed consolidating financial statements only. Certain of the prior periods separate financial information has been reclassified to conform to the presentation of the most recent period herein disclosed.
		At March 31, 2014
		(in thousands)
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets	Parent			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Molycorp, Inc. consolidated
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	110,169		$	4,256		$	121,625		$	—		$	236,050
	Trade accounts receivable, net	—			2,103			49,488			—			51,591
	Inventory	—			30,985			135,645			—			166,630
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	—			18,119			16,735			—			34,854
	Total current assets	110,169			55,463			323,493			—			489,125
	Non-current assets:
	Deposits	2,062			23,943			—			—			26,005
	Property, plant and equipment, net	—			1,616,807			139,283			—			1,756,090
	Inventory	—			24,996			—			—			24,996
	Intangible assets, net	—			426			324,538			—			324,964
	Investments	—			32,427			14,725			—			47,152
	Goodwill	—			—			228,750			—			228,750
	Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	488,565			122,172			—			(610,737		)	—
	Intercompany accounts receivable	2,031,773			—			37,083			(2,068,856		)	—
	Other non-current assets	—			756			5,798			—			6,554
	Total non-current assets	2,522,400			1,821,527			750,177			(2,679,593		)	2,414,511
	Total assets	$	2,632,569		$	1,876,990		$	1,073,670		$	(2,679,593	)	$	2,903,636
	Current liabilities:
	Trade accounts payable	$	—		$	31,147		$	32,523		$	—		$	63,670
	Accrued expenses	27,694			13,014			14,718			—			55,426
	Debt and capital lease obligations	—			2,744			14,141			—			16,885
	Other current liabilities	—			530			3,052			—			3,582
	Total current liabilities	27,694			47,435			64,434			—			139,563
	Non-current liabilities:
	Asset retirement obligation	—			16,218			—			—			16,218
	Deferred tax liabilities	—			—			79,284			—			79,284
	Debt and capital lease obligations	1,347,064			20,167			4,693			—			1,371,924
	Intercompany accounts payable	—			2,068,856			—			(2,068,856		)	—
	Other non-current liabilities	—			1,408			8,442			—			9,850
	Total non-current liabilities	1,347,064			2,106,649			92,419			(2,068,856		)	1,477,276
	Total liabilities	$	1,374,758		$	2,154,084		$	156,853		$	(2,068,856	)	$	1,616,839
	Stockholders’ equity:
	Common stock	245			—			—			—			245
	Additional paid-in capital	2,191,404			149,857			1,315,426			(1,465,283		)	2,191,404
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(7,303		)	—			(7,303		)	7,303			(7,303		)
	Accumulated deficit	(926,535		)	(426,951		)	(420,292		)	847,243			(926,535		)
	Total Molycorp stockholders’ equity	1,257,811			(277,094		)	887,831			(610,737		)	1,257,811
	Noncontrolling interests	—			—			28,986			—			28,986
	Total stockholders’ equity	1,257,811			(277,094		)	916,817			(610,737		)	1,286,797
	Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,632,569		$	1,876,990		$	1,073,670		$	(2,679,593	)	$	2,903,636
		At December 31, 2013
		(In thousands)
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets	Parent			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Molycorp, Inc. consolidated
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	169,145		$	6,467		$	138,705		$	—		$	314,317
	Trade accounts receivable, net	—			4,990			56,767			—			61,757
	Inventory	—			32,307			139,476			—			171,783
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	—			15,833			13,377			—			29,210
	Total current assets	169,145			59,597			348,325			—			577,067
	Non-current assets:
	Deposits	1,754			24,243			—			—			25,997
Property, plant and equipment, net	—			1,620,851			142,023			—			1,762,874
Inventory	—			25,329			—			—			25,329
Intangible assets, net	—			442			330,425			—			330,867
Investments	—			34,134			14,741			—			48,875
Goodwill	—			—			228,750			—			228,750
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	532,767			121,849			—			(654,616		)	—
Intercompany accounts receivable	2,001,583			—			—			(2,001,583		)	—
Other non-current assets	—			771			6,272			—			7,043
Total non-current assets	2,536,104			1,827,619			722,211			(2,656,199		)	2,429,735
Total assets	$	2,705,249		$	1,887,216		$	1,070,536		$	(2,656,199	)	$	3,006,802
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	$	—		$	49,702		$	34,747		$	—		$	84,449
Accrued expenses	18,158			13,782			16,561			—			48,501
Debt and capital lease obligations	—			2,234			14,128			—			16,362
Other current liabilities	—			617			3,446			—			4,063
Total current liabilities	18,158			66,335			68,882			—			153,375
Non-current liabilities:
Asset retirement obligation	—			16,966			—			—			16,966
Deferred tax liabilities	—			—			85,481			—			85,481
Debt and capital lease obligations	1,339,368			19,355			5,193			—			1,363,916
Intercompany accounts payable	—			1,999,562			2,021			(2,001,583		)	—
Other non-current liabilities	—			1,393			8,609			—			10,002
Total non-current liabilities	1,339,368			2,037,276			101,304			(2,001,583		)	1,476,365
Total liabilities	$	1,357,526		$	2,103,611		$	170,186		$	(2,001,583	)	$	1,629,740
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock	241			—			—			—			241
Preferred stock	2			—			—			—			2
Additional paid-in capital	2,194,405			149,857			1,315,426			(1,465,283		)	2,194,405
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(6,451		)	—			(6,451		)	6,451			(6,451		)
Accumulated deficit	(840,474		)	(366,252		)	(437,964		)	804,216			(840,474		)
Total Molycorp stockholders’ equity	1,347,723			(216,395		)	871,011			(654,616		)	1,347,723
Noncontrolling interests	—			—			29,339			—			29,339
Total stockholders’ equity	1,347,723			(216,395		)	900,350			(654,616		)	1,377,062
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,705,249		$	1,887,216		$	1,070,536		$	(2,656,199	)	$	3,006,802
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	(in thousands)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income	Parent			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Molycorp, Inc. consolidated
Revenues	$	—		$	17,230		$	113,733		$	(12,437	)	$	118,526
Costs of sales:
Costs excluding depreciation and amortization	—			(53,379		)	(84,531		)	12,437			(125,473		)
Depreciation and amortization	—			(12,127		)	(4,020		)	—			(16,147		)
Gross (loss) profit	—			(48,276		)	25,182			—			(23,094		)
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	(240		)	(8,158		)	(9,558		)	—			(17,956		)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	—			(1,045		)	(6,156		)	—			(7,201		)
Research and development	—			(143		)	(2,623		)	—			(2,766		)
Operating (loss) income	(240		)	(57,622		)	6,845			—			(51,017		)
Other (expense) income:
Other (expense) income	(18,271		)	16			18,729			—			474
Interest (expense) income, net of capitalized interest	(34,555		)	(1,205		)	121			—			(35,639		)
Interest income (expense) from intercompany notes	10,355			(504		)	(9,851		)	—			—
Equity (loss) income from consolidated subsidiaries	(43,350		)	323			—			43,027			—
(Loss) income before income taxes and equity earnings	(86,061		)	(58,992		)	15,844			43,027			(86,182		)
Income tax benefit	—			—			1,907			—			1,907
Equity in loss of affiliates	—			(1,707		)	(16		)	—			(1,723		)
Net (loss) income	(86,061		)	(60,699		)	17,735			43,027			(85,998		)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(63		)	—			(63		)
Net (loss) income attributable to Molycorp stockholders	$	(86,061	)	$	(60,699	)	$	17,672		$	43,027		$	(86,061	)
Net (loss) income	$	(86,061	)	$	(60,699	)	$	17,735		$	43,027		$	(85,998	)
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	—			—			(852		)	—			(852		)
Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(86,061	)	$	(60,699	)	$	16,883		$	43,027		$	(86,850	)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to:
Molycorp stockholders	(86,061		)	(60,699		)	16,946			43,027			(86,787		)
Noncontrolling interest	—			—			(63		)	—			(63		)
	$	(86,061	)	$	(60,699	)	$	16,883		$	43,027		$	(86,850	)
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
	(in thousands)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income	Parent			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Molycorp, Inc. consolidated
Revenues	$	—		$	21,609		$	134,147		$	(10,358	)	$	145,398
Costs of sales:
Costs excluding depreciation and amortization	—			(45,329		)	(100,560		)	10,358			(135,531		)
Depreciation and amortization	—			(7,430		)	(6,742		)	—			(14,172		)
Gross (loss) profit	—			(31,150		)	26,845			—			(4,305		)
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	—			(17,016		)	(9,535		)	—			(26,551		)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	—			(1,709		)	(6,501		)	—			(8,210		)
Research and development	—			(1,960		)	(4,445		)	—			(6,405		)
Operating (loss) income	—			(51,835		)	6,364			—			(45,471		)
Other (expense) income:
Other expense	—			—			(451		)	—			(451		)
Interest (expense) income, net of capitalized interest	(11,139		)	(2,060		)	1,550			—			(11,649		)
Interest income (expense) from intercompany notes	9,651			1,644			(11,295		)	—			—
Equity (loss) income from consolidated subsidiaries	(43,367		)	1,078			—			42,289			—
Loss before income taxes and equity earnings	(44,855		)	(51,173		)	(3,832		)	42,289			(57,571		)
Income tax benefit (loss)	5,884			19,450			(2,844		)	—			22,490
Equity in loss of affiliates	—			(1,998		)	(1,074		)	—			(3,072		)
Net loss	(38,971		)	(33,721		)	(7,750		)	42,289			(38,153		)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(818		)	—			(818		)
Net loss attributable to Molycorp stockholders	$	(38,971	)	$	(33,721	)	$	(8,568	)	$	42,289		$	(38,971	)
Net loss	$	(38,971	)	$	(33,721	)	$	(7,750	)	$	42,289		$	(38,153	)
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	—			—			(3,294		)	—			(3,294		)
Comprehensive loss	$	(38,971	)	$	(33,721	)	$	(11,044	)	$	42,289		$	(41,447	)
Comprehensive loss attributable to:
Molycorp stockholders	(38,971		)	(33,721		)	(10,226		)	42,289			(40,629		)
Noncontrolling interest	—			—			(818		)	—			(818		)
	$	(38,971	)	$	(33,721	)	$	(11,044	)	$	42,289		$	(41,447	)
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	(in thousands)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows	Parent			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Molycorp, Inc. consolidated
Net cash used in operating activities	$	(33,089	)	$	(829	)	$	(11,867	)	$	—		$	(45,785	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Intercompany advances made	(55,041		)	—			—			55,041			—
Repayments from non-guarantor	32,000			—			—			(32,000		)	—
Capital expenditures	—			(27,943		)	(1,809		)	—			(29,752		)
Other investing activities	—			—			493			—			493
Net cash used in investing activities	(23,041		)	(27,943		)	(1,316		)	23,041			(29,259		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of debt	—			—			(489		)	—			(489		)
Payments of preferred dividends	(2,846		)	—			—			—			(2,846		)
Dividend paid to noncontrolling interests	—			—			(435		)	—			(435		)
Repayments to parent	—			—			(32,000		)	32,000			—
Intercompany advances owed	—			25,238			29,803			(55,041		)	—
Other financing activities	—			1,323			—			—			1,323
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(2,846		)	26,561			(3,121		)	(23,041		)	(2,447		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	—			—			(776		)	—			(776		)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(58,976		)	(2,211		)	(17,080		)	—			(78,267		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	169,145			6,467			138,705			—			314,317
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	110,169		$	4,256		$	121,625		$	—		$	236,050
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
	(in thousands)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows	Parent			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Molycorp, Inc. consolidated
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	17,211		$	(58,035	)	$	4,196		$	—		$	(36,628	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Loans to guarantor	—			—			(40,000		)	40,000			—
Intercompany advances made	(193,454		)	—			—			193,454			—
Loans to non-guarantor	—			(1,300		)	—			1,300			—
Investment in joint ventures	—			(3,423		)	—			—			(3,423		)
Capital expenditures	—			(174,703		)	(6,400		)	—			(181,103		)
Other investing activities	—			—			(90		)	—			(90		)
Net cash used in investing activities	(193,454		)	(179,426		)	(46,490		)	234,754			(184,616		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of debt	—			—			(11,108		)	—			(11,108		)
Net proceeds from sale of common stock	248,147			—			—			—			248,147
Issuance of 5.50% Convertible Notes	165,600			—			—			—			165,600
Payments of preferred dividends	(2,846		)	—			—			—			(2,846		)
Dividend paid to noncontrolling interests	—			—			(1,286		)	—			(1,286		)
Borrowings from non-guarantor	—			40,000			—			(40,000		)	—
Borrowing from guarantor	—			—			1,300			(1,300		)	—
Intercompany advances owed	—			182,491			10,963			(193,454		)	—
Other financing activities	—			(79		)	—			—			(79		)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	410,901			222,412			(131		)	(234,754		)	398,428
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	—			—			(140		)	—			(140		)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	234,658			(15,049		)	(42,565		)	—			177,044
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	16,560			18,020			193,210			—			227,790
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	251,218		$	2,971		$	150,645		$	—		$	404,834

Basis_of_Presentation_Policies

Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	Basis of Presentation
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and Regulation S-X promulgated under the Exchange Act, and reflect all adjustments that are normal and recurring in nature, which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for the fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows at March 31, 2014, and for all periods presented. While the December 31, 2013 balance sheet information was derived from our audited financial statements, for interim periods, GAAP and Regulation S-X do not require all information and related disclosures that are required in the annual financial statements and, as a result, all disclosures required by GAAP and Regulation S-X for annual financial statements have not been included in this report. Therefore, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2013 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 3, 2014.
	The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Investments in joint ventures where we do not exert control, but have the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee, are accounted for under the equity method of investment. All other investments are accounted at cost.
	The prior period amount of "Equity in results of affiliates" in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows has been broken out from "Other operating adjustments" to conform to the current period presentation. Additionally, nominal prior period revenues and expenses related to an asset disposal that we finalized in the first quarter of 2014, have been reclassified to "Other expense" in the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. Such reclassifications did not affect our results of operations.
Use of Estimates	'
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of the financial statements, in accordance with GAAP, requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions. Significant estimates we made in the accompanying financial statements include the collectability of accounts receivable, the recoverability of inventory, the useful lives and recoverability of long-lived assets such as property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, goodwill and investments, capital leases, uncertain tax positions, the realizability of deferred tax assets, and the adequacy of the asset retirement obligation.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740), Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). Based on this update, an entity is required to present unrecognized tax benefits as a decrease in a net operating loss, similar tax loss or tax credit carryforward if certain criteria are met. The determination of whether a deferred tax asset is available is based on the unrecognized tax benefit and the deferred tax asset that exists at the reporting date and presumes disallowance of the tax position at the reporting date. This guidance will eliminate the diversity in practice in the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits but will not alter the way in which entities assess deferred tax assets for realizability. The amendments are effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The amendments were applied prospectively to unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. The adoption of this updated guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements and related disclosures.
	In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830), Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). The amendments specify that a cumulative translation adjustment ("CTA") should be released into earnings when an entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets within a consolidated foreign entity and the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity. For sales of an equity method investment that is a foreign entity, a pro rata portion of CTA attributable to the investment would be recognized in earnings when the investment is sold. When an entity sells either a part or all of its investment in a consolidated foreign entity, CTA would be recognized in earnings only if the sale results in the parent no longer having a controlling financial interest in the foreign entity. In addition, CTA should be recognized in earnings in a business combination achieved in stages (i.e., a step acquisition). The amendments are effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The amendments were to be applied prospectively to derecognition events occurring after the effective date. However, since we did not have any derecognition events in the three months ended March 31, 2014, the adoption of this updated guidance did not impact on our financial statements and related disclosures.

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of segment information	'
	Three months ended March 31, 2014	Resources			Chemicals and Oxides			Magnetic Materials and Alloys			Rare Metals			Corporate and other (a)			Eliminations(b)			Total Molycorp, Inc.
		(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	External	$	3,111		$	40,271		$	54,720		$	20,424					$	—		$	118,526
	Inter-segment	12,453			6,285			1,218			—						(19,956		)	—
	Total revenues	$	15,564		$	46,556		$	55,938		$	20,424					$	(19,956	)	$	118,526
	OIBDA	$	(36,445	)	$	3,299		$	13,676		$	(70	)
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion	(13,091		)	(3,872		)	(4,237		)	(2,093		)
	Operating (loss) income	$	(49,536	)	$	(573	)	$	9,439		$	(2,163	)	$	(7,109	)	$	(1,075	)	$	(51,017	)
	Other income																			474
	Interest expense, net of capitalized interest																			(35,639		)
	Loss before income taxes and equity earnings																			$	(86,182	)
	Three months ended March 31, 2013	Resources			Chemicals and Oxides			Magnetic Materials and Alloys			Rare Metals			Corporate and other (a)			Eliminations(b)			Total Molycorp, Inc.
		(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	External	$	14,658		$	49,600		$	54,678		$	26,462					$	—		$	145,398
	Inter-segment	2,645			14,610			—			—						(17,255		)	—
	Total revenues	$	17,303		$	64,210		$	54,678		$	26,462					$	(17,255	)	$	145,398
	OIBDA	$	(31,073	)	$	2,231		$	12,243		$	5,553
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion	(9,053		)	(5,537		)	(5,480		)	(2,253		)
	Operating (loss) income	$	(40,126	)	$	(3,306	)	$	6,763		$	3,300		$	(11,564	)	$	(538	)	$	(45,471	)
	Other expense																			(451		)
	Interest expense, net of capitalized interest																			(11,649		)
	Loss before income taxes and equity earnings																			$	(57,571	)
	(a)	Includes business development costs, personnel costs, stock-based compensation, accounting and legal fees, occupancy expense, information technology costs and interest expense.
	(b)	Consist of inter-segment sales and gross profits elimination as well as eliminations of lower of cost or market adjustments related to inter-segment inventory.

Inventory_Tables

Inventory (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of inventory	'
	At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, our inventory consisted of the following:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(In thousands)
	Current:
	Concentrate stockpiles	$	30	$	24
	Raw materials	49,613		42,627
	Work in process	38,340		41,962
	Finished goods	56,672		65,662
	Materials and supplies	21,975		21,508
	Total current	$	166,630	$	171,783
	Long-term:
	Concentrate stockpiles	$	4	$	4
	Raw materials	24,992		25,325
	Total long-term	$	24,996	$	25,329

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_n1

Property, Plant and Equipment, net (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Schedule of property, plant and equipment	'
	At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, our property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:
		March 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Land	$	12,841		$	12,822
	Land improvements	304,372			327,029
	Buildings and improvements	557,839			418,510
	Plant and equipment	448,774			288,603
	Vehicles	2,968			2,986
	Computer software	12,424			12,424
	Furniture and fixtures	1,044			1,044
	Construction in progress (a)	486,913			755,107
	Natural gas delivery facility under capital lease	15,658			15,658
	Mining equipment under capital lease	9,287			7,370
	Mineral properties	23,912			23,999
	Property, plant and equipment at cost	1,876,032			1,865,552
	Less accumulated depreciation	(119,942		)	(102,678		)
	Property, plant and equipment, net	$	1,756,090		$	1,762,874
	(a)	Primarily related to expenditures at the Molycorp Mountain Pass facility.

Debt_and_Capital_Lease_Obligat1

Debt and Capital Lease Obligations (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments	'
	The following table provides a summary of the current and non-current portions of our debt outstanding and capital lease obligations at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
		March 31, 2014							31-Dec-13
		Current				Non-Current			Current				Non-Current
		(In thousands)
	Bank loans due May 2014 - September 2017	$	14,140			$	2,344		$	14,128			$	2,699
	3.25% Convertible Notes, net of discount, due June 2016	—				209,211			—				207,028
	6.00% Convertible Notes, net of discount, due June 2017	—				350,594			—				346,708
	5.00% Debentures, net of discount, due December 2017	—				2,349			—				2,493
	5.50% Convertible Notes, net of discount, due February 2018	—				149,471			—				148,198
	10% Senior Notes, net of discount, due June 2020	—				637,788			—				637,435
	Total debt	14,140				1,351,757			14,128				1,344,561
	Capital lease obligations	2,745				20,167			2,234				19,355
	Total debt and capital lease obligations	$	16,885			$	1,371,924		$	16,362			$	1,363,916
Schedule of Long-term Debt Conversions	'
	The following table presents a reconciliation of the principal amount to the net carrying value for each of our Convertible Notes and our Senior Notes at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and provides the interest cost of each instrument for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:
		3.25% Convertible Notes						6.00% Convertible Notes							5.50% Convertible Notes					10% Senior Notes
		March 31,			December 31,			March 31,			December 31,				March 31,			December 31,		March 31,			December 31,
		2014			2013			2014			2013				2014			2013		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Principal amount	$	230,000		$	230,000		$	414,000		$	414,000			$	172,500		172,500		$	650,000		$	650,000
	Unamortized debt discount	(20,789		)	(22,972		)	(63,406		)	(67,292		)		(23,029		)	(24,302	)	(12,212		)	(12,565		)
	Net carrying amount	$	209,211		$	207,028		$	350,594		$	346,708			$	149,471		148,198		$	637,788		$	637,435
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013			2014			2013				2014			2013		2014			2013
	Interest cost (a)	$	4,058		$	3,920		$	10,150		$	9,813			$	3,659		2,297		$	16,639		$	16,605
	(a) Interest cost includes the coupon interest, accretion of the initial equity component of the convertible notes (3.25% - $36,227; 6.00% - $68,695; and 5.50% - $21,815), accretion of the underwriting discounts and amortization of the issuance costs allocated to the liability component.

StockBased_Compensation_Tables

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
PBRSUs	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Summary of Activity Related to Stock-based Awards	'
	The following tables summarize the stock-based awards with significant activity for the quarter ended March 31, 2014:
	PBRSUs	Number of		Weighted Average
		Shares		Grant-Date
				Price
	Unvested at December 31, 2013	697,797		$	7.45
	Granted	744,540		$	4.99
	Forfeited	—		—
	Vested	—		—
	Unvested at March 31, 2014	1,442,337		$	6.18
RSUs	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Summary of Activity Related to Stock-based Awards	'
	RSUs	Number of		Weighted Average
		Shares		Grant-Date
				Price
	Unvested at December 31, 2013	1,076,385		$	9.81
	Granted	714,797		$	4.96
	Forfeited	(14,265	)	$	10.34
	Vested	(27,553	)	$	31.35
	Unvested at March 31, 2014	1,749,364		$	7.48

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of future minimum rental payments for operating leases	'
	. Remaining annual minimum payments under these leases at March 31, 2014 were as follows:
		Total		Less Than		1 - 3 Years		4 - 5 Years		More Than
				1 Year						5 Years
		(In thousands)
	Operating lease obligations	$	6,000	$	2,576	$	1,992	$	515	$	917
Schedule of minimum payments for purchase obligations	'
	Future payments for all purchase commitments at March 31, 2014 were as follows:
		Total		Less Than		1 - 3 Years		4 - 5 Years		More Than
				1 Year						5 Years
		(In thousands)
	Purchase obligations and other commitment	$	154,932	$	133,530	$	12,387	$	5,988	$	3,027

Net_Change_in_Operating_Assets1

Net Change in Operating Assets and Liabilities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Net Change in Operating Assets and Liabilities	'
Schedule of changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions and dispositions	'
	Net change in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions and dispositions, consisted of the following in the first quarter of 2014 and 2013:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
		(In thousands)
	Decrease (increase) in operating assets:
	Accounts receivable	$	10,171		$	(10,928	)
	Inventory	(12,157		)	14,367
	Prepaid expenses and other assets	(6,968		)	1,850
	Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
	Accounts payable	(2,065		)	(15,835		)
	Income tax payable	(52		)	5,092
	Interest payable	17,233			(3,746		)
	Asset retirement obligation	(1,125		)	(308		)
	Accrued expenses	(2,822		)	(6,369		)
		$	2,215		$	(15,877	)

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring	'
	Our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
		31-Mar-14
		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities				Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
		(Level 1)				(Level 2)		(Level 3)			Total
		(In thousands)
	Assets:
	Cash equivalents	$	117,195			—		—			$	117,195
	Liabilities:
	Derivative liability	—				—		$	5,964		$	5,964
		31-Dec-13
		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities				Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
		(Level 1)				(Level 2)		(Level 3)			Total
		(In thousands)
	Assets:
	Cash equivalents	$	179,052			—		—			$	179,052
	Liabilities:
	Derivative liability	—				—		$	6,089		$	6,089
Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping	'
	The following table presents the fair value of financial liabilities we report at their carrying value:
				31-Mar-14						31-Dec-13
		Classification		Carrying Value			Fair Value			Carrying Value			Fair Value
				(In thousands)
	Long-term debt
	3.25% Convertible Notes due June 2016	(Level 1)		$	209,211		$	179,515		$	207,028		$	161,771
	6.00% Convertible Notes due September 2017	(Level 1)		350,594			339,273			346,708			312,570
	5.50% Convertible Notes due February 2018	(Level 1)		149,471			153,503			148,198			164,015
	10% Senior Secured Notes due June 2020	(Level 1)		637,788			643,500			637,435			646,750
	Total long-term debt			$	1,347,064		$	1,315,791		$	1,339,369		$	1,285,106

Subsidiary_Guarantor_Financial1

Subsidiary Guarantor Financial Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Condensed Balance Sheet	'
		At March 31, 2014
		(in thousands)
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets	Parent			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Molycorp, Inc. consolidated
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	110,169		$	4,256		$	121,625		$	—		$	236,050
	Trade accounts receivable, net	—			2,103			49,488			—			51,591
	Inventory	—			30,985			135,645			—			166,630
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	—			18,119			16,735			—			34,854
	Total current assets	110,169			55,463			323,493			—			489,125
	Non-current assets:
	Deposits	2,062			23,943			—			—			26,005
	Property, plant and equipment, net	—			1,616,807			139,283			—			1,756,090
	Inventory	—			24,996			—			—			24,996
	Intangible assets, net	—			426			324,538			—			324,964
	Investments	—			32,427			14,725			—			47,152
	Goodwill	—			—			228,750			—			228,750
	Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	488,565			122,172			—			(610,737		)	—
	Intercompany accounts receivable	2,031,773			—			37,083			(2,068,856		)	—
	Other non-current assets	—			756			5,798			—			6,554
	Total non-current assets	2,522,400			1,821,527			750,177			(2,679,593		)	2,414,511
	Total assets	$	2,632,569		$	1,876,990		$	1,073,670		$	(2,679,593	)	$	2,903,636
	Current liabilities:
	Trade accounts payable	$	—		$	31,147		$	32,523		$	—		$	63,670
	Accrued expenses	27,694			13,014			14,718			—			55,426
	Debt and capital lease obligations	—			2,744			14,141			—			16,885
	Other current liabilities	—			530			3,052			—			3,582
	Total current liabilities	27,694			47,435			64,434			—			139,563
	Non-current liabilities:
	Asset retirement obligation	—			16,218			—			—			16,218
	Deferred tax liabilities	—			—			79,284			—			79,284
	Debt and capital lease obligations	1,347,064			20,167			4,693			—			1,371,924
	Intercompany accounts payable	—			2,068,856			—			(2,068,856		)	—
	Other non-current liabilities	—			1,408			8,442			—			9,850
	Total non-current liabilities	1,347,064			2,106,649			92,419			(2,068,856		)	1,477,276
	Total liabilities	$	1,374,758		$	2,154,084		$	156,853		$	(2,068,856	)	$	1,616,839
	Stockholders’ equity:
	Common stock	245			—			—			—			245
	Additional paid-in capital	2,191,404			149,857			1,315,426			(1,465,283		)	2,191,404
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(7,303		)	—			(7,303		)	7,303			(7,303		)
	Accumulated deficit	(926,535		)	(426,951		)	(420,292		)	847,243			(926,535		)
	Total Molycorp stockholders’ equity	1,257,811			(277,094		)	887,831			(610,737		)	1,257,811
	Noncontrolling interests	—			—			28,986			—			28,986
	Total stockholders’ equity	1,257,811			(277,094		)	916,817			(610,737		)	1,286,797
	Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,632,569		$	1,876,990		$	1,073,670		$	(2,679,593	)	$	2,903,636
		At December 31, 2013
		(In thousands)
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets	Parent			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Molycorp, Inc. consolidated
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	169,145		$	6,467		$	138,705		$	—		$	314,317
	Trade accounts receivable, net	—			4,990			56,767			—			61,757
	Inventory	—			32,307			139,476			—			171,783
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	—			15,833			13,377			—			29,210
	Total current assets	169,145			59,597			348,325			—			577,067
	Non-current assets:
	Deposits	1,754			24,243			—			—			25,997
	Property, plant and equipment, net	—			1,620,851			142,023			—			1,762,874
	Inventory	—			25,329			—			—			25,329
	Intangible assets, net	—			442			330,425			—			330,867
	Investments	—			34,134			14,741			—			48,875
	Goodwill	—			—			228,750			—			228,750
	Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	532,767			121,849			—			(654,616		)	—
	Intercompany accounts receivable	2,001,583			—			—			(2,001,583		)	—
	Other non-current assets	—			771			6,272			—			7,043
Total non-current assets	2,536,104			1,827,619			722,211			(2,656,199		)	2,429,735
Total assets	$	2,705,249		$	1,887,216		$	1,070,536		$	(2,656,199	)	$	3,006,802
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	$	—		$	49,702		$	34,747		$	—		$	84,449
Accrued expenses	18,158			13,782			16,561			—			48,501
Debt and capital lease obligations	—			2,234			14,128			—			16,362
Other current liabilities	—			617			3,446			—			4,063
Total current liabilities	18,158			66,335			68,882			—			153,375
Non-current liabilities:
Asset retirement obligation	—			16,966			—			—			16,966
Deferred tax liabilities	—			—			85,481			—			85,481
Debt and capital lease obligations	1,339,368			19,355			5,193			—			1,363,916
Intercompany accounts payable	—			1,999,562			2,021			(2,001,583		)	—
Other non-current liabilities	—			1,393			8,609			—			10,002
Total non-current liabilities	1,339,368			2,037,276			101,304			(2,001,583		)	1,476,365
Total liabilities	$	1,357,526		$	2,103,611		$	170,186		$	(2,001,583	)	$	1,629,740
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock	241			—			—			—			241
Preferred stock	2			—			—			—			2
Additional paid-in capital	2,194,405			149,857			1,315,426			(1,465,283		)	2,194,405
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(6,451		)	—			(6,451		)	6,451			(6,451		)
Accumulated deficit	(840,474		)	(366,252		)	(437,964		)	804,216			(840,474		)
Total Molycorp stockholders’ equity	1,347,723			(216,395		)	871,011			(654,616		)	1,347,723
Noncontrolling interests	—			—			29,339			—			29,339
Total stockholders’ equity	1,347,723			(216,395		)	900,350			(654,616		)	1,377,062
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,705,249		$	1,887,216		$	1,070,536		$	(2,656,199	)	$	3,006,802
Schedule of Condensed Income Statement and Comprehensive Income	'
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
		(in thousands)
	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income	Parent			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Molycorp, Inc. consolidated
	Revenues	$	—		$	17,230		$	113,733		$	(12,437	)	$	118,526
	Costs of sales:
	Costs excluding depreciation and amortization	—			(53,379		)	(84,531		)	12,437			(125,473		)
	Depreciation and amortization	—			(12,127		)	(4,020		)	—			(16,147		)
	Gross (loss) profit	—			(48,276		)	25,182			—			(23,094		)
	Operating expenses:
	Selling, general and administrative	(240		)	(8,158		)	(9,558		)	—			(17,956		)
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion	—			(1,045		)	(6,156		)	—			(7,201		)
	Research and development	—			(143		)	(2,623		)	—			(2,766		)
	Operating (loss) income	(240		)	(57,622		)	6,845			—			(51,017		)
	Other (expense) income:
	Other (expense) income	(18,271		)	16			18,729			—			474
	Interest (expense) income, net of capitalized interest	(34,555		)	(1,205		)	121			—			(35,639		)
	Interest income (expense) from intercompany notes	10,355			(504		)	(9,851		)	—			—
	Equity (loss) income from consolidated subsidiaries	(43,350		)	323			—			43,027			—
	(Loss) income before income taxes and equity earnings	(86,061		)	(58,992		)	15,844			43,027			(86,182		)
	Income tax benefit	—			—			1,907			—			1,907
	Equity in loss of affiliates	—			(1,707		)	(16		)	—			(1,723		)
	Net (loss) income	(86,061		)	(60,699		)	17,735			43,027			(85,998		)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(63		)	—			(63		)
	Net (loss) income attributable to Molycorp stockholders	$	(86,061	)	$	(60,699	)	$	17,672		$	43,027		$	(86,061	)
	Net (loss) income	$	(86,061	)	$	(60,699	)	$	17,735		$	43,027		$	(85,998	)
	Other comprehensive (loss) income:
	Foreign currency translation adjustments	—			—			(852		)	—			(852		)
	Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(86,061	)	$	(60,699	)	$	16,883		$	43,027		$	(86,850	)
	Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to:
	Molycorp stockholders	(86,061		)	(60,699		)	16,946			43,027			(86,787		)
	Noncontrolling interest	—			—			(63		)	—			(63		)
		$	(86,061	)	$	(60,699	)	$	16,883		$	43,027		$	(86,850	)
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
		(in thousands)
	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income	Parent			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Molycorp, Inc. consolidated
	Revenues	$	—		$	21,609		$	134,147		$	(10,358	)	$	145,398
	Costs of sales:
	Costs excluding depreciation and amortization	—			(45,329		)	(100,560		)	10,358			(135,531		)
	Depreciation and amortization	—			(7,430		)	(6,742		)	—			(14,172		)
	Gross (loss) profit	—			(31,150		)	26,845			—			(4,305		)
	Operating expenses:
	Selling, general and administrative	—			(17,016		)	(9,535		)	—			(26,551		)
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion	—			(1,709		)	(6,501		)	—			(8,210		)
	Research and development	—			(1,960		)	(4,445		)	—			(6,405		)
	Operating (loss) income	—			(51,835		)	6,364			—			(45,471		)
	Other (expense) income:
	Other expense	—			—			(451		)	—			(451		)
	Interest (expense) income, net of capitalized interest	(11,139		)	(2,060		)	1,550			—			(11,649		)
	Interest income (expense) from intercompany notes	9,651			1,644			(11,295		)	—			—
	Equity (loss) income from consolidated subsidiaries	(43,367		)	1,078			—			42,289			—
	Loss before income taxes and equity earnings	(44,855		)	(51,173		)	(3,832		)	42,289			(57,571		)
	Income tax benefit (loss)	5,884			19,450			(2,844		)	—			22,490
	Equity in loss of affiliates	—			(1,998		)	(1,074		)	—			(3,072		)
	Net loss	(38,971		)	(33,721		)	(7,750		)	42,289			(38,153		)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(818		)	—			(818		)
	Net loss attributable to Molycorp stockholders	$	(38,971	)	$	(33,721	)	$	(8,568	)	$	42,289		$	(38,971	)
	Net loss	$	(38,971	)	$	(33,721	)	$	(7,750	)	$	42,289		$	(38,153	)
	Other comprehensive income:
	Foreign currency translation adjustments	—			—			(3,294		)	—			(3,294		)
	Comprehensive loss	$	(38,971	)	$	(33,721	)	$	(11,044	)	$	42,289		$	(41,447	)
	Comprehensive loss attributable to:
	Molycorp stockholders	(38,971		)	(33,721		)	(10,226		)	42,289			(40,629		)
	Noncontrolling interest	—			—			(818		)	—			(818		)
	$	(38,971	)	$	(33,721	)	$	(11,044	)	$	42,289		$	(41,447	)
Schedule of Condensed Cash Flow Statement	'
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
		(in thousands)
	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows	Parent			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Molycorp, Inc. consolidated
	Net cash used in operating activities	$	(33,089	)	$	(829	)	$	(11,867	)	$	—		$	(45,785	)
	Cash flows from investing activities:
	Intercompany advances made	(55,041		)	—			—			55,041			—
	Repayments from non-guarantor	32,000			—			—			(32,000		)	—
	Capital expenditures	—			(27,943		)	(1,809		)	—			(29,752		)
	Other investing activities	—			—			493			—			493
	Net cash used in investing activities	(23,041		)	(27,943		)	(1,316		)	23,041			(29,259		)
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	Repayments of debt	—			—			(489		)	—			(489		)
	Payments of preferred dividends	(2,846		)	—			—			—			(2,846		)
	Dividend paid to noncontrolling interests	—			—			(435		)	—			(435		)
	Repayments to parent	—			—			(32,000		)	32,000			—
	Intercompany advances owed	—			25,238			29,803			(55,041		)	—
	Other financing activities	—			1,323			—			—			1,323
	Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(2,846		)	26,561			(3,121		)	(23,041		)	(2,447		)
	Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	—			—			(776		)	—			(776		)
	Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(58,976		)	(2,211		)	(17,080		)	—			(78,267		)
	Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	169,145			6,467			138,705			—			314,317
	Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	110,169		$	4,256		$	121,625		$	—		$	236,050
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
		(in thousands)
	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows	Parent			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Molycorp, Inc. consolidated
	Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	17,211		$	(58,035	)	$	4,196		$	—		$	(36,628	)
	Cash flows from investing activities:
	Loans to guarantor	—			—			(40,000		)	40,000			—
	Intercompany advances made	(193,454		)	—			—			193,454			—
	Loans to non-guarantor	—			(1,300		)	—			1,300			—
	Investment in joint ventures	—			(3,423		)	—			—			(3,423		)
	Capital expenditures	—			(174,703		)	(6,400		)	—			(181,103		)
	Other investing activities	—			—			(90		)	—			(90		)
	Net cash used in investing activities	(193,454		)	(179,426		)	(46,490		)	234,754			(184,616		)
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	Repayments of debt	—			—			(11,108		)	—			(11,108		)
	Net proceeds from sale of common stock	248,147			—			—			—			248,147
	Issuance of 5.50% Convertible Notes	165,600			—			—			—			165,600
	Payments of preferred dividends	(2,846		)	—			—			—			(2,846		)
	Dividend paid to noncontrolling interests	—			—			(1,286		)	—			(1,286		)
	Borrowings from non-guarantor	—			40,000			—			(40,000		)	—
	Borrowing from guarantor	—			—			1,300			(1,300		)	—
	Intercompany advances owed	—			182,491			10,963			(193,454		)	—
	Other financing activities	—			(79		)	—			—			(79		)
	Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	410,901			222,412			(131		)	(234,754		)	398,428
	Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	—			—			(140		)	—			(140		)
	Net change in cash and cash equivalents	234,658			(15,049		)	(42,565		)	—			177,044
	Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	16,560			18,020			193,210			—			227,790
	Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	251,218		$	2,971		$	150,645		$	—		$	404,834

Liquidity_and_Capital_Requirem1

Liquidity and Capital Requirements (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Capital Expenditures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$236,050,000	$314,317,000	$404,834,000	$227,790,000
Molycorp Mountain Pass facility	'	'	'	'
Capital Expenditures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Estimated future capital expenditures remainder of 2014	41,000,000	'	'	'
Estimated capital expenditures in 2015	50,000,000	'	'	'
Maintenance and Other Expansion Capital Expenditures	'	'	'	'
Capital Expenditures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Estimated future capital expenditures remainder of 2014	$20,000,000	'	'	'

Segment_Information_Details

Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
	segment
Segment Information	'		'
Number of reportable segments	4		'
Revenues	$118,526		$145,398
Revenues	118,526		145,398
Operating (loss) income	-51,017		-45,471
Other income (expense)	474		-451
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	-35,639		-11,649
Loss before income taxes and equity earnings	-86,182		-57,571
Eliminations	'		'
Segment Information	'		'
Revenues	0	[1]	0	[1]
Revenues	-19,956	[1]	-17,255	[1]
Operating (loss) income	-1,075	[1]	-538	[1]
Reportable Segments | Resources	'		'
Segment Information	'		'
Revenues	3,111		14,658
Revenues	15,564		17,303
OIBDA	-36,445		-31,073
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	-13,091		-9,053
Operating (loss) income	-49,536		-40,126
Reportable Segments | Chemicals and Oxides	'		'
Segment Information	'		'
Revenues	40,271		49,600
Revenues	46,556		64,210
OIBDA	3,299		2,231
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	-3,872		-5,537
Operating (loss) income	-573		-3,306
Reportable Segments | Magnetic Materials and Alloys	'		'
Segment Information	'		'
Revenues	54,720		54,678
Revenues	55,938		54,678
OIBDA	13,676		12,243
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	-4,237		-5,480
Operating (loss) income	9,439		6,763
Reportable Segments | Rare Metals	'		'
Segment Information	'		'
Revenues	20,424		26,462
Revenues	20,424		26,462
OIBDA	-70		5,553
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	-2,093		-2,253
Operating (loss) income	-2,163		3,300
Corporate | Corporate and other	'		'
Segment Information	'		'
Operating (loss) income	-7,109	[2]	-11,564	[2]
Eliminations	'		'
Segment Information	'		'
Revenues	0		0
Eliminations | Resources	'		'
Segment Information	'		'
Revenues	12,453		2,645
Eliminations | Chemicals and Oxides	'		'
Segment Information	'		'
Revenues	6,285		14,610
Eliminations | Magnetic Materials and Alloys	'		'
Segment Information	'		'
Revenues	1,218		0
Eliminations | Rare Metals	'		'
Segment Information	'		'
Revenues	0		0
Eliminations | Eliminations	'		'
Segment Information	'		'
Revenues	($19,956)	[1]	($17,255)	[1]
[1]	Consist of inter-segment sales and gross profits elimination as well as eliminations of lower of cost or market adjustments related to inter-segment inventory.
[2]	Includes business development costs, personnel costs, stock-based compensation, accounting and legal fees, occupancy expense, information technology costs and interest expense.

Inventory_Details

Inventory (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Current:	'	'	'
Concentrate stockpiles	$30,000	'	$24,000
Raw materials	49,613,000	'	42,627,000
Work in process	38,340,000	'	41,962,000
Finished goods	56,672,000	'	65,662,000
Materials and supplies	21,975,000	'	21,508,000
Total current	166,630,000	'	171,783,000
Long-term:	'	'	'
Concentrate stockpiles	4,000	'	4,000
Raw materials	24,992,000	'	25,325,000
Total long-term	24,996,000	'	25,329,000
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'	'
Production costs expensed that would have been allocated to additional tons produced, assuming operations at normal production rates	25,000,000	22,000,000	'
Inventory write-downs	17,371,000	22,125,000	'
Rare earth metals	'	'	'
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'	'
Inventory write-downs	16,200,000	19,700,000	'
Stockpile	'	'	'
Inventory [Line Items]	'	'	'
Inventory write-downs	$1,200,000	$2,400,000	'

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_n2

Property, Plant and Equipment, net (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'		'	'
Capitalized expenditures related to plant modernization and other capitalized costs	$12,300,000		$120,900,000	'
Interest costs capitalized	'		21,500,000	'
Property, plant and equipment at cost	1,876,032,000		'	1,865,552,000
Less accumulated depreciation	-119,942,000		'	-102,678,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,756,090,000		'	1,762,874,000
Land	'		'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'		'	'
Property, plant and equipment at cost	12,841,000		'	12,822,000
Land improvements	'		'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'		'	'
Property, plant and equipment at cost	304,372,000		'	327,029,000
Buildings and improvements	'		'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'		'	'
Property, plant and equipment at cost	557,839,000		'	418,510,000
Plant and equipment	'		'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'		'	'
Property, plant and equipment at cost	448,774,000		'	288,603,000
Vehicles	'		'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'		'	'
Property, plant and equipment at cost	2,968,000		'	2,986,000
Computer software	'		'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'		'	'
Property, plant and equipment at cost	12,424,000		'	12,424,000
Furnitures and fixtures	'		'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'		'	'
Property, plant and equipment at cost	1,044,000		'	1,044,000
Construction in progress	'		'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'		'	'
Property, plant and equipment at cost	486,913,000	[1]	'	755,107,000	[1]
Natural gas delivery facility under capital lease	'		'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'		'	'
Natural gas delivery facility under capital lease	15,658,000		'	15,658,000
Mining equipment under capital lease	'		'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'		'	'
Property, plant and equipment at cost	9,287,000		'	7,370,000
Mineral properties	'		'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'		'	'
Property, plant and equipment at cost	$23,912,000		'	$23,999,000
[1]	Primarily related to expenditures at the Molycorp Mountain Pass facility.

Debt_and_Capital_Lease_Obligat2

Debt and Capital Lease Obligations (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Long-term Debt, Current and Noncurrent [Abstract]	'	'
Current portion of debt outstanding	$14,140,000	$14,128,000
Noncurrent portion of debt outstanding	1,351,757,000	1,344,561,000
Capital lease obligations, current	2,745,000	2,234,000
Capital lease obligations, Noncurrent	20,167,000	19,355,000
Total debt and Capital lease obligations, Current	16,885,000	16,362,000
Total debt and Capital lease obligations, Non-Current	1,371,924,000	1,363,916,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]	'	'
Remainder of 2014	13,800,000	'
2015	1,500,000	'
2016	230,800,000	'
2017	416,700,000	'
2018	172,500,000	'
Thereafter	650,000,000	'
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]	'	'
Total capital leases payments due	50,400,000	'
Due in remainder of 2014	5,700,000	'
Due in 2015	7,600,000	'
Due in 2016	7,600,000	'
Due in 2017	6,500,000	'
Due in 2018	5,100,000	'
Due thereafter	17,800,000	'
Executory costs	1,600,000	'
Imputed interest	25,800,000	'
Notes Payable to Banks	'	'
Long-term Debt, Current and Noncurrent [Abstract]	'	'
Current portion of debt outstanding	14,140,000	14,128,000
Noncurrent portion of debt outstanding	2,344,000	2,699,000
Weighted average interest rate	3.29%	3.59%
Convertible Debt | 3.25% Convertible Notes	'	'
Long-term Debt, Current and Noncurrent [Abstract]	'	'
Current portion of debt outstanding	0	0
Noncurrent portion of debt outstanding	209,211,000	207,028,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]	'	'
Interest rate	3.25%	'
Convertible Debt | 6.00% Convertible Notes	'	'
Long-term Debt, Current and Noncurrent [Abstract]	'	'
Current portion of debt outstanding	0	0
Noncurrent portion of debt outstanding	350,594,000	346,708,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]	'	'
Interest rate	6.00%	'
Convertible Debt | 5.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018	'	'
Long-term Debt, Current and Noncurrent [Abstract]	'	'
Current portion of debt outstanding	0	0
Noncurrent portion of debt outstanding	149,471,000	148,198,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]	'	'
Interest rate	5.50%	'
Convertible Subordinated Debt | 5.00% Debentures, net of discount	'	'
Long-term Debt, Current and Noncurrent [Abstract]	'	'
Current portion of debt outstanding	0	0
Noncurrent portion of debt outstanding	2,349,000	2,493,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]	'	'
Interest rate	5.00%	'
Senior Notes | 10% Senior Securied Notes, net of discount, due June 2020	'	'
Long-term Debt, Current and Noncurrent [Abstract]	'	'
Current portion of debt outstanding	0	0
Noncurrent portion of debt outstanding	637,788,000	637,435,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]	'	'
Interest rate	10.00%	'
Fair market value of assets excluded from security interest, maximum	$15,000,000	'
Cash collateral excluded from security interest, maximum	105.00%	'
Voting stock of foreign subsidiaries excluded from security interest, minimum	65.00%	'

Debt_and_Capital_Lease_Obligat3

Debt and Capital Lease Obligations Convertible notes other disclosures (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'		'		'
Net carrying amount	$1,351,757		'		$1,344,561
Equity component of convertible debt	'		21,815		'
Convertible Debt | 3.25% Convertible Notes	'		'		'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'		'		'
Principal amount	230,000		'		230,000
Unamortized debt discount	-20,789		'		-22,972
Net carrying amount	209,211		'		207,028
Interest cost	4,058	[1]	3,920	[1]	'
Interest rate	3.25%		'		'
Convertible Debt | 6.00% Convertible Notes	'		'		'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'		'		'
Principal amount	414,000		'		414,000
Unamortized debt discount	-63,406		'		-67,292
Net carrying amount	350,594		'		346,708
Interest cost	10,150	[1]	9,813	[1]	'
Interest rate	6.00%		'		'
Convertible Debt | 5.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018	'		'		'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'		'		'
Principal amount	172,500		'		172,500
Unamortized debt discount	-23,029		'		-24,302
Net carrying amount	149,471		'		148,198
Interest cost	3,659	[1]	2,297	[1]	'
Interest rate	5.50%		'		'
Senior Notes | 10% Senior Securied Notes, net of discount, due June 2020	'		'		'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'		'		'
Principal amount	650,000		'		650,000
Unamortized debt discount	-12,212		'		-12,565
Net carrying amount	637,788		'		637,435
Interest cost	16,639	[1]	16,605	[1]	'
Interest rate	10.00%		'		'
Additional Paid-In Capital	'		'		'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'		'		'
Equity component of convertible debt	'		21,815		'
Additional Paid-In Capital | Convertible Debt | 3.25% Convertible Notes	'		'		'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'		'		'
Equity component of convertible debt	36,227		'		'
Additional Paid-In Capital | Convertible Debt | 6.00% Convertible Notes	'		'		'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'		'		'
Equity component of convertible debt	68,695		'		'
Additional Paid-In Capital | Convertible Debt | 5.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018	'		'		'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'		'		'
Equity component of convertible debt	$21,815		'		'
[1]	Interest cost includes the coupon interest, accretion of the initial equity component of the convertible notes (3.25% - $36,227; 6.00% - $68,695; and 5.50% - $21,815), accretion of the underwriting discounts and amortization of the issuance costs allocated to the liability component.

Income_Taxes_Narrative_Details

Income Taxes Narrative (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Effective income tax rate	2.20%	39.10%

Stockholders_Equity_Details

Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 01, 2014
				Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock	Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock	Common Stock
Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common shares issued	244,838,060	'	240,380,138	'	'	'
Common shares outstanding	244,838,060	'	240,380,138	'	'	'
Preferred stock outstanding	'	'	'	'	2,070,000	'
Dividend rate	'	'	'	'	5.50%	'
Conversion rate for preferred stock to common stock	'	'	'	'	'	2
Shares issued upon conversion of preferred stock	'	'	'	'	'	4,140,000
Cash dividend declared and paid	$2,846	$2,846	'	$2,800	'	'

Activity_Related_to_Restricted

Activity Related to Restricted Stock-based Awards (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
PBRSUs	'
Number of Shares	'
Unvested at the beginning of the period (in shares)	697,797
Granted (in shares)	744,540
Forfeited (in shares)	0
Vested (in shares)	0
Unvested at the end of the period (in shares)	1,442,337
Weighted Average Grant-Date Price	'
Unvested shares at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)	$7.45
Granted (in dollars per share)	$4.99
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$0
Vested (in dollars per share)	$0
Unvested shares at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	$6.18
RSUs	'
Number of Shares	'
Unvested at the beginning of the period (in shares)	1,076,385
Granted (in shares)	714,797
Forfeited (in shares)	-14,265
Vested (in shares)	-27,553
Unvested at the end of the period (in shares)	1,749,364
Weighted Average Grant-Date Price	'
Unvested shares at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)	$9.81
Granted (in dollars per share)	$4.96
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$10.34
Vested (in dollars per share)	$31.35
Unvested shares at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	$7.48

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies Operating Leases (Details) (Office space, trailers and certain equipment, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Office space, trailers and certain equipment	'
Remaining annual minimum payments under operating leases	'
Operating lease obligations, total minimum payments	$6,000
Operating lease obligations, Less Than 1 Year	2,576
Operating lease obligations, 1 -3 Years	1,992
Operating lease obligations, 4 - 5 Years	515
Operating lease obligations, More Than 5 Years	$917

Commitments_and_Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies Purchase Commitments (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Purchase obligations and other commitment, Total	$154,932
Purchase obligations and other commitment, Less Than 1 Year	133,530
Purchase obligations and other commitment, 1 - 3 Years	12,387
Purchase obligations and other commitment, 4 - 5 Years	5,988
Purchase obligations and other commitment, More Than Five Years	$3,027

Commitments_and_Contingencies_3

Commitments and Contingencies Narrative (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified		Class Action Lawsuits filed in US District Court for the Southern District of New York	Employees covered by collective bargaining agreement under facility	Employees covered by collective bargaining agreement under facility
		lawsuit	Workforce	Molycorp Mountain Pass facility
			Molycorp Silmet	Workforce
			employee	employee
Plant Modernization and Expansion Commitments	'	'	'	'
Number of employees	'	'	170	238
Concentration risk (as a percent)	'	'	30.00%	61.00%
Surety bonds placed to secure the closure and reclamation obligations	$28.80	'	'	'
Number of class action lawsuits filed	'	2	'	'

Concentrations_Details

Concentrations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014
			Daido Electronics	Daido Electronics	Neo Powders	Neo Powders	Product Concentration	Product Concentration	Product Concentration	Product Concentration	Product Concentration
					Daido Electronics	Daido Electronics	Cerium products	Cerium products	Neo Powders	Neo Powders	Tantalum Metal
							Chemicals and Oxides	Chemicals and Oxides	Magnetic Materials and Alloys	Magnetic Materials and Alloys	Rare Metals
Concentrations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Entity-wide revenue, major customers	'	'	'	'	'	'	10.10%	11.60%	44.60%	34.00%	16.00%
Sales, net of intercompany transactions	$118,526,000	$145,398,000	'	'	$12,200,000	$8,900,000	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties	'	'	$4,100,000	$7,500,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

RelatedParty_Transactions_Deta

Related-Party Transactions (Details) (Keli, Metals, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Keli | Metals	'	'
Related Party Transactions	'	'
Purchases made from related party	$16.90	$9.60

Net_Change_in_Operating_Assets2

Net Change in Operating Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Decrease (increase) in operating assets:	'	'
Accounts receivable	$10,171	($10,928)
Inventory	-12,157	14,367
Prepaid expenses and other assets	-6,968	1,850
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	-2,065	-15,835
Income tax payable	-52	5,092
Interest payable	17,233	-3,746
Asset retirement obligation	-1,125	-308
Accrued expenses	-2,822	-6,369
Net change in operating assets and liabilities	$2,215	($15,877)

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru2

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets:	'	'
Cash equivalents	$117,195	$179,052
Liabilities:	'	'
Derivative liability	5,964	6,089
Level 1	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Cash equivalents	117,195	179,052
Liabilities:	'	'
Derivative liability	0	0
Level 2	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Cash equivalents	0	0
Liabilities:	'	'
Derivative liability	0	0
Level 3	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Cash equivalents	0	0
Liabilities:	'	'
Derivative liability	$5,964	$6,089

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru3

Fair Value of Financial Instruments Liability Carrying and Fair Value (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Carrying Value	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	$1,347,064	$1,339,369
Fair Value	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	1,315,791	1,285,106
Convertible Debt | Level 1 | 3.25% Convertible Notes | Carrying Value	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	209,211	207,028
Convertible Debt | Level 1 | 3.25% Convertible Notes | Fair Value	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	179,515	161,771
Convertible Debt | Level 1 | 6.00% Convertible Notes | Carrying Value	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	350,594	346,708
Convertible Debt | Level 1 | 6.00% Convertible Notes | Fair Value	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	339,273	312,570
Convertible Debt | Level 1 | 5.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018 | Carrying Value	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	149,471	148,198
Convertible Debt | Level 1 | 5.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018 | Fair Value	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	153,503	164,015
Senior Notes | Level 1 | 10% Senior Securied Notes, net of discount, due June 2020 | Carrying Value	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	637,788	637,435
Senior Notes | Level 1 | 10% Senior Securied Notes, net of discount, due June 2020 | Fair Value	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	$643,500	$646,750

Condensed_Consolidating_Balanc

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$236,050	$314,317	$404,834	$227,790
Trade accounts receivable, net	51,591	61,757	'	'
Inventory	166,630	171,783	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	34,854	29,210	'	'
Total current assets	489,125	577,067	'	'
Non-current assets:	'	'	'	'
Deposits	26,005	25,997	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,756,090	1,762,874	'	'
Inventory	24,996	25,329	'	'
Intangible assets, net	324,964	330,867	'	'
Investments	47,152	48,875	'	'
Goodwill	228,750	228,750	'	'
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	'	'
Intercompany accounts receivable	0	0	'	'
Other non-current assets	6,554	7,043	'	'
Total non-current assets	2,414,511	2,429,735	'	'
Total assets	2,903,636	3,006,802	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Trade accounts payable	63,670	84,449	'	'
Accrued expenses	55,426	48,501	'	'
Debt and capital lease obligations	16,885	16,362	'	'
Other current liabilities	3,582	4,063	'	'
Total current liabilities	139,563	153,375	'	'
Non-current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Asset retirement obligation	16,218	16,966	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities	79,284	85,481	'	'
Debt and capital lease obligations	1,371,924	1,363,916	'	'
Intercompany accounts payable	0	0	'	'
Other non-current liabilities	9,850	10,002	'	'
Total non-current liabilities	1,477,276	1,476,365	'	'
Total liabilities	1,616,839	1,629,740	'	'
Stockholders’ equity:	'	'	'	'
Common stock	245	241	'	'
Preferred stock	0	2	'	'
Additional paid-in capital	2,191,404	2,194,405	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-7,303	-6,451	'	'
Accumulated deficit	-926,535	-840,474	'	'
Total Molycorp stockholders’ equity	1,257,811	1,347,723	'	'
Noncontrolling interests	28,986	29,339	'	'
Total stockholders’ equity	1,286,797	1,377,062	1,466,808	1,251,258
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	2,903,636	3,006,802	'	'
Parent	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	110,169	169,145	251,218	16,560
Trade accounts receivable, net	0	0	'	'
Inventory	0	0	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	0	0	'	'
Total current assets	110,169	169,145	'	'
Non-current assets:	'	'	'	'
Deposits	2,062	1,754	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0	'	'
Inventory	0	0	'	'
Intangible assets, net	0	0	'	'
Investments	0	0	'	'
Goodwill	0	0	'	'
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	488,565	532,767	'	'
Intercompany accounts receivable	2,031,773	2,001,583	'	'
Other non-current assets	0	0	'	'
Total non-current assets	2,522,400	2,536,104	'	'
Total assets	2,632,569	2,705,249	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Trade accounts payable	0	0	'	'
Accrued expenses	27,694	18,158	'	'
Debt and capital lease obligations	0	0	'	'
Other current liabilities	0	0	'	'
Total current liabilities	27,694	18,158	'	'
Non-current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Asset retirement obligation	0	0	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities	0	0	'	'
Debt and capital lease obligations	1,347,064	1,339,368	'	'
Intercompany accounts payable	0	0	'	'
Other non-current liabilities	0	0	'	'
Total non-current liabilities	1,347,064	1,339,368	'	'
Total liabilities	1,374,758	1,357,526	'	'
Stockholders’ equity:	'	'	'	'
Common stock	245	241	'	'
Preferred stock	'	2	'	'
Additional paid-in capital	2,191,404	2,194,405	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-7,303	-6,451	'	'
Accumulated deficit	-926,535	-840,474	'	'
Total Molycorp stockholders’ equity	1,257,811	1,347,723	'	'
Noncontrolling interests	0	0	'	'
Total stockholders’ equity	1,257,811	1,347,723	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	2,632,569	2,705,249	'	'
Guarantor Subsidiaries	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	4,256	6,467	2,971	18,020
Trade accounts receivable, net	2,103	4,990	'	'
Inventory	30,985	32,307	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	18,119	15,833	'	'
Total current assets	55,463	59,597	'	'
Non-current assets:	'	'	'	'
Deposits	23,943	24,243	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,616,807	1,620,851	'	'
Inventory	24,996	25,329	'	'
Intangible assets, net	426	442	'	'
Investments	32,427	34,134	'	'
Goodwill	0	0	'	'
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	122,172	121,849	'	'
Intercompany accounts receivable	0	0	'	'
Other non-current assets	756	771	'	'
Total non-current assets	1,821,527	1,827,619	'	'
Total assets	1,876,990	1,887,216	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Trade accounts payable	31,147	49,702	'	'
Accrued expenses	13,014	13,782	'	'
Debt and capital lease obligations	2,744	2,234	'	'
Other current liabilities	530	617	'	'
Total current liabilities	47,435	66,335	'	'
Non-current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Asset retirement obligation	16,218	16,966	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities	0	0	'	'
Debt and capital lease obligations	20,167	19,355	'	'
Intercompany accounts payable	2,068,856	1,999,562	'	'
Other non-current liabilities	1,408	1,393	'	'
Total non-current liabilities	2,106,649	2,037,276	'	'
Total liabilities	2,154,084	2,103,611	'	'
Stockholders’ equity:	'	'	'	'
Common stock	0	0	'	'
Preferred stock	'	0	'	'
Additional paid-in capital	149,857	149,857	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	0	'	'
Accumulated deficit	-426,951	-366,252	'	'
Total Molycorp stockholders’ equity	-277,094	-216,395	'	'
Noncontrolling interests	0	0	'	'
Total stockholders’ equity	-277,094	-216,395	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	1,876,990	1,887,216	'	'
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	121,625	138,705	150,645	193,210
Trade accounts receivable, net	49,488	56,767	'	'
Inventory	135,645	139,476	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	16,735	13,377	'	'
Total current assets	323,493	348,325	'	'
Non-current assets:	'	'	'	'
Deposits	0	0	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	139,283	142,023	'	'
Inventory	0	0	'	'
Intangible assets, net	324,538	330,425	'	'
Investments	14,725	14,741	'	'
Goodwill	228,750	228,750	'	'
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	'	'
Intercompany accounts receivable	37,083	0	'	'
Other non-current assets	5,798	6,272	'	'
Total non-current assets	750,177	722,211	'	'
Total assets	1,073,670	1,070,536	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Trade accounts payable	32,523	34,747	'	'
Accrued expenses	14,718	16,561	'	'
Debt and capital lease obligations	14,141	14,128	'	'
Other current liabilities	3,052	3,446	'	'
Total current liabilities	64,434	68,882	'	'
Non-current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Asset retirement obligation	0	0	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities	79,284	85,481	'	'
Debt and capital lease obligations	4,693	5,193	'	'
Intercompany accounts payable	0	2,021	'	'
Other non-current liabilities	8,442	8,609	'	'
Total non-current liabilities	92,419	101,304	'	'
Total liabilities	156,853	170,186	'	'
Stockholders’ equity:	'	'	'	'
Common stock	0	0	'	'
Preferred stock	'	0	'	'
Additional paid-in capital	1,315,426	1,315,426	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-7,303	-6,451	'	'
Accumulated deficit	-420,292	-437,964	'	'
Total Molycorp stockholders’ equity	887,831	871,011	'	'
Noncontrolling interests	28,986	29,339	'	'
Total stockholders’ equity	916,817	900,350	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	1,073,670	1,070,536	'	'
Eliminations	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Trade accounts receivable, net	0	0	'	'
Inventory	0	0	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	0	0	'	'
Total current assets	0	0	'	'
Non-current assets:	'	'	'	'
Deposits	0	0	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0	'	'
Inventory	0	0	'	'
Intangible assets, net	0	0	'	'
Investments	0	0	'	'
Goodwill	0	0	'	'
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	-610,737	-654,616	'	'
Intercompany accounts receivable	-2,068,856	-2,001,583	'	'
Other non-current assets	0	0	'	'
Total non-current assets	-2,679,593	-2,656,199	'	'
Total assets	-2,679,593	-2,656,199	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Trade accounts payable	0	0	'	'
Accrued expenses	0	0	'	'
Debt and capital lease obligations	0	0	'	'
Other current liabilities	0	0	'	'
Total current liabilities	0	0	'	'
Non-current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Asset retirement obligation	0	0	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities	0	0	'	'
Debt and capital lease obligations	0	0	'	'
Intercompany accounts payable	-2,068,856	-2,001,583	'	'
Other non-current liabilities	0	0	'	'
Total non-current liabilities	-2,068,856	-2,001,583	'	'
Total liabilities	-2,068,856	-2,001,583	'	'
Stockholders’ equity:	'	'	'	'
Common stock	0	0	'	'
Preferred stock	'	0	'	'
Additional paid-in capital	-1,465,283	-1,465,283	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	7,303	6,451	'	'
Accumulated deficit	847,243	804,216	'	'
Total Molycorp stockholders’ equity	-610,737	-654,616	'	'
Noncontrolling interests	0	0	'	'
Total stockholders’ equity	-610,737	-654,616	'	'
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	($2,679,593)	($2,656,199)	'	'

Condensed_Consolidating_Statem

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Revenues	$118,526	$145,398
Costs of sales:	'	'
Costs excluding depreciation and amortization	-125,473	-135,531
Depreciation and amortization	-16,147	-14,172
Gross loss	-23,094	-4,305
Operating expenses:	'	'
Selling, general and administrative	-17,956	-26,551
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	-7,201	-8,210
Research and development	-2,766	-6,405
Operating loss	-51,017	-45,471
Other expenses:	'	'
Other income (expense)	474	-451
Interest (expense) income, net of capitalized interest	-35,639	-11,649
Interest income (expense) from intercompany notes	0	0
Equity (loss) income from consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Loss before income taxes and equity earnings	-86,182	-57,571
Income tax benefit	1,907	22,490
Equity in loss of affiliates	-1,723	-3,072
Net loss	-85,998	-38,153
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-63	-818
Net loss attributable to Molycorp stockholders	-86,061	-38,971
Other comprehensive loss:	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-852	-3,294
Comprehensive loss	-86,850	-41,447
Comprehensive loss attributable to:	'	'
Molycorp stockholders	-86,787	-40,629
Noncontrolling interest	-63	-818
Parent	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Revenues	0	0
Costs of sales:	'	'
Costs excluding depreciation and amortization	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Gross loss	0	0
Operating expenses:	'	'
Selling, general and administrative	-240	0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	0	0
Research and development	0	0
Operating loss	-240	0
Other expenses:	'	'
Other income (expense)	-18,271	0
Interest (expense) income, net of capitalized interest	-34,555	-11,139
Interest income (expense) from intercompany notes	10,355	9,651
Equity (loss) income from consolidated subsidiaries	-43,350	-43,367
Loss before income taxes and equity earnings	-86,061	-44,855
Income tax benefit	0	5,884
Equity in loss of affiliates	0	0
Net loss	-86,061	-38,971
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net loss attributable to Molycorp stockholders	-86,061	-38,971
Other comprehensive loss:	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0	0
Comprehensive loss	-86,061	-38,971
Comprehensive loss attributable to:	'	'
Molycorp stockholders	-86,061	-38,971
Noncontrolling interest	0	0
Guarantor Subsidiaries	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Revenues	17,230	21,609
Costs of sales:	'	'
Costs excluding depreciation and amortization	-53,379	-45,329
Depreciation and amortization	-12,127	-7,430
Gross loss	-48,276	-31,150
Operating expenses:	'	'
Selling, general and administrative	-8,158	-17,016
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	-1,045	-1,709
Research and development	-143	-1,960
Operating loss	-57,622	-51,835
Other expenses:	'	'
Other income (expense)	16	0
Interest (expense) income, net of capitalized interest	-1,205	-2,060
Interest income (expense) from intercompany notes	-504	1,644
Equity (loss) income from consolidated subsidiaries	323	1,078
Loss before income taxes and equity earnings	-58,992	-51,173
Income tax benefit	0	19,450
Equity in loss of affiliates	-1,707	-1,998
Net loss	-60,699	-33,721
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net loss attributable to Molycorp stockholders	-60,699	-33,721
Other comprehensive loss:	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0	0
Comprehensive loss	-60,699	-33,721
Comprehensive loss attributable to:	'	'
Molycorp stockholders	-60,699	-33,721
Noncontrolling interest	0	0
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Revenues	113,733	134,147
Costs of sales:	'	'
Costs excluding depreciation and amortization	-84,531	-100,560
Depreciation and amortization	-4,020	-6,742
Gross loss	25,182	26,845
Operating expenses:	'	'
Selling, general and administrative	-9,558	-9,535
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	-6,156	-6,501
Research and development	-2,623	-4,445
Operating loss	6,845	6,364
Other expenses:	'	'
Other income (expense)	18,729	-451
Interest (expense) income, net of capitalized interest	121	1,550
Interest income (expense) from intercompany notes	-9,851	-11,295
Equity (loss) income from consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Loss before income taxes and equity earnings	15,844	-3,832
Income tax benefit	1,907	-2,844
Equity in loss of affiliates	-16	-1,074
Net loss	17,735	-7,750
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-63	-818
Net loss attributable to Molycorp stockholders	17,672	-8,568
Other comprehensive loss:	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-852	-3,294
Comprehensive loss	16,883	-11,044
Comprehensive loss attributable to:	'	'
Molycorp stockholders	16,946	-10,226
Noncontrolling interest	-63	-818
Eliminations	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Revenues	-12,437	-10,358
Costs of sales:	'	'
Costs excluding depreciation and amortization	12,437	10,358
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Gross loss	0	0
Operating expenses:	'	'
Selling, general and administrative	0	0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	0	0
Research and development	0	0
Operating loss	0	0
Other expenses:	'	'
Other income (expense)	0	0
Interest (expense) income, net of capitalized interest	0	0
Interest income (expense) from intercompany notes	0	0
Equity (loss) income from consolidated subsidiaries	43,027	42,289
Loss before income taxes and equity earnings	43,027	42,289
Income tax benefit	0	0
Equity in loss of affiliates	0	0
Net loss	43,027	42,289
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net loss attributable to Molycorp stockholders	43,027	42,289
Other comprehensive loss:	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0	0
Comprehensive loss	43,027	42,289
Comprehensive loss attributable to:	'	'
Molycorp stockholders	43,027	42,289
Noncontrolling interest	$0	$0

Condensed_Consolidating_Statem1

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	($45,785)	($36,628)
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Loans to guarantor	'	0
Intercompany advances made	0	0
Repayments from non-guarantor	0	'
Loans to non-guarantor	'	0
Investment in joint ventures	0	-3,423
Capital expenditures	-29,752	-181,103
Other investing activities	493	-90
Net cash used in investing activities	-29,259	-184,616
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Repayments of debt	-489	-11,108
Net proceeds from sale of common stock	0	248,147
Issuance of 5.50% Convertible Notes	0	165,600
Payments of preferred dividends	-2,846	-2,846
Dividend paid to noncontrolling interests	-435	-1,286
Borrowings from non-guarantor	'	0
Borrowing from guarantor	'	0
Repayments to parent	0	'
Intercompany advances owed	0	0
Other financing activities	1,323	-79
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	-2,447	398,428
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	-776	-140
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-78,267	177,044
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	314,317	227,790
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	236,050	404,834
Parent	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	-33,089	17,211
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Loans to guarantor	'	0
Intercompany advances made	-55,041	-193,454
Repayments from non-guarantor	32,000	'
Loans to non-guarantor	'	0
Investment in joint ventures	'	0
Capital expenditures	0	0
Other investing activities	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	-23,041	-193,454
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Repayments of debt	0	0
Net proceeds from sale of common stock	'	248,147
Issuance of 5.50% Convertible Notes	'	165,600
Payments of preferred dividends	-2,846	-2,846
Dividend paid to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Borrowings from non-guarantor	'	0
Borrowing from guarantor	'	0
Repayments to parent	0	'
Intercompany advances owed	0	0
Other financing activities	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	-2,846	410,901
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-58,976	234,658
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	169,145	16,560
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	110,169	251,218
Guarantor Subsidiaries	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	-829	-58,035
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Loans to guarantor	'	0
Intercompany advances made	0	0
Repayments from non-guarantor	0	'
Loans to non-guarantor	'	-1,300
Investment in joint ventures	'	-3,423
Capital expenditures	-27,943	-174,703
Other investing activities	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	-27,943	-179,426
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Repayments of debt	0	0
Net proceeds from sale of common stock	'	0
Issuance of 5.50% Convertible Notes	'	0
Payments of preferred dividends	0	0
Dividend paid to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Borrowings from non-guarantor	'	40,000
Borrowing from guarantor	'	0
Repayments to parent	0	'
Intercompany advances owed	25,238	182,491
Other financing activities	1,323	-79
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	26,561	222,412
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-2,211	-15,049
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	6,467	18,020
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	4,256	2,971
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	-11,867	4,196
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Loans to guarantor	'	-40,000
Intercompany advances made	0	0
Repayments from non-guarantor	0	'
Loans to non-guarantor	'	0
Investment in joint ventures	'	0
Capital expenditures	-1,809	-6,400
Other investing activities	493	-90
Net cash used in investing activities	-1,316	-46,490
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Repayments of debt	-489	-11,108
Net proceeds from sale of common stock	'	0
Issuance of 5.50% Convertible Notes	'	0
Payments of preferred dividends	0	0
Dividend paid to noncontrolling interests	-435	-1,286
Borrowings from non-guarantor	'	0
Borrowing from guarantor	'	1,300
Repayments to parent	-32,000	'
Intercompany advances owed	29,803	10,963
Other financing activities	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	-3,121	-131
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	-776	-140
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-17,080	-42,565
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	138,705	193,210
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	121,625	150,645
Eliminations	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	0	0
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Loans to guarantor	'	40,000
Intercompany advances made	55,041	193,454
Repayments from non-guarantor	-32,000	'
Loans to non-guarantor	'	1,300
Investment in joint ventures	'	0
Capital expenditures	0	0
Other investing activities	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	23,041	234,754
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Repayments of debt	0	0
Net proceeds from sale of common stock	'	0
Issuance of 5.50% Convertible Notes	'	0
Payments of preferred dividends	0	0
Dividend paid to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Borrowings from non-guarantor	'	-40,000
Borrowing from guarantor	'	-1,300
Repayments to parent	32,000	'
Intercompany advances owed	-55,041	-193,454
Other financing activities	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	-23,041	-234,754
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$0	$0