Amcol International 10-K 3 Mar 14 2013 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 13, 2014	Jun. 28, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORP	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000813621	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$794.90
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	32,525,203	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13	'	'

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$47.80	$40
Accounts receivable, net	213.5	202.7
Inventories	149.2	153.8
Prepaid expenses	15.3	17
Assets held-for-sale	13.4	0.2
Income taxes receivable	12.7	7
Deferred income taxes	7.8	7
Other	0.8	1.8
Total current assets	460.5	429.5
Property, plant, equipment, and mineral rights and reserves:	'	'
Land	10.7	13
Mineral rights	5	48.6
Depreciable assets	573.2	552
Gross property, plant and equipment	588.9	613.6
Less: accumulated depreciation and depletion	325.3	311.7
Net property, plant and equipment	263.6	301.9
Goodwill	68.7	70.2
Intangible assets, net	27.9	33.9
Investment in and advances to affiliates and joint ventures	28	27.8
Available-for-sale securities	0	14.6
Deferred income taxes	1.9	7.4
Other assets	28.1	25.3
Total noncurrent assets	418.2	481.1
Total Assets	878.7	910.6
Current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	52	51.1
Accrued income taxes	9.1	5
Accrued liabilities	59.9	58.4
Total current liabilities	121	114.5
Noncurrent liabilities:	'	'
Long-term debt	249.1	248.8
Pension liabilities	26.6	37.5
Deferred income taxes	3.2	12.8
Deferred compensation	12	9.4
Other long-term liabilities	20.3	22.5
Total noncurrent liabilities	311.2	331
Equity:	'	'
Common stock, par value $.01 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 32,468,752 and 32,184,110 shares issued in 2013 and 2012, respectively	0.3	0.3
Additional paid in capital	117.1	105.1
Retained earnings	359.5	355.2
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	-26.7	0.8
Stockholders' equity before treasury stock	450.2	461.4
Noncontrolling interest	-3.7	3.7
Total equity	446.5	465.1
Total liabilities and equity	$878.70	$910.60

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]	'	'
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	32,468,752	32,184,110

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net sales	'	'	'
Net sales of goods	$714.30	$686.70	$691.80
Service revenues	277.4	258.6	206.3
Freight revenues	21	22.1	28.2
Net sales	1,012.70	967.4	926.3
Cost of sales	'	'	'
Cost of goods sold	580.7	503.6	499.8
Cost of service revenues	200.3	180.8	157
Cost of freight revenues	16.1	17.5	22
Cost of sales	797.1	701.9	678.8
Gross profit	215.6	265.5	247.5
Selling, general and administrative expenses	179.8	167.7	161.5
Operating profit	35.8	97.8	86
Other income (expense):	'	'	'
Interest expense, net	-10.3	-10.4	-11
Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities	12.6	0	0
Other, net	-2.8	-3.4	0.3
Total other income (expense), net	-0.5	-13.8	-10.7
Income before income taxes and income from affiliates and joint ventures	35.3	84	75.3
Income tax expense	11	23.3	20.8
Income before income from affiliates and joint ventures	24.3	60.7	54.5
Income from affiliates and joint ventures	3.2	3.9	5.2
Income (loss) from continuing operations	27.5	64.6	59.7
Discontinued Operations	'	'	'
Income (loss) on discontinued operations	-4.2	0.3	-1.2
Net income (loss)	23.3	64.9	58.5
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	-6.9	-0.2	0
Net income (loss) attributable to AMCOL shareholders	30.2	65.1	58.5
Basic earnings (loss) per share	'	'	'
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$1.06	$2.03	$1.88
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	($0.13)	$0.01	($0.04)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$0.93	$2.04	$1.84
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	'	'	'
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$1.05	$2	$1.86
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	($0.13)	$0.01	($0.04)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$0.92	$2.01	$1.82
Amounts attributable to AMCOL shareholders	'	'	'
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	34.4	64.8	59.7
Discontinued operations, net of tax	-4.2	0.3	-1.2
Net income	$30.20	$65.10	$58.50
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$0.80	$0.76	$0.72

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	$23.30	$64.90	$58.50
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustment	-25.6	5.2	-24.8
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities	-12.1	9.6	-9.3
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swap agreements	1.8	0.6	-1.5
Pension adjustment	7.9	-0.1	-8.5
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-28	15.3	-44.1
Total comprehensive income (loss) including noncontrolling interests	-4.7	80.2	14.4
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	-6.9	-0.2	0
Less: Foreign currency translation adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interests	-0.5	-0.2	-0.7
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	-7.4	-0.4	-0.7
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to AMCOL shareholders	$2.70	$80.60	$15.10

Consolidated_Statements_of_Equ

Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $)	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
In Millions, except Share data
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$0.30	$95.10	$278.50	$28.70	($8.90)	$0.30	$394
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	32,015,771	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	'	'	58.5	'	'	0	58.5
Cash dividends	'	'	-22.7	'	'	'	-22.7
Issuance of common stock and treasury shares pursuant to employee stock compensation plans (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	'	482,144
Issuance of common stock and treasury shares pursuant to employee stock compensation plans	'	2.5	'	'	5.5	'	8
Tax benefit from employee stock compensation plans	'	0.6	'	'	'	'	0.6
Stock based compensation expense	'	4.9	'	'	'	'	4.9
Purchase of noncontrolling interest shares	'	-5.4	'	'	'	-0.3	-5.7
Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interest	'	-3.4	'	-1.4	'	4.8	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'	'	-42	'	-0.7	-42.7
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	0.3	94.3	314.3	-14.7	-3.4	4.1	394.9
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	32,015,771	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	'	'	65.1	'	'	-0.2	64.9
Cash dividends	'	'	-24.2	'	'	'	-24.2
Issuance of common stock and treasury shares pursuant to employee stock compensation plans (in shares)	168,339	'	'	'	'	'	286,802
Issuance of common stock and treasury shares pursuant to employee stock compensation plans	'	6.3	'	'	3.4	'	9.7
Tax benefit from employee stock compensation plans	'	-0.1	'	'	'	'	-0.1
Stock based compensation expense	'	4.5	'	'	'	'	4.5
Contribution from noncontrolling partner	'	0.1	'	'	'	'	0.1
Other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'	'	15.5	'	-0.2	15.3
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	0.3	105.1	355.2	0.8	0	3.7	465.1
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	32,184,110	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	'	'	30.2	'	'	-6.9	23.3
Cash dividends	'	'	-25.9	'	'	'	-25.9
Issuance of common stock and treasury shares pursuant to employee stock compensation plans (in shares)	284,642	'	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock and treasury shares pursuant to employee stock compensation plans	'	7	'	'	'	'	7
Tax benefit from employee stock compensation plans	'	-0.2	'	'	'	'	-0.2
Stock based compensation expense	'	5.1	'	'	'	'	5.1
Contribution from noncontrolling partner	'	0.1	'	'	'	'	0.1
Other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'	'	-27.5	'	-0.5	28
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$0.30	$117.10	$359.50	($26.70)	$0	($3.70)	$446.50
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	32,468,752	'	'	'	'	'	'

Consolidated_Statements_of_Equ1

Consolidated Statements of Equity (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Equity [Abstract]	'	'	'
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$0.80	$0.76	$0.72
Treasury stock, shares issued (in shares)	'	286,802	482,144

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flow from operating activities:	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	$23.30	$64.90	$58.50
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	'	'	'
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	49.7	45.3	42.1
Impairment charge	59.8	0.9	0.1
(Gain) on sale of securities available for sale	-12.6	0	0
Undistributed losses (earnings) from affiliates and joint ventures	-1.5	-2	-3.6
Increase (decrease) in allowance for doubtful accounts	4	5.5	5.1
Decrease (increase) in deferred income taxes	-9.1	-0.8	6.8
Tax expense (benefit) from employee stock plans	-0.2	-0.1	0.6
(Gain) loss on sale of depreciable assets	0.2	-1	-0.8
Stock compensation expense	5.1	4.4	4.9
Excess tax benefits on stock option exercises	-0.2	-0.4	-0.7
Other	-0.1	2.3	0.5
(Increase) decrease in current assets, net of effects of acquisitions:	'	'	'
Accounts receivable	-19.2	-0.3	-37.2
Income taxes receivable	-5.7	1.2	0.3
Inventories	-4.8	-7.6	-46.1
Prepaid expenses	1.4	-1.6	-3.6
Other assets	-0.5	0	-0.1
Increase (decrease) in current liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:	'	'	'
Accounts payable	1.9	-6.7	10
Accrued liabilities and income taxes	5.9	-1.1	4.4
(Increase) decrease in other noncurrent assets	-3.2	-0.4	-0.6
Increase (decrease) in other noncurrent liabilities	4.8	6.2	-1.3
Net cash provided by operating activities	98.7	108.7	39.3
Cash flow from investing activities:	'	'	'
Proceeds from sale of land and depreciable assets	5.2	2.4	1.9
Capital expenditures	-87.7	-74.5	-61
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities	13.9	0	0
(Increase) decrease in investments and advances (to) from affiliates and joint ventures	-4.8	0.2	-2.9
Proceeds from sale of interests in affiliates and joint ventures	0	2.4	6.2
Other	0.9	1.4	1.6
Net cash used in investing activities	-72.5	-68.1	-54.2
Cash flow from financing activities:	'	'	'
Proceeds from issuance of debt	1,706.20	1,575.80	1,345
Principal payments of debt	-1,706	-1,588.10	-1,319.70
Proceeds from exercise of stock awards	7	9.7	8.1
Purchases of treasury stock	0	0	0
Excess tax benefits on stock option exercises	0.2	0.4	0.7
Contribution from noncontrolling partner	0.1	0.1	0
Dividends paid	-25.9	-23.5	-22.8
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-18.4	-25.6	11.3
Effect of foreign currency rate changes on cash	0	0.9	0.9
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	7.8	15.9	-2.7
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year	40	24.1	26.8
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year	47.8	40	24.1
Cash paid for:	'	'	'
Interest, net	10.2	10.6	10.7
Income taxes, net	$17.20	$18.30	$9.60

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'
	-1	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Recently Adopted and Recently Issued Accounting Guidance
	Adopted:
	In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-02 codified in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 220 – Comprehensive Income which adds new disclosure requirements for items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income.  This ASU requires entities to disclose additional information about reclassification adjustments, including changes in accumulated other comprehensive income balances by component and significant items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income.  Other than additional disclosure requirements, the adoption of this ASU on January 1, 2013 had no impact on our financial statements.
	In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, codified in ASC Topic 350 – Intangibles – Goodwill and Other.   This ASU gives entities the option to first assess the qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events and circumstances indicates that it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired.  If impairment is indicated, the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset should be determined and the quantitative impairment test should be performed by comparing the fair value with the carrying value in accordance with subtopic 350-30.  If impairment is not indicated, the entity is not required to take further action.  The adoption of this ASU on January 1, 2013 had no impact on our financial statements.
	Issued:
	In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05 codified in ASC Topic 830 – Foreign Currency Matters. This ASU clarifies the applicable guidance relating to a parent entity’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 parent entity is required to release any related cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income into net income in the following circumstances: (i) a parent entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a business within a foreign entity if the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity in which the subsidiary or group of assets had resided; (ii) a partial sale of an equity method investment that is a foreign entity; (iii) a partial sale of an equity method investment that is not a foreign entity whereby the partial sale represents a complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity that held the equity method investment; and (iv) the sale of an investment in a foreign entity. This ASU will become effective for us on January 1, 2014. The impact of this ASU on our financial statements will be considered in the event we initiate any of the transactions described above.
	Principles of Consolidation
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of our domestic and foreign subsidiaries as well as variable interest entities for which we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary.  We consolidate all majority-owned subsidiaries in which we exercise control.  We use the equity method of accounting to incorporate the results of our investments in companies in which we have significant influence, but do not control (generally 20% to 50% ownership interest) and cost method of accounting for investments in companies in which we do not exercise significant influence.
	Our corporate segment includes the elimination of intersegment sales as well as certain expenses associated with research and development, management, employee benefits and information technology activities for our Company.  Approximately 71% of the revenue elimination in the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and 77% of the revenue elimination in the year ended December 31, 2011 represent the elimination of shipping revenues between our transportation segment and its domestic sister companies.  Remaining revenue eliminations mainly relate to performance materials segment sales to construction technologies and energy services segments.
	Segments
	The composition of consolidated revenues by segment is as follows:
			Percentage of Net Sales
			2013			2012			2011
	Performance materials			48	%		49	%		50	%
	Construction technologies			22	%		23	%		27	%
	Energy services			29	%		27	%		21	%
	Transportation			4	%		5	%		6	%
	Intersegment sales			-3	%		-4	%		-4	%
				100	%		100	%		100	%
	Further descriptions of our products, principal markets and the relative significance of our segment operations are included in Note 2.
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported in our financial statements as well as certain disclosures contained therein.  Actual results may differ from those estimates.
	Revenue Recognition
	We recognize revenue from sales of products when title passes to the customer, the customer assumes the risks and rewards of ownership, and collectibility is reasonably assured; generally, this occurs when we ship product to customers.  We record allowances for discounts, rebates, and estimated returns at the time of sale and report these as reductions to revenue.  We generate some sales through independent, third-party representatives and record the commission paid to the representative as an expense within selling, general and administrative expenses.
	We recognize revenue for freight delivery services within our transportation segment when the service is provided.  We accrue amounts payable for purchased transportation, commissions and insurance when the related revenue is recognized.
	Service and rental revenues are primarily generated in our construction technologies and energy services segments.  We recognize these revenues in the period such services are performed and collectibility is reasonably assured.
	We record revenue from long-term construction contracts using the percentage-of-completion method.  Progress is generally based upon costs incurred to date as compared to the total estimated costs to complete the work under the contract or the amount of product installed in relation to the total amount expected to be installed.  All known or anticipated losses on contracts are provided when they become evident.  Cost adjustments that are in the process of being negotiated with customers for extra work or changes in scope of work are included in revenue when collection is reasonably assured.
	Translation of Foreign Currencies
	Foreign entities generally utilize their local currency as the functional currency.  We record gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions in other income (expense) line within consolidated statements of operations, and we reflect the adjustments resulting from the translation of financial statements into our reporting currency during consolidation as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within equity section in consolidated balance sheets.  The assets and liabilities of subsidiaries located outside of the United States are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet dates.  The statements of operations are translated using average exchange rates throughout the period.
	Cash Equivalents
	We classify all short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less as cash and cash equivalents.
	Inventories
	Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value.  Cost is determined by the first‑in, first‑out (FIFO) method.  Mineral exploration costs are expensed as incurred.
	Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
	We carry our receivables at their face amount less an allowance for bad debts.  We establish the allowance for bad debts based on a review of several factors, including historical collection experience, current aging status of the customer accounts, and the financial condition of our customers.
	Property, Plant, Equipment, and Mineral Rights and Reserves
	Property, plant, equipment, and mineral rights and reserves are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and depletion.  Depreciation expense, which includes depreciation on assets under capital leases, is computed using the straight-line method for substantially all of the assets.  Certain other assets, primarily field and stockpile related equipment and mineral rights and reserves, are depreciated on the units‑of‑production method.
	Goodwill
	Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets of acquired businesses.  Fair value reflects the price a market participant would be willing to pay in a potential sale of the reporting unit.  We review the carrying value of goodwill in each reporting unit for impairment annually as of October 1st or more frequently if indications exist which may suggest the carrying value is not recoverable.  Such indicators may include deterioration in general economic conditions, negative developments in equity and credit market, adverse changes in the market in which we operate, increase in input costs that have a negative impact on earnings and cash flows, or a trend of negative or declining cash flows over multiple periods, among others.
	We relied on the qualitative assessment method in conducting our 2013 annual goodwill impairment assessment.  We identified various events and circumstances (or factors) that would affect the estimated fair value of our reporting units and determined the level of impact a particular factor would have on the estimated fair value.  In addition, we considered the results of the most recent two-step quantitative impairment test completed for each reporting unit and compared the weighted average cost of capital between the current and prior years for each reporting unit.  We concluded that it was not more likely than not that any of our reporting units’ fair value under qualitative assessment were less than their carrying value.  As such, no further analysis was required.
	Other Intangible Assets
	Other intangible assets with a finite useful life are amortized on the straight‑line method over the expected periods to be benefited.
	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
	We review the carrying values of long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and intangible assets with a finite useful life whenever facts and circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired.  Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to its fair value.  We generally assess fair value by using discounted cash flow models or cost approach.   If we consider an asset to be impaired, we record an impairment charge equal to the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds the fair value.  We report assets held-for-sale at the lower of its carrying value or fair value, less costs of disposal.
	In the case of intangible assets with indefinite lives, we review them annually for impairment.  This review involves comparing the fair value of the intangible asset with its carrying amount.  If its carrying amount exceeds its fair value, we recognize an impairment loss equal to that excess.
	Available-for-Sale Securities
	We record available-for-sale securities at their fair value using quoted market prices.  We owned one available-for-sale security investment as of December 31, 2013 which reflected our equity ownership in Ashapura Minechem Limited, a company listed on Bombay stock exchange, which we sold in the fourth quarter of 2013.  We reported the unrealized gains and losses prior to sale, net of applicable taxes, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within Consolidated Balance Sheets, and as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) within Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.  The realized gain is recorded in other income within Consolidated Statements of Operations.
	Income Taxes
	We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities relating to the future tax consequences of differences between the financial statement carrying value of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax values.  We measure deferred tax assets and liabilities using tax rates in effect in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  We recognize the effect that changes in tax rates have on deferred tax assets and liabilities in income in the period that the change is enacted.  Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts that are more likely than not to be realized.  We classify interest and penalties associated with income taxes, including uncertain tax positions, within the income tax expense line item of our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
	Freight and Sales Taxes
	We report amounts charged to customers for shipping and handling fees as revenues and we report amounts incurred for these costs within cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations (i.e. gross presentation with revenues and cost of sales).  Also, we report amounts charged to customers for sales taxes and the related costs incurred for sales tax remittances to governmental agencies within net sales in the Consolidated Statements of Operations (i.e. net presentation within revenues).
	Product Liability & Warranty Expenses
	We report expenses incurred for warranty and product liability costs in general, selling and administrative expenses in our Consolidated Statement of Operations.  Our warranty accrual is based on known warranty issues as of the balance sheet date as well as a reserve for unidentified claims based on historical experience.
	Legal Fees
	We report expenses for fees, including legal costs associated with loss contingencies, when services are performed.
	Land Reclamation
	We mine land for various minerals using a surface-mining process that requires the removal of overburden.  In many instances, we are obligated to restore the land upon completion of the mining activity.  As we remove overburden, we recognize this liability for land reclamation based on the estimated fair value of the obligation.  We adjust the obligation to reflect the passage of time and changes in estimated future cash outflows.
	Research and Development
	Research and development costs are expensed as incurred within selling, general and administrative expenses.
	Earnings per Share
	Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to AMCOL shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is similarly computed, except the denominator is increased to include the dilutive effects of stock compensation awards and other share equivalents.  Stock compensation awards are antidilutive and therefore excluded from our diluted earnings per share calculation when their exercise would result in a net decrease in the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  A reconciliation between the shares used to compute basic and diluted earnings per share follows:
			2013			2012			2011
Weighted average common shares outstanding for the year			32,463,634			32,050,538			31,708,949
Dilutive impact of stock equivalents			303,319			347,827			436,824
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares for the year			32,766,953			32,398,365			32,145,773
Common shares outstanding at December 31			32,468,752			32,184,110			31,728,969
Weighted average anti-dilutive shares excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share			273,802			402,485			189,768
Stock-Based Compensation
We measure compensation cost for all our share-based payment awards at fair value and recognize cost over the vesting period.  We estimate the forfeiture rate based on our historical experience.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
From time to time, we use derivative financial instruments to manage exposures to changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates.  We do not use derivative instruments for trading or other speculative purposes.  We recognize our derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet at their fair value.  Our recognition of changes in the fair value (i.e. gains and losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and the type of that relationship.  Hedges designated as cash flow hedges result in the changes in fair value being recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.  Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments for which hedge accounting is not applied, are recorded within Other, net within our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Reclassifications
Certain items in the prior years’ consolidated financial statements contained herein and notes thereto have been reclassified to conform with the consolidated financial presentation for 2013.  These reclassifications did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

Segment_Geographic_and_Market_

Segment, Geographic, and Market Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment, Geographic, and Market Information [Abstract]	'
Segment, Geographic, and Market Information	'
	-2	Segment, Geographic, and Market Information
	We determine our operating segments based on the discrete financial information that is regularly evaluated by our chief operating decision maker, our President and Chief Executive Officer, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.  Our reportable measure of profit or loss for each segment is operating profit, which is defined as net sales less cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses related to a segment’s operations.  The costs deducted to arrive at operating profit do not include several items, such as net interest or income tax expense.
	Our five segments are as follows:
		·	Performance materials - mines, processes and distributes minerals and products for use in various industrial and consumer markets, including metalcasting, pet care, laundry care, and drilling industries;
		·	Construction technologies - provides services relating to and processes and distributes clay-based and other products for use as a moisture barrier in commercial construction, landfill liners and in a variety of other industrial and commercial applications;
		·	Energy services - provides a variety of services and equipment rentals for both onshore and offshore applications to customers in the oil and natural gas industry;
		·	Transportation - includes a long-haul trucking business and a freight brokerage business that provides services domestically to our subsidiaries as well as third-party customers; and
		·	Corporate – intersegment sales are not material and are eliminated in our corporate segment.  These are most notably sales between our transportation segment and our performance materials and construction technologies segments as well as sales between our performance materials segment to our construction technologies and energy services segments.  Corporate segment also includes expenses associated with certain research and development, management, benefits and information technology activities.
	Segment assets are those assets used within each segment.  Corporate assets include assets used in the operation of this segment as well as those used by or shared amongst our segments, including certain cash and cash equivalents, fixed assets, assets associated with certain employee benefit plans, and other miscellaneous assets.
	The following table sets forth certain financial information as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:
			2013			2012			2011
	Net sales:
	Performance materials		$	488.1		$	473.7		$	459.2
	Construction technologies			218.1			223.1			251.9
	Energy services			295.4			257.3			194.7
	Transportation			45.5			44			54.1
	Intersegment sales			(34.4	)		(30.7	)		(33.6	)
	Total			1,012.70			967.4			926.3
	Operating profit (loss):
	Performance materials		$	20		$	76		$	67
	Construction technologies			14			15.6			17.3
	Energy services			25.5			28.7			21.3
	Transportation			1.2			0.8			2.2
	Corporate			(24.9	)		(23.3	)		(21.8	)
	Total			35.8			97.8			86
	Assets:
	Performance materials		$	384.1		$	454		$	430.8
	Construction technologies			166.6			157.6			159.4
	Energy services			263.3			225.8			194.7
	Transportation			4.1			4			3.9
	Corporate			60.6			69.2			60.3
	Total			878.7			910.6			849.1
	Depreciation, depletion and amortization:
	Performance materials		$	18.5		$	19.6		$	20.6
	Construction technologies			5.3			5.5			5.4
	Energy services			22.4			17.1			13.3
	Transportation			0.1			0.1			0.1
	Corporate			3.4			3			2.7
	Total			49.7			45.3			42.1
	Capital expenditures:
	Performance materials		$	25.6		$	29.4		$	27.3
	Construction technologies			2.6			8.3			8.3
	Energy services			45			31.5			23.1
	Transportation			0.3			0.1			0.2
	Corporate			14.2			5.2			2.1
	Total			87.7			74.5			61
	Research and development expenses:
	Performance materials		$	5.6		$	5.2		$	4.7
	Construction technologies			2.9			2.3			2.3
	Energy services			2.1			0.9			0.2
	Corporate			-			-			0.1
	Total			10.6			8.4			7.3
	The following table sets forth certain geographic financial information as of and for the three years ending December 31st.  EMEA includes the European, Middle East and African geographic regions.  Geographic sales and operating profit are determined based on origin of the sale as opposed to destination of the sale.  Inter-regional sales and operating profit are eliminated in Americas.
			2013			2012			2011
	Sales to unaffiliated customers shipped from:
	Americas		$	605.2		$	588.7		$	546.1
	EMEA			226.4			213.3			243.1
	Asia Pacific			181.1			165.4			137.1
	Total			1,012.70			967.4			926.3
	Operating profit from sales from:
	Americas		$	57.5		$	65.2		$	57.7
	EMEA			(41.4	)		10.4			10
	Asia Pacific			19.7			22.2			18.3
Total			35.8			97.8			86
Accounts receivable in:
Americas		$	109.6		$	109.9		$	112.3
EMEA			48.1			45.3			51.9
Asia Pacific			55.8			47.5			40.2
Total			213.5			202.7			204.4
Property, plant, equipment, and mineral rights and reserves in:
Americas		$	162.9		$	134.8		$	116
EMEA			43.4			112.3			108.7
Asia Pacific			57.3			54.8			48.8
Total			263.6			301.9			273.5
Identifiable assets in:
Americas		$	430.4		$	448.3		$	420.4
EMEA			274.4			303.3			289.4
Asia Pacific			173.9			159			139.3
Total			878.7			910.6			849.1
Net sales by product line for each fiscal year are as follows:
		2013			2012			2011
Metalcasting		$	269.3		$	265.6		$	247.3
Energy services			295.4			257.3			194.7
Environmental products			91.2			90.5			104.4
Specialty materials			84.6			88.3			99.3
Building materials			73.7			73.3			76.1
Basic minerals			64.3			60.4			52.8
Pet products			61.2			52.9			56.1
Drilling products			41.6			38.2			31.4
Contracting services			10.4			18.8			36
Transportation			21			22.1			28.2
Total			1,012.70			967.4			926.3

Balance_Sheet_Related_Informat

Balance Sheet Related Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Balance Sheet Related Information [Abstract]	'
Balance Sheet Related Information	'
	-3	Balance Sheet Related Information
	We are exposed to credit risk on certain assets, primarily accounts receivable.  We provide credit to customers in the ordinary course of business and perform ongoing credit evaluations.  Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are limited due to the large number of customers comprising our customer base.  We believe our allowance for doubtful accounts is sufficient to cover customer credit risks.  The allowance for doubtful accounts as of and the activity for the years ended December 31 was as follows:
			2013			2012			2011
	Balance at the beginning of the year		$	11		$	7.5		$	6.6
	Charged to expense (income)			4			5.3			3.6
	Write-offs and currency translation adjustments			(1.4	)		(1.8	)		(2.7	)
	Balance at the end of the year			13.6			11			7.5
	Inventories at December 31 consisted of:
			2013			2012
	Crude stockpile inventories		$	51		$	60.8
	In-process and finished goods inventories			74.9			70.5
	Other raw material, container, and supplies inventories			23.3			22.5
				149.2			153.8
	Included within Other raw material, container, and supplies inventories in the table above is our reserve for slow moving and obsolete inventory.  The balance of this reserve as of and the activity for the years ended December 31 was as follows:
			2013			2012			2011
	Balance at the beginning of the year		$	2.6		$	2.1		$	2.7
	Charged to costs and expenses			3.1			2.1			2.1
	Disposals and currency translation adjustments			(1.5	)		(1.6	)		(2.7	)
	Balance at the end of the year			4.2			2.6			2.1
	The following table presents our reclamation liability at the end of and changes during each of the years presented:
			2013			2012
	Balance at beginning of the year		$	9.5		$	9.3
	Settlement of obligations			(3.2	)		(3.9	)
	Liabilities incurred and accretion expense			3.1			4.2
	Currency translation adjustments			(0.5	)		(0.1	)
	Balance at the end of the year			8.9			9.5
	Accrued liabilities at December 31 consisted of:
			2013			2012
	Bonus		$	7.6		$	11.5
	Employee benefits and related costs			11.8			10.8
	Dividends payable			6.7			6.4
	Other			33.8			29.7
				59.9			58.4

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss	'
	-4	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at December 31 was comprised of the following components:
			2013			2012
	Cumulative foreign currency translation (net of tax benefit of $1.3 in 2013)		$	(19.1	)	$	6
	Prior service cost on pension plans (net of tax benefit of $0.1 in 2013 and $0.1 in 2012)			(0.1	)		(0.2	)
	Net actuarial loss on pension plans (net of tax benefit of $2.7 in 2013 and $7.8 in 2012)			(4.2	)		(12.0	)
	Unrealized loss on interest rate swap agreement (net of tax benefit of $2.1 in 2013 and $3.3 in 2012)			(3.3	)		(5.1	)
	Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities (net of tax expense of $1.2 in 2012)			-			12.1
				(26.7	)		0.8
	The following table summarizes the changes in other comprehensive income (loss) by component:
			Year Ended December 31,
			2013										2012									2011
			Pre-Tax Amount			Tax (Expense) Benefit			Net-Of-Tax Amount				Pre-Tax Amount			Tax (Expense) Benefit			Net-Of-Tax Amount			Pre-Tax Amount			Tax (Expense) Benefit			Net-Of-Tax Amount
	Foreign currency translation adjustment		$	(26.9	)	$	1.3		$	(25.6	)		$	5.2		$	-		$	5.2		$	(24.8	)	$	-		$	(24.8	)
	Available-for-sale securities:
	Unrealized gains (losses) arising during period			(0.7	)		0.2			(0.5	)			10.8			(1.2	)		9.6			(10.3	)		1			(9.3	)
	Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income			(12.6	)		1			(11.6	)			-			-			-			-			-			-
	Interest rate swap agreements:
	Unrealized gains (losses) arising during period			0.3			(0.1	)		0.2				(1.7	)		0.1			(1.6	)		(5.0	)		1.9			(3.1	)
	Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income			2.6			(1.0	)		1.6				2.3			(0.1	)		2.2			2.6			(1.0	)		1.6
	Pension plans:
	Net acturial gains (losses) and prior service costs arising during the period			11.8			(4.6	)		7.2				(2.1	)		1.9			(0.2	)		(13.6	)		5			(8.6	)
	Amortization of net acturial (gains) losses and prior service costs			1.2			(0.5	)		0.7				1.2			(1.1	)		0.1			0.2			(0.1	)		0.1
	Total other comprehensive income (loss)		$	(24.3	)	$	(3.7	)	$	(28.0	)		$	15.7		$	(0.4	)	$	15.3		$	(50.9	)	$	6.8		$	(44.1	)
	The following table summarizes the additions to and reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company and the affected line items in the consolidated statements of operations:
			Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
			Twelve Months Ended December 31,									Affected Line Item in the Statement Where Net Income (Loss) is Presented
			2013			2012			2011
	Reclassification of net (gains) losses on available for sale securities:
	Pre-tax amount		$	(12.6	)	$	-		$	-		Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities
	Tax			1			-			-		Income tax expense
	Net of tax			(11.6	)		-			-
	Reclassification of net (gains) losses on interest rate swaps:
	Pre-tax amount		$	2.6		$	2.3		$	2.6		Interest expense, net
	Tax			(1.0	)		(0.1	)		(1.0	)	Income tax expense
	Net of tax			1.6			2.2			1.6
	Amortization of pension items:
	Net acturial (gains) lossess and prior service costs, pre-tax amount			1.2			1.2			0.2		Components of net periodic benefit cost (see Employee Benefit Plans note for details)
	Tax			(0.5	)		(1.1	)		(0.1	)	Income tax expense
	Net of tax			0.7			0.1			0.1
	Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax		$	(9.3	)	$	2.3		$	1.7

South_Africa_asset_impairment

South Africa asset impairment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
South Africa asset impairment [Abstract]	'
South Africa asset impairment	'
	-5	South Africa Asset Impairment
	During the quarter ended September 30, 2013, our performance materials segment recorded an impairment charge of $52.3 to record a write down of mineral rights ($36.0) and depreciable assets ($16.3) from their carrying value to their estimated fair values.  Fair value for mineral rights was assessed using discounted cash flow approach (Level 3 fair value input) and for depreciable assets using a combination of mass appraisal technique and market approach technique (Level 2 fair value input).  The impairment charge relates to a significant adverse change in the business climate experienced by our South African chromite operations.  Specifically, recently developed overcapacity in the supply of chromite has impacted our pricing and ability to grow market share in the foundry grade market which required us to review the recoverability of these assets in the third quarter of 2013.  Based on that evaluation, we determined the long-lived assets that produce chromite were not recoverable on a gross cash flow analysis.  The impairment charge is recorded within our Consolidated Statements of Operations within cost of sales ($52.2) and selling, general and administrative expense ($0.1).

Discontinued_Operations

Discontinued Operations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Discontinued Operations [Abstract]	'
Discontinued Operations	'
	-6	Discontinued Operations
	Health and Beauty (HBS) Operations:
	In September 2013, we committed to divest our HBS operations within our performance materials segment.  The results of these operations have been reclassified and recorded net of income tax within Income (loss) on discontinued operations within our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
	The following table presents HBS’s summarized results of operations reported in discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:
			Year Ended December 31,
	HBS		2013			2012		2011
	Net sales		$	14.2		$	18.2	$	17.5
	Pre-tax income/(loss)			(6.3	)		0.3		-
	Income tax expense/(benefit)			(2.1	)		-		-
	Income (loss) on discontinued operations			(4.2	)		0.3		-
	Assets and liabilities of HBS on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 include the following:
			December 31,
			2013*			2012
	Current assets		$	4.6		$	7
	Property, plant, and equipment, net			4.1			5.9
	Goodwill			-			1.8
	Intangible assets, net			3.6			5.1
	Other non-current assets			1.8			-
	Valuation allowance			(2.4	)		-
	Total assets of HBS			11.7			19.8
	Current liabilities			0.5			0.9
	Other LT liabilities			-			0.5
	Total liabilities of HBS			0.5			1.4
	* Note that the assets and liabilities of HBS at December 31, 2013 are recorded with assets-held-for-sale and accrued liabilities within our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	In accordance with ASC Topic 360, Impairment and Disposal of Long Lived Assets, the assets of HBS met the held for sale criteria and we adjusted the carrying value of HBS’s net asset held-for-sale to their fair value less cost to sell, $12.0. This fair value adjustment resulted in impairment charges (discussed below) of $1.8, $1.1, and $1.3; related to HBS’s goodwill, intangible assets, and property, plant and equipment, respectively, and $2.4 charge related to establishing a valuation allowance against HBS’s net assets.  The total loss of $6.6, offset by a $2.4 income tax benefit, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 is recorded within Income (loss) on discontinued operations within our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
	As required by ASC Topic 350 – Intangibles – Goodwill and Other, we completed an interim test for goodwill and intangible assets for HBS’s operations during the third quarter of 2013. In the first step of the goodwill impairment evaluation, we compared the fair value of HBS based on an observable Level 2 fair value input with its carrying amount, which suggested the goodwill was impaired.  In performing the second step of impairment test, we determined that the implied fair value of goodwill was lower than carrying amount, and recorded an impairment loss of $1.8.
	The $1.1 impairment charge for intangible assets relates to trademarks and developed technology, and was assessed using the relief from royalty rate method (Level 3 fair value input). Critical assumptions used in conducting these tests included applicable market royalty rates and discount rates as well as the future performance of these assets.
	The $1.3 impairment charge relating to HBS’s plant, property and equipment was assessed using cost method adjusted for age and deterioration (Level 3 fair value input).
	CETCO Contracting Services Company:
	In September 2011, our construction technologies segment sold CETCO Contracting Services Company, which comprised our domestic contracting services business.  The operations of this business, including the immaterial loss recorded on sale, have been reclassified and are recorded net of income tax within Income (loss) on discontinued operations within our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Property_Plant_Equipment_and_M

Property, Plant, Equipment and Mineral Rights and Reserves	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant, Equipment and Mineral Rights and Reserves [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant, Equipment and Mineral Rights and Reserves	'
	-7	Property, Plant, Equipment and Mineral Rights and Reserves
	Property, plant, equipment and mineral rights and reserves consisted of the following:
			December 31,
			2013		2012
	Mineral rights and reserves		$	5	$	48.6
	Land			10.7		13
	Buildings and improvements			87.9		104.9
	Machinery and equipment			437.4		414.5
	Construction in progress			47.9		32.6
				588.9		613.6
	During the year ended December 31, 2013, we recorded an impairment charge of $36.0 and $16.3 relating to our South African chromite operations’ mineral rights and other depreciable assets, respectively.  See Note 5 for further details.
	The range of useful lives to depreciate plant and equipment is as follows:
	Buildings and improvements	3-50 years
	Machinery and equipment	1-24 years
	Depreciation and depletion were charged to income as follows:
			2013		2012		2011
	Depreciation expense		$	44.1	$	39.3	$	35
	Depletion expense			1.5		1.6		2.6
				45.6		40.9		37.6

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]	'
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	'
	-8	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
	During the third quarter of 2013, we committed to divest our HBS operations within our performance materials segment and performed a recoverability test for HBS’s goodwill and other intangible assets.  We concluded that the fair value of goodwill and other intangible assets was lower than the respective carrying amount and recorded impairment charge of $1.8 to write-off entire goodwill and $1.1 for other intangible assets relating to trademarks and developed technology.  Our asset held-for-sale line within our Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2013 includes $3.6 of other intangible assets (net of $3.8 accumulated amortization and $1.1 of impairment charges).  See Note 6 for further information on impairment.
	The balance of goodwill by segment and the activity occurring in the past two fiscal years is as follows:
			Performance Materials			Construction Technologies			Energy Services		Consolidated
	Balance at December 31, 2011		$	17.4		$	21.1		$	31	$	69.5
	Change in goodwill relating to:
	Foreign exchange translation			0.4			0.3			-		0.7
	Total changes			0.4			0.3			-		0.7
	Balance at December 31, 2012			17.8			21.4			31		70.2
	Change in goodwill relating to:
	Reclassification to discontinued operations			(1.8	)		-			-		(1.8	)
	Acquisition			-			-			0.4		0.4
	Foreign exchange translation			(0.6	)		0.5			-		(0.1	)
	Total changes			(2.4	)		0.5			0.4		(1.5	)
	Balance at December 31, 2013			15.4			21.9			31.4		68.7
	Intangible assets were as follows:
			31-Dec-13								31-Dec-12
			Gross Carrying Value			Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value		Gross Carrying Value			Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value
	Intangibles subject to amortization:
	Customer related assets			45.8			(24.9	)		20.9		47.1			(23.0	)		24.1
	Patents			7.8			(6.6	)		1.2		6.9			(6.9	)		-
	Non-compete agreements			3.4			(2.2	)		1.2		2.2			(2.2	)		-
	Developed technology			-			-			-		4			(2.4	)		1.6
	Other			4			(2.3	)		1.7		3.9			(1.8	)		2.1
	Subtotal			61			(36.0	)		25		64.1			(36.3	)		27.8
	Intangibles not subject to amortization:
	Trademarks and tradenames			2.9			-			2.9		6.1			-			6.1
	Total			63.9			(36.0	)		27.9		70.2			(36.3	)		33.9
	Other than the impairment charges relating to our HBS’s discontinued operations, we did not recognize any impairment charge in either of the years included above with respect to goodwill and other intangible assets.
	Intangible assets with finite lives are being amortized primarily on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives.  The weighted average amortization period of our intangible assets with finite lives is 11 years.    Amortization expense on intangible assets for each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 was $4.1, $4.3, and $4.8, respectively.  We estimate amortization expense of intangible assets for the future years ending December 31 will approximate the following amounts:
			Amount
	2014		$	3.9
	2015			3.8
	2016			3.8
	2017			3.4
	2018			3.1

Investments_in_Joint_Ventures

Investments in Joint Ventures	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Investments in Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
Investments in Joint Ventures	'
	-9	Investments in Affiliates and Joint Ventures
	Information about our investments in and advances to affiliates and joint ventures at December 31, 2013 is as follows:
		Ownership Interest	Accounting Policy
	Ashapura Volclay Limited	50%	Equity Method
	CETCO-Bentonit Uniao Technologias Ambientais Ltda.	50%	Equity Method
	Egypt Bentonite & Derivatives Co.	30%	Equity Method
	Egypt Mining & Drilling Co.	31%	Equity Method
	Egypt Nano Technologies Co.	27%	Equity Method
	Maprid Tech Cast, S.A. de C.V.	49%	Equity Method
	Novinda Corporation	16%	Cost Method
	Volclay de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.	49%	Equity Method
	Volclay Japan Co., Ltd.	50%	Equity Method
	We record the majority of our equity in the earnings of our investments in affiliates and joint ventures on a one quarter lag.  None of our equity investees are publicly traded, and the difference between our investment and the underlying net equity of the investee is immaterial.
	In the first quarter of 2013, we acquired 16% ownership interest in Novinda Corporation, a provider of mercury emission control solutions, for $5.0.
	We recorded income of $3.2 and $3.9 from our affiliates and joint ventures in 2013, and 2012, respectively, which was primarily generated from Ashapura Volclay Limited, Volclay Japan Co. Ltd, and Volclay de Mexico, Sa. de C.V.  In 2011, we recorded income of $5.2 from our affiliates and joint ventures, of which $2.1 related to the sale of Ashapura AMCOL N.V., our Belgian joint-venture which we sold in the second quarter of 2011.  The remaining income was primarily generated from Ashapura Volclay Limited, Volclay Japan Co. Ltd, and Volclay de Mexico, Sa. de C.V.  In the third quarter of 2011, we also sold our interest in Albagle Enterprise Limited, our Cypriot joint-venture whose operations were mainly in Russia, at an immaterial loss.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	-10	Income Taxes
	Total income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31 was comprised of the following:
			2013			2012			2011
	Continuing operations		$	11		$	23.3		$	20.8
	Discontinued operations			(2.1	)		-			(0.6	)
				8.9			23.3			20.2
	Income from continuing operations before income taxes and income (loss) from affiliates and joint ventures was comprised of the following:
			2013			2012			2011
	Income from continuing operations before income taxes and income from affiliates and joint ventures:
	Domestic		$	63		$	56.1		$	53.8
	Foreign			(27.7	)		27.9			21.5
				35.3			84			75.3
	The components of the provision for income taxes attributable to income from continuing operations before income taxes and income from affiliates and joint ventures for the years ended December 31 consisted of:
			2013			2012			2011
	Provision (benefit) for income taxes:
	Federal:
	Current		$	10.4		$	14		$	5.7
	Deferred			1.2			0.8			5.9
	State:
	Current			1.2			2.8			3
	Deferred			(0.2	)		(1.9	)		0.3
	Foreign:
	Current			6.4			8.4			8
	Deferred			(8.0	)		(0.8	)		(2.1	)
				11			23.3			20.8
	The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31 were as follows:
			2013			2012
	Deferred tax assets attributable to:
	Accounts receivable		$	2.7		$	2.1
	Inventories			2.6			2.7
	Employee benefit plans			24.7			28.3
	Accrued liabilities			1.7			0.6
	Employee incentive plans			1.2			2.4
	Tax credit carryforwards			7.9			6.9
	Other			0.6			0.3
	Total deferred tax assets			41.4			43.3
	Deferred tax liabilities attributable to:
	Plant and equipment			(17.0	)		(17.7	)
	Land and mineral reserves			(0.8	)		(12.7	)
	Joint ventures			(1.0	)		(2.0	)
	Intangible assets			(3.8	)		(2.7	)
	Available-for-sale securities			-			(1.2	)
	Other			(0.6	)		(0.8	)
	Total deferred tax liabilities			(23.2	)		(37.1	)
	Valuation allowances			(13.1	)		(5.1	)
	Net deferred tax asset (liability)			5.1			1.1
	We believe it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets above will be realized in the normal course of business.
	The following analysis reconciles the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate to the effective tax rates related to income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income (loss) of affiliates and joint ventures:
			2013						2012						2011
						Percent						Percent						Percent
						of Pretax						of Pretax						of Pretax
			Amount			Income			Amount			Income			Amount			Income
	Provision for income taxes at
	U.S. statutory rates		$	12.3			35	%	$	29.5			35	%	$	26.3			35	%
	Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:
	Percentage depletion			(5.9	)		-16.7	%		(5.0	)		-6	%		(4.9	)		-6.5	%
	State taxes, net of federal benefit			1.1			3	%		1.7			2.1	%		2.2			2.9	%
	Foreign tax rates			1.2			3.6	%		(3.0	)		-3.6	%		(1.0	)		-1.4	%
	Domestic manufacturing deduction			(1.2	)		-3.3	%		(1.6	)		-1.9	%		(0.8	)		-1.1	%
	Change in state tax rates			0.2			0.5	%		(1.9	)		-2.2	%		-			0	%
	Foreign witholding tax			2.2			6.2	%		1.6			2	%		1			1.3	%
	Foreign tax credits			(3.6	)		-10.3	%		(3.2	)		-3.8	%		(2.4	)		-3.1	%
	Changes to valuation allowance			8			22.7	%		1.9			2.2	%		(0.2	)		-0.3	%
Sale of available-for-sale securities			(3.5	)		-10	%		-			0	%		-			0	%
Other			0.2			0.5	%		3.3			3.9	%		0.6			0.8	%
			11			31.2	%		23.3			27.7	%		20.8			27.6	%
Percentage Depletion
Depletion deductions are federal income tax deductions that arise from extracting minerals from the ground.  There are two methods of calculating depletion: cost depletion and percentage depletion.  Cost depletion deduction is similar to depreciation in that it allows us to recover the cost of an asset over the resources’ productive life.  Percentage depletion deduction is computed on the basis of the income from the property rather than capitalization costs.  It is different from depreciation and cost depletion deductions, however, in that percentage depletion deduction in excess of cost is a permanent book to tax difference, whereas depreciation and cost depletion deductions are temporary in nature.  Hence, percentage depletion deduction affects the effective tax rate whereas depreciation and cost depletion deductions do not.  We calculate depletion under the percentage depletion method based upon revenues and costs from our mining activities in the U.S.
Tax on Reinvested Earnings
We have not provided for United States federal income tax and foreign income withholding taxes on approximately $179.9 and $173.8 of undistributed earnings from international subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, because such earnings are intended to be reinvested indefinitely outside of the U.S.  If these earnings were distributed, foreign tax credits may become available under current law to reduce or eliminate the resulting income tax liability in the United States.
Tax Holidays
We have benefitted from tax holidays in both China and Thailand as a result of our locating and investing in special economic zones in each country.  These tax holidays resulted in reductions to our income tax expense of $0.1, $0.8, and $0.2 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, representing benefits of $0.0, $0.02 and $0.01 to diluted earnings per share in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Our operations in Suzhou, China has benefitted from a preferential tax rate of 15.0% until the end of 2013.  Our operations in Tianjin, China has benefitted from a preferential tax rate of 12.5% until the end of 2012.
Our agreement with the Thai tax authorities provides for tax holidays on several investments.  The most significant tax exemption is on all income from manufacturing operations (distributed goods are still subject to taxation) related to our initial investment.   These initial manufacturing activities were taxable at 50% in years 2006 through 2010.  An additional tax holiday was granted in 2007 for the expansion of our Thai facility.  Income generated from this expansion is granted a 100% tax holiday from corporate income tax for eight (8) years beginning in 2007 and then taxable at 50% for five (5) years starting in 2015.  We attempt to modify and obtain tax concessions when possible.
Exams
In the normal course of business, we are subject to examination by tax authorities throughout the world.  With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2010.  The United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has examined our federal income tax returns for all open years through 2009.
NOLs and Credit Carryforwards
At December 31, 2013, we have $0.3 of various income tax credits, which we expect to utilize within the ten year carryforward period.  We have net operating loss carryovers in various states and foreign jurisdictions, and have provided valuation allowance against some of these carryovers.  The net deferred tax asset related to these net operating loss carryovers is $0.2 at December 31, 2013.
Unrecognized Tax Benefits
The following table summarizes the activity related to our unrecognized tax benefits:
		2013			2012			2011
Balance at beginning of the year		$	-		$	-		$	0.8
Increases related to prior year tax positions			0.2			-			-
Decreases related to the expiration of statue of limitation / settlement of audits			-			-			(0.8	)
Balance at the end of the year			0.2			-			-
We classify interest and penalties associated with income taxes, including uncertain tax positions, within the income tax expense line item of our Consolidated Statement of Operations.  The amounts of interest and penalties recorded for 2013, 2012 and 2011 were immaterial to our financial statements.

Debt

Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt [Abstract]	'
Debt	'
	-11	Debt
	Amounts of debt were as follows:
			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Borrowings under revolving credit agreement		$	123.2		$	114.6
	Senior notes			125			125
	Other notes payable			1.8			10.2
				250			249.8
	Less: current portion			(0.9	)		(1.0	)
				249.1			248.8
	In January 2012, we entered into a new revolving credit agreement that replaced our previous revolving credit agreement.  The new credit agreement provides us with a $300 unsecured line of credit, which can be increased to $400 subject to certain customary conditions and approvals.  It is a multi-currency arrangement that will allow us to borrow certain foreign currencies at an adjusted LIBOR rate plus 1.00% to 1.75%, depending upon the ratio of our debt to EBITDA as defined therein.  The new credit agreement expires on January 20, 2017.  As of December 31, 2013, $176.8 remained available to us under this revolving credit line.
	We had interest rate swaps outstanding which effectively hedge the variable interest rate on $33 of our borrowings as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, to a fixed rate of 3.3% per annum, plus credit spread.  Including the effect of this interest rate swap agreement, our borrowings under the credit agreement as of December 31, 2013 carried an average interest rate of 1.93%.
	A qualified institution holds $75 of our senior notes which mature on April 2, 2017, subject to certain acceleration features upon an event of default, should one occur.  These senior notes are comprised of (a) $45 aggregate principal amount of Series 2007-A Adjustable Fixed Rate Guaranteed Senior Notes, Tranche 1, due April 2, 2017 (the “Tranche 1” notes) and (b) $30 aggregate principal amount of Series 2007-A Adjustable Floating Rate Guaranteed Senior Notes, Tranche 2 (the “Tranche 2” notes).  Tranche 1 bears interest at 5.78%, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 2nd and October 2nd of each year.  Tranche 2 bears interest at an annual rate of 0.55% plus LIBOR in effect from time to time, adjusted quarterly, and is payable quarterly in arrears.
	As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we had an interest rate swap outstanding which effectively hedges the variable interest rate of $30 of Tranche 2 senior notes to a fixed rate of 5.6% per annum.
	On April 29, 2010, we issued and sold an additional $50 of senior notes to other qualified institutional buyers pursuant to a note purchase agreement (the “Note Purchase Agreement”).  These senior notes bear interest at a fixed annual rate of 5.46%, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 29th and October 29th of each year, beginning on October 29, 2010.  Our obligations under the Note Purchase Agreement mature on April 29, 2020.
	Our agreements relating to the $300 unsecured line of credit, $75 senior notes, and $50 senior notes contain certain restrictive covenants, including covenants relating to the maintenance of net worth, leverage ratios and interest coverage ratios.  As of December 31, 2013, we were in compliance with all of the covenants and ratios.  Our obligations under these agreements are guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries.
	We also have an uncommitted, short-term credit facility maturing on October 22, 2015 that allows for maximum borrowings of $15.  We had no outstanding borrowings under this short-term credit facility as of December 31, 2013.  The  interest rate on this credit facility at December 31, 2013 was 1.42%
	As of December 31, 2013, 64% of our debt is fixed at an average rate of 5.10%, the remainder of our debt contains interest rates which vary mostly in response to the changes in LIBOR.
	Maturities of long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2013 were as follows:
			2014			2015			2016		2017		2018		Thereafter
	Borrowings under:
	Revolving credit agreement		$	-		$	-		$	-	$	123.2	$	-	$	-
	Senior notes			-			-			-		75		-		50
	Other notes payable			0.9			0.5			0.2		0.1		0.1		-
				0.9			0.5			0.2		198.3		0.1		50
	At December 31, 2013 and 2012, we had outstanding standby letters of credit of approximately $7.3 and $4.2, respectively, which are not included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.  These letters of credit typically serve to guarantee performance of our product supply and workers’ compensation obligations; we have recorded amounts owed under these obligations in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]	'
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities	'
	-12	Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
	As a multinational corporation with operations throughout the world, we are subject to certain market risks.  We use a variety of practices to manage these market risks, including, when considered appropriate, derivative financial instruments.  We use derivative financial instruments only for risk management and not for trading or speculative purposes.
	The following table sets forth the fair values of our derivative instruments and where they are recorded within our Consolidated Balance Sheets:
	Liability Derivatives	Balance Sheet Location		Fair Value as of December 31,
				2013				2012
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
	Interest rate swaps	Other long-term liabilities		$	(5.3	)		$	(8.4	)
	Interest rate swaps	Accrued liabilities			(0.5	)			-
	Cash Flow Hedges
			Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized
			in OCI on Derivatives, net of tax
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships		(Effective Portion)
			Year Ended December 31,
			2013				2012
	Interest rate swaps		$	1.8			$	0.6
	We use interest rate swaps to manage variable interest rate risk on debt securities.  Interest rate differentials are paid or received on these arrangements over the life of the swap.  As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, we had an interest rate swap outstanding which effectively hedges the variable interest rate on $30 of our senior notes to a fixed rate of 5.6% per annum.  We also had other interest rate swaps outstanding which effectively hedge the variable interest rate on $33 of our borrowings as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, under our revolving credit agreement, to a fixed rate of 3.3% per annum, plus credit spread.
	Other
	We are exposed to potential gains or losses from foreign currency fluctuations affecting net investments and earnings denominated in foreign currencies.  We are particularly sensitive to currency exchange rate fluctuations for the following currencies: British pound sterling (GBP), Chinese renminbi (CYN), Danish kroner (DKK), Euro, Indian rupee (INR), Malaysian ringgit (MYR), Norwegian krone (NOK), Polish zloty (PLN), South African Rand (ZAR), Swiss franc (SEK), Thai baht (THB), and Turkish lira (TRY).  When considered appropriate, we enter into foreign exchange derivative contracts to mitigate the risk of fluctuations on these exposures.
	We have not designated these contracts for hedge accounting treatment and therefore, changes in fair value of these contracts are recorded in earnings as follows:
		Location of
		Gain or (Loss)		Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in
	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	Recognized in		Income on Derivatives
		Income on		Year Ended December 31,
		Derivatives			2013				2012			2011
	Foreign exchange derivative instruments	Other, net		$	(3.5	)		$	(0.4	)	$	(0.5	)
	We did not have any foreign exchange derivative instruments outstanding as of December 31, 2013 or 2012.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	-13	Fair Value Measurements
	Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  Our calculation of the fair value of derivative instruments includes several assumptions.  The fair value hierarchy prioritizes these input assumptions in the following three broad levels:
	Level 1 – Valuation is based on quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the company has the ability to access at the measurement date.
	Level 2 – Valuation is based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active market, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active and model based valuations for which all significant inputs are observable in the market.
	Level 3 – Valuation is based on model based techniques that use unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. These inputs reflect our own views about the assumption market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
	The following table categorizes our fair value instruments according to the assumptions used to calculate those values at the end of each of the past two years:
						Fair Value Measurements Using
	Description		Asset / (Liability)				Quoted Prices in		Significant Other			Significant
							Active Markets for					Unobservable
			Balance at				Identical Assets		Observable Inputs			Inputs
			12/31/13				(Level 1)		(Level 2)			(Level 3)
	Interest rate swaps		$	(5.8	)		$	-	$	(5.8	)	$	-
	Deferred compensation plan assets			11.9				-		11.9			-
	Supplementary pension plan assets			9.4				-		9.4			-
						Fair Value Measurements Using
				Asset /			Quoted Prices in					Significant
	Description			(Liability)			Active Markets for		Significant Other			Unobservable
				Balance at			Identical Assets		Observable Inputs			Inputs
				12/31/12			(Level 1)		(Level 2)			(Level 3)
	Interest rate swaps		$	(8.4	)		$	-	$	(8.4	)	$	-
	Available-for-sale securities			14.6				14.6		-			-
	Deferred compensation plan assets			9.4				-		9.4			-
	Supplementary pension plan assets			8.2				-		8.2			-
	Interest rate swaps are valued using discounted cash flows.  The key input used is the LIBOR swap rate, which is observable at commonly quoted intervals for the full term of the swap.  Available-for-sale securities are valued using quoted market prices.  Deferred compensation and supplementary pension plan assets are valued using quoted prices for similar assets in active markets.
	The carrying value of our long-term debt approximates its fair value as the interest rate is near the current market rate yield.  The fair value of our long-term debt is determined using current applicable rates for similar instruments as of the balance sheet date.  The fair value of long-term debt for disclosure purpose is a Level 3 liability within the fair value category.

Noncontrolling_Interest

Noncontrolling Interest	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]	'
Noncontrolling Interest	'
	-14	Noncontrolling Interest
	In January 2011, we acquired the remaining noncontrolling interest in Volclay South Africa (Proprietary) Limited (“VSA”), a part of our chromite operations, for approximately $5.6.
	In February 2011, we sold 26% of our interest in Batlhako Mining Limited (“Batlhako”) to Vengawave (Proprietary) Limited, which is a Black Economic Empowerment enterprise (a “BEE”) in the Republic of South Africa.  Batlhako is VSA’s subsidiary dedicated strictly to mining chromite and selling it to one of our other subsidiaries for further processing and sale to the end customer.  South African law requires that we have a BEE as a partner in the mining operations and this transaction was consummated to comply with those regulations.
	The following table sets forth the effects of these transactions on equity attributable to AMCOL’s shareholders.
			Twelve Months Ended December 31,
			2013		2012		2011
	Net income attributable to AMCOL shareholders		$	30.2	$	65.1	$	58.5
	Transfers from noncontrolling interest:
	Decrease in additional paid-in capital for purchase of the remaining noncontrolling interest in  South Africa (Proprietary) Limited			-		-		(5.4	)
	Decrease in additional paid-in capital for transfer of 26% interest in Batlhako			-		-		(3.4	)
	Change from net income attributable to AMCOL shareholders and transfers from noncontrolling interest		$	30.2	$	65.1	$	49.7

Leases

Leases	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Leases [Abstract]	'
Leases	'
	-15	Leases
	In 2008, we entered into a sale-leaseback transaction involving the construction of a new corporate facility.  Under terms of the operating lease, rental payments in fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 approximate $2.7 , $2.7, and $2.6, respectively, and increase 2% annually through December 2028.
	We have several noncancelable leases for equipment, software, and plant facilities.  Total rent expense under operating lease agreements was approximately $23.8, $20.1 and $14.4 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
	The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments for operating leases (with initial terms in excess of one year) as of December 31, 2013:
			Minimum Lease
			Payments
			Domestic		Foreign		Total
	Year ending December 31:
	2014		$	19.7	$	2.5	$	22.2
	2015			15.8		2.1		17.9
	2016			11.8		1.6		13.4
	2017			8.7		0.9		9.6
	2018			6.8		0.5		7.3
	Thereafter			43.4		3.3		46.7
	Total			106.2		10.9		117.1

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]	'
Employee Benefit Plans	'
	-16	Employee Benefit Plans
	We have a defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all of our domestic employees hired before January 1, 2004.  The benefits are based upon years of service and qualifying compensation.  Our funding is calculated using the actuarially determined unit credit cost method.  Contributions are intended to provide not only for benefits attributed to services to date, but also for those expected to be earned in the future.
	In addition to the qualified plan, we sponsor a supplementary pension plan (SERP) that provides benefits in excess of qualified plan limitations for certain employees.
	The following tables set forth our pension obligations and funded status at December 31:
			Pension Benefits
			Defined Benefit Pension Plan						Supplementary Pension Plan
			2013			2012			2013				2012
	Change in benefit obligations:
	Beginning projected benefit obligation		$	63.8		$	58.1		$	13.2			$	11.6
	Service cost			1.7			1.7			0.4				0.3
	Interest cost			2.6			2.7			0.5				0.5
	Actuarial (gain)/loss			(6.8	)		2.6			(1.6	)			1.2
	Benefits paid			(1.4	)		(1.3	)		(0.4	)			(0.4	)
	Ending projected benefit obligation			59.9			63.8			12.1				13.2
	Change in plan assets:
	Beginning fair value			39.1			34.5			-				-
	Actual return			6.2			4.3
	Company contribution			1.2			1.7			0.4				0.4
	Benefits paid			(1.4	)		(1.4	)		(0.4	)			(0.4	)
	Ending fair value			45.1			39.1			-				-
	Funded status of the plan			(14.8	)		(24.7	)		(12.1	)			(13.2	)
	The liabilities associated with our SERP plan and our defined benefit pension plan (net of the defined benefit plan assets) are included within Pension liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheet.  Included within Other Noncurrent Assets within our Consolidated Balance Sheet are invested assets for the benefit of the employees covered by the supplemental pension plan.
	Pension cost in each of the following years was comprised of:
			Defined Benefit Pension Plan										Supplementary Pension Plan
			2013			2012			2011				2013			2012			2011
	Service cost – benefits earned during the year		$	1.7		$	1.7		$	1.5			$	0.4		$	0.3		$	0.2
	Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation			2.6			2.7			2.6				0.5			0.5			0.5
	Expected return on plan assets			(2.9	)		(2.6	)		(2.9	)			-			-			-
	Net amortization and deferral			1			1			0.1				0.3			0.2			0.1
	Net periodic pension cost			2.4			2.8			1.3				1.2			1			0.8
	The following table summarizes the assumptions used in determining our pension obligations at the end of each of our last two years:
		Defined Benefit Pension Plan							Supplementary Pension Plan
		2013				2012			2013			2012
	Discount rate			5	%		4.17	%		4.85	%			4	%
	Rate of compensation increase			3	%		3	%		3	%			3	%
	Long-term rate of return on plan assets			7.5	%		7.5	%		N/A				N/A
	The following table summarizes the assumptions used in determining our net periodic benefit cost in the years ended December 31:
			Defined Benefit Pension Plan										Supplementary Pension Plan
			2013			2012			2011				2013			2012			2011
	Discount rate			4.17	%		4.7	%		5.51	%			4	%		4.63	%		5.36	%
	Rate of compensation increase			3	%		4	%		4	%			3	%		4	%		4	%
	Long-term rate of return on plan assets			7.5	%		7.5	%		8	%			N/A			N/A			N/A
	We expect to contribute up to $2.2 to the defined benefit pension plan in 2014.  The accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) for our defined benefit pension plan was $52.9 and $56.4 at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  The ABO for our supplementary pension plan was $9.5 and $9.4 at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	The estimated future benefit payments contemplated under these plans, reflecting expected future service, as appropriate, are presented in the following table:
			Defined Benefit Pension Plan			Supplementary Pension Plan
	2014		$	1.9		$	0.4
	2015			2.1			0.4
	2016			2.4			0.5
	2017			2.6			0.7
	2018			2.8			0.8
	2018 through 2022			18.1			4
	Note 4 shows the amounts included within accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 that have not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost.  Of these balances at December 31, 2013, the amounts expected to be amortized in the next fiscal year are $0.1 and $0.2 for the unrecognized prior service cost and unrecognized net actuarial loss, respectively.  Excluding the effect of income taxes, the amounts recognized within other comprehensive income and the prior service cost for 2013 and 2012, are as follows:
			2013			2012
	Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income:
	Net actuarial loss (gain)		$	(11.8	)	$	2.1
	Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain)			(1.2	)		(1.1	)
	Amortization of prior service cost (credit)			-			(0.1	)
	Total change in other comprehensive income			(13.0	)		0.9
	Defined Benefit Pension Plan
	Fair values of our defined benefit pension plan assets at December 31, by asset category, are as follows:
			Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2013
						Quoted Prices			Significant Observable Inputs				Significant Unobservable Inputs
						in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
		Total			Level 1			Level 2				Level 3
Short term investment funds		$	0.1		$	-		$	0.1			$	-
Equity securities:
US equity securities			17.3			7.4			9.9				-
International equity securities			12.3			4.4			7.9				-
AMCOL International common stock			2.4			2.4			-				-
Fixed income securities and bonds
Governmental agencies			0.8			-			0.8				-
Corporate bonds			6.8			6.8			-				-
Other investments
Real estate index funds			0.8			-			0.8				-
Hedge funds			4.6			-			-				4.6
Total			45.1			21			19.5				4.6
		Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2012
					Quoted Prices			Significant Observable Inputs				Significant Unobservable Inputs
					in Active
					Markets for
					Identical Assets
		Total			Level 1			Level 2				Level 3
Short term investment funds		$	0.6		$	-		$	0.6			$	-
Equity securities:
US equity securities			14			1.4			12.6				-
International equity securities			9.5			4.5			5				-
AMCOL International common stock			2.1			2.1			-				-
Fixed income securities and bonds
Governmental agencies			0.7			-			0.7				-
Corporate bonds			5.4			5.4			-				-
Guaranteed investment contracts			1.3			-			1.3				-
Other investments
Real estate index funds			0.8			-			0.8				-
Commodities linked funds			0.7			0.7			-				-
Hedge funds			4			-			-				4
Total			39.1			14.1			21				4
Assets classified as Level 1 are valued using quoted prices on the major stock exchange on which individual assets are traded.  Our Level 2 assets are valued using net asset value.  The net asset value is quoted on a private market that is not active; however, the unit price is based on underlying investments that are traded on an active market.  Our Level 3 assets are estimated at fair value based on the most recent financial information available for the underlying securities, which are not traded on active market, and represents significant unobservable input.
The following is a reconciliation of changes in fair value measurements of plan assets using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):
		Hedge Funds
Beginning balance at December 31, 2011		$	3.9
Purchases, sales, and settlements			-
Actual return on plan assets still held at reporting date			0.1
Ending balance at December 31, 2012			4
Purchases, sales, and settlements			-
Actual return on plan assets still held at reporting date			0.6
Ending balance at December 31, 2013			4.6
We employ a total return investment approach whereby we use a mix of equities and fixed income investments to maximize the long-term return of plan assets with a prudent level of risk.  Risk tolerance is established through careful consideration of plan liabilities, plan funded status, and our corporate financial condition.  The investment portfolio contains a diversified blend of equity, fixed-income investments and alternative investments.  The investment objectives emphasize maximizing returns consistent with ensuring that sufficient assets are available to meet liabilities, and minimizing corporate cash contributions.  Our defined benefit plan assets are managed so as to include investments that balance income and capital appreciation.
Our defined benefit plan has a target range for different types of investments:  equity securities (between 41% and 69%), fixed income securities and bonds (between 18% and 31%), alternative investments (between 5% and 23%), and cash (between 0% and 10%).  This allocation takes into account factors such as the average age of employees covered by the Plan (benefit obligations) as well as overall market conditions.  Interim portfolio reviews result in investment allocations being evaluated at least twice a year by the Pension Committee and rebalancing takes place as needed.  Equity investments are diversified across U.S. and non-U.S. stocks, as well as growth, value, and small and large capitalizations.  Fixed income securities and bonds include both government and corporate investment vehicles.  These include a series of laddered debt securities as well as bond funds.
Historical markets are studied and long-term historical relationships between equities and fixed-income are preserved consistent with the widely accepted capital market principle that assets with higher volatility generate a greater return over the long run.  Current market factors such as inflation and interest rates are evaluated before long-term capital market assumptions are determined.  The long-term rate of return for plan assets is established via a building block approach with proper consideration of diversification and rebalancing.
Defined Contribution Plan
Employees hired on or after January 1, 2004 do not participate in our defined benefit pension plan or SERP.  Instead, they participate in a defined contribution plan whereby we make a retirement contribution into the employee’s savings plan equal to 3% of their compensation.  We made total contributions to this plan of $2.4, $1.9 and $1.8 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
401(k) Savings Plan
We also have a savings plan for our U.S. personnel.  In 2013, we made a contribution in an amount equal to an employee’s contributions up to a maximum of 4% of the employee’s annual earnings.  We make contributions to this plan using either cash or our own common stock which we purchase in the open market.  Our contributions under the savings plan were $4.3 in 2013, $3.8 in 2012 and $3.4 in 2011.
Other
We also have a deferred compensation plan and a 401(k) restoration plan for our executives.

Stock_Compensation_Plans

Stock Compensation Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock Compensation Plans [Abstract]	'
Stock Compensation Plans	'
	-17	Stock Compensation Plans
	We provide compensation to certain employees using stock based awards. Below is an overview of our stock compensation plans:
	2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”):
	Our 2006 Plan permits a total of 1,500,000 shares of AMCOL common stock to be awarded to eligible directors and employees through the use of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units, and stock appreciation rights.  Different terms and conditions apply to each form of award made under the plan.  Awards granted prior to 2009 have a six year life from the date of grant and vest ratably over a three year period from the date of grant.  Awards granted in 2009 have a ten year life from the date of grant and vest ratably over a three year period from the date of the grant.  No awards could be made pursuant to this plan after May 2010 when the 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan was adopted as discussed later herein.
	2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”):
	On May 6, 2010, our shareholders approved the 2010 Plan.  This plan permits a total of 2,000,000 shares of AMCOL common stock to be awarded to eligible directors and employees through the use of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units, and stock appreciation rights.  Different terms and conditions apply to each form of award under the plan.  Awards granted under this plan have a ten year life from the date of grant and vest ratably over a three year period from the date of the grant. At any time, the Board of Directors may amend the plan, which automatically expires on May 7, 2020.  The total number of securities remaining available for future awards under this plan at December 31, 2013 was 795,852 shares.
	Nonqualified stock options and stock appreciation rights:
	For purposes of calculating compensation cost, we estimate the fair value of each award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.  The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of awards granted and the weighted average grant date fair value per share during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 are as follows:
		2013	2012	2011
	Risk-free interest rate	1.00%	1.00%	2.20%
	Expected life in years	5.37	5.39	5.51
	Expected dividend yield	2.60%	2.30%	2.50%
	Expected volatility	56.00%	56.40%	49.00%
	Weighted-average per share fair value of awards granted	$12.25	$12.36	$11.42
	The risk-free interest rate is derived using the zero-coupon yield on the grant date.  The expected life is calculated using our actual historical exercise behavior in combination with an estimate of when vested and unexercised options will be exercised.  Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of our stock price over the expected life of the award.
	We recorded stock compensation expense of $3.8, $4.5 and $3.2 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  At December 31, 2013, we had approximately $2.0 of unrecognized stock compensation expense, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 0.7 years.  We expect to satisfy the exercise of these stock compensation awards by issuing new shares of common stock.
	Changes in options outstanding are summarized as follows:
		31-Dec-13						31-Dec-12						31-Dec-11
						Weighted						Weighted						Weighted
						Average						Average						Average
	2006 Plan					Exercise						Exercise						Exercise
						Price						Price						Price
		Awards				Per Share		Awards				Per Share		Awards				Per Share
	Awards outstanding at January 1			883,109		$	22.84			1,189,012		$	22.91			1,389,598		$	23.02
	Exercised			(349,551	)		25.25			(297,528	)		23.11			(170,998	)		24.04
	Forfeited			-			-			(3,125	)		23.24			(20,087	)		20.48
	Expired			(49,224	)		29.84			(5,250	)		23.89			(9,501	)		23.64
	Awards outstanding at December 31			484,334			20.39			883,109			22.84			1,189,012			22.91
	Awards exercisable at December 31			484,334			20.39			781,574			22.79			885,003			23.67
			31-Dec-13						31-Dec-12						31-Dec-11
						Weighted						Weighted						Weighted
						Average						Average						Average
	2010 Plan					Exercise						Exercise						Exercise
						Price						Price						Price
			Awards			Per Share			Awards			Per Share			Awards			Per Share
	Awards outstanding at January 1			750,296		$	30.2			356,050		$	30.66					$	-
	Granted			268,300			30.47			417,420			29.8			379,425			30.66
	Exercised			(26,113	)		30.36			(567	)		30.66			-			-
	Forfeited			(18,015	)		30.16			(22,107	)		30.12			(23,375	)		30.66
	Expired			-			-			(500	)		30.66			-			-
	Awards outstanding at December 31			974,468			30.27			750,296			30.2			356,050			30.66
	Awards exercisable at December 31			350,403			30.34			117,219			30.66			-			-
	The following table summarizes information about intrinsic value of awards exercised, fair value of awards vested and grant date fair value of awards granted during 2013, 2012 and 2011:
	All Plans		2013			2012			2011
	Intrinsic value of awards exercised during the year		$	2.6		$	3.6		$	5.1
	Fair value of awards vested during the year			4			2.9			2.4
	Grant date fair value of awards granted during the year			3.3			5.2			4.3
	The following table summarizes information about stock compensation awards outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2013:
						Weighted						Weighted
	All Plans					Average						Average
			Number			Exercise						Remaining
			of			Price			Intrinsic			Contractual
			Awards			Per Share			Value			Life (Yrs.)
	Awards outstanding at December 31, 2013			1,458,802		$	26.99		$	10.2			7.05
	Awards exercisable at December 31, 2013			834,737			24.57			7.9			6.07
	The following table summarizes information about our nonvested stock compensation awards outstanding:
		31-Dec-13						31-Dec-12						31-Dec-11
						Weighted						Weighted						Weighted
	All Plans -					Average						Average						Average
	Nonvested Awards					Grant date						Grant date						Grant date
						Fair value						Fair Value						Fair Value
		Awards				Per Share		Awards				Per Share		Awards				Per Share
	Nonvested awards outstanding at January 1			734,612		$	11.55			660,059		$	9.8			635,726		$	7.87
Granted			268,300			12.25			417,420			12.36			379,425			11.42
Vested			(360,832	)		11			(317,635	)		8.99			(311,630	)		7.8
Forfeited			(18,015	)		12.09			(25,232	)		11.59			(43,462	)		9.77
Nonvested awards outstanding at December 31			624,065			12.15			734,612			11.55			660,059			9.8
Restricted Stock Awards:
Restricted stock awards are subject to performance conditions established by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.  Restricted stock awards do not pay dividends or allow voting rights during the vesting period.  The fair value of these awards is equal to the quoted market price of our common stock on the grant date, discounted by the present value of the stream of dividends over the vesting period of the award. The fair value is amortized to compensation expense ratably over the performance period if achievement of the performance conditions is considered probable.
		31-Dec-13						31-Dec-12						31-Dec-11
					Weighted						Weighted						Weighted
					Average						Average						Average
2010 Plan					Grant Date						Grant Date						Grant Date
					Fair Value						Fair Value						Fair Value
		Awards			Per Share			Awards			Per Share			Awards			Per Share
Awards outstanding at January 1			49,997		$	30.66			75,000		$	30.66			-		$	-
Granted			129,700			28.94			-			-			77,000			30.66
Vested			(34,998	)		30.56			(25,003	)		30.66			-			-
Forfeited			(1,700	)		28.95						-			(2,000	)		30.66
Awards outstanding at December 31			142,999			29.15			49,997			30.66			75,000			30.66
In 2009, we granted 40,000 shares of performance based restricted stock with December 2012 vest date to our executive officers pursuant to our 2006 Plan.  These restricted awards had a grant date fair value of $28.42 per share. All these shares were cancelled in December 2012 as the performance targets were not met.
We recorded expense of $1.3, $0.0 and $1.7 for our restricted stock awards in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  At December 31, 2013, we had approximately $2.1 of unrecognized stock compensation expense, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.3 years.  We expect to satisfy any future distribution of shares of restricted stock by issuing new shares of common stock.

Reorganization_Charges

Reorganization Charges	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Reorganization Charges [Abstract]	'
Reorganization Charges	'
	-18	Reorganization Charges
	Our results for the year ended December 31, 2013 include certain expenses associated with reorganizing our operations.  These reorganization efforts mainly relate to our operations in Europe to close or reorganize certain offices there, improve our cost structure, and increase operating efficiencies.  The following table outlines the amount of expenses, where they were recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Operations, and the segments they relate to:
	Year Ended December 31, 2013		Performance Materials		Construction Technologies		Comsolidated
	Cost of sales line:
	Employee termination and other benefits		$	0.1	$	0.7	$	0.8
	Selling, general and administrative expenses line:
	Employee termination and other benefits			0.6		2.5		3.1
	Non-cash impairment charges (1)			-		0.6		0.6
	Total		$	0.7	$	3.8	$	4.5
	-1	Non-cash impairment charges relate to write-down of certain assets held-for-sale to their estimated fair values based on a third-party appraisal (a Level 2 fair value input).
	At December 31, 2013, we had $0.1 included within accrued liabilities within our Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash expenditures needed to satisfy remaining obligations under these reorganization initiatives.  Due to an extended employee notification period, we expect to pay these amounts by the end of March 2014.

Contingencies

Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Contingencies [Abstract]	'
Contingencies	'
	-19	Contingencies
	We are party to a number of lawsuits arising in the normal course of our business.  Our energy services segment is party to two lawsuits alleging damages caused by our coiled tubing operations in Louisiana; one lawsuit alleges damages of $28 and the other of $9.  To date, we have not incurred significant costs in defending these matters.
	Our energy services segment is also party to several lawsuits alleging damages caused by our nitrogen service operations.  For one of these lawsuits, we estimate that we are probably liable for amounts in the range of $2.0 million to $3.4 million, with no amount within this range a better estimate than any other amount.  Accordingly, we have accrued $2.0 million as of December 31, 2013.
	We believe we have adequate insurance coverage and do not believe that any of the aforementioned pending litigation will have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, liquidity or results of our operations.
	Within our construction technologies segment, we have one customer contract which obligates us to complete certain work within a specified timeframe.  Although we have not fulfilled those obligations, our customer has indicated that no penalties will be assessed.  Thus, we have not accrued any obligation for amounts resulting from this non-compliance.
	On May 8, 2013, Armada (Singapore) PTE Limited, an ocean shipping company now in bankruptcy ("Armada") filed a case in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois against AMCOL and certain of its subsidiaries (Armada (Singapore) PTE Limited v. AMCOL International Corp., et al., United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Case No. 13 CV 3455).  A co-defendant is Ashapura Minechem Limited, a company located in Mumbai, India ("AML").  During the relevant time period, 2008-2010, AMCOL owned slightly over 20% of the outstanding AML stock through December 2009, after which it owned approximately 19%.  In 2008, AML entered into two contracts of affreightment ("COA") with Armada for over 60 ship loads of bauxite from India to China.  After one shipment, AML made no further shipments which led Armada to file arbitrations in London, one for each COA.  AML did not appear in the London arbitrations and default awards of approximately $70 were entered.  The litigation filed by Armada against AMCOL and AML relates to these awards, which AML has not paid.  The substance of the allegations by Armada is that AML and AMCOL engaged in illegal conduct to thwart Armada's efforts to collect the arbitration award.  The counts in the complaint include both violations of the Illinois Fraudulent Transfer laws as well as federal RICO violations. The lawsuit seeks money damages as well injunctive relief.  The litigation is now entering the discovery phase. Fact discovery and expert discovery is currently scheduled to last through June 12, 2015.
	Litigation Related to the Imerys Transaction
	On or about February 18, 2014, Hilary Coyne filed a purported class action complaint on behalf of herself and all other similarly situated stockholders of AMCOL in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Chancery Division (Hilary Coyne v. AMCOL International Corporation, John Hughes, Ryan McKendrick, Audrey L. Weaver, Paul C. Weaver, Jay D. Proops, Donald J. Gallagher, William H. Schumann III, Clarence O. Redman, Daniel P. Casey, Frederick J. Palensky, Dale E. Stahl, Imerys S.A., and Imerys Minerals Delaware, Inc., Case No. 2014 CH02849).
	On or about February 24, 2014, a second AMCOL stockholder filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Chancery Division, on behalf of the same purported class of AMCOL stockholders and against the same defendants as the first case as well as a former AMCOL director (City of Monroe Employees' Retirement System, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. AMCOL International Corporation, Imerys S.A., Imerys Minerals Delaware, Inc., John Hughes, Ryan McKendrick, Arthur Brown, Daniel P. Casey, Frederick J. Palensky, Jay D. Proops, Clarence O. Redman, Dale E. Stahl,  Audrey L. Weaver, Paul C. Weaver, Donald J. Gallagher, William H. Schumann III, Case No. 2014 CH03236).
	On or about February 21, 2014, Benjamin Halberstam, on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated AMCOL stockholders, filed a purported class action complaint in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware  against the same defendants in the Coyne case (Benjamin Halberstam v. AMCOL International Corporation, John Hughes, Ryan F. McKendrick, Daniel P. Casey, Frederick J. Palensky, Jay D. Proops, Clarence O. Redman, Dale E. Stahl, Audrey L. Weaver, Paul C. Weaver, Donald J. Gallagher, William H. Schumann III, Imerys S.A., and Imerys Minerals Delaware, Inc., Case No. 9381)
	All three lawsuits allege, among other things, that AMCOL's directors breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the negotiation, consideration and approval of the Imerys Merger Agreement by, among other things, agreeing to sell AMCOL for inadequate consideration and on otherwise inappropriate terms.  The complaints allege that Imerys, and in certain cases AMCOL, aided and abetted the alleged breaches of fiduciary duty by the AMCOL directors.  Based on these allegations, the lawsuits, among other relief, seek certain injunctive relief, including the enjoining of the Imerys Transaction, and damages. The lawsuits also seek recovery of the costs of the actions, including attorneys' fees.
	AMCOL expects that additional stockholder class action complaints, or amendments to the existing complaints, may be filed with respect to the Imerys Transaction.

Subsequent_Event

Subsequent Event	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Subsequent Event [Abstract]	'
Subsequent Event [Text Block]	'
	-20	Subsequent Event
	On February 11, 2014, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Imerys SA, a corporation organized under the laws of France (“Imerys”), and Imerys Minerals Delaware, Inc., a Delaware corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Imerys (“Purchaser”).  Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, Purchaser will commence a cash tender offer (the “Offer”) to acquire all of the outstanding shares of our common stock (the “Shares”), at a purchase price of $41.00 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest.
	The obligation of the Purchaser to complete the Offer is subject to certain terms and conditions, including the expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.  Completion of the Offer is not subject to any financing condition.  The Merger Agreement includes customary representations, warranties and covenants of AMCOL, Imerys and Purchaser.
	Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, as soon as practicable following the completion of the Offer, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Purchaser will be merged with and into AMCOL, with AMCOL continuing as the surviving corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Imerys, pursuant to the procedure provided for under Section 251(h) of the Delaware General Corporation Law without any additional approval of AMCOL’s stockholders (the “Merger”).
	AMCOL has agreed to operate its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practices until the effective time of the Merger, subject to customary exceptions.  AMCOL has also agreed to certain restrictions, subject to certain exceptions described in the Merger Agreement, on its ability to solicit, initiate or encourage discussions with third parties regarding other proposals to acquire AMCOL.
	On February 24, 2014, AMCOL received an unsolicited proposal from Minerals Technologies, Inc. ("MTI") to acquire all of AMCOL's outstanding Shares at a price per Share of $42.50 in cash (the "MTI Proposal").   The MTI Proposal included a draft merger agreement and financing commitment letter.  The draft merger agreement provided that MTI could terminate the merger agreement if financing is unavailable to consummate the acquisition.  In such a circumstance, MTI would be obligated to pay AMCOL a $70 million reverse termination fee, but AMCOL would not have a right of seek specific performance to require MTI to complete the transaction.
	On February 26, 2014, in response to the MTI Proposal, Imerys proposed to amend the Merger Agreement to increase the price to be paid in the Offer to $42.75 per Share, but otherwise leave all other terms of the Merger Agreement in place (the "Merger Agreement Amendment").  After comparing the relative merits of the MTI Proposal and the Merger Agreement Amendment during a meeting held in the afternoon of February 26, 2014, the AMCOL Board determined that the MTI Proposal was not superior to the Merger Agreement Amendment, found the Merger Agreement Amendment to be fair to and in the best interests of AMCOL stockholders and approved the Merger Agreement Amendment.  Later on February 26, 2014, AMCOL, Imerys and Purchaser executed the Merger Agreement Amendment.

Quarterly_Results_Unaudited

Quarterly Results (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Results (Unaudited) [Abstract]	'
Quarterly Results (Unaudited)	'
	-21	Quarterly Results (Unaudited)
	Unaudited summarized results for each quarter of the last two years are as follows:
			2013 Quarters
			First			Second			Third			Fourth
	Performance materials		$	113.4		$	123.2		$	126.1		$	125.4
	Construction technologies			42.8			56			62.8			56.5
	Energy services			73.1			77.7			72.8			71.8
	Transportation			10.2			11.5			12.7			11.1
	Intersegment sales			(6.6	)		(9.6	)		(10.9	)		(7.3	)
	Net sales			232.9			258.8			263.5			257.5
	Performance materials		$	28.3		$	30.8		$	(19.4	)	$	29.8
	Construction technologies			13.1			17.9			21.5			16.2
	Energy services			19.6			20.6			14			18.1
	Transportation			1.1			1.2			1.4			1.2
	Intersegment gross profit			-			0.1			-			0.1
	Gross profit			62.1			70.6			17.5			65.4
	Performance materials		$	15.9		$	18.8		$	(32.1	)	$	17.4
	Construction technologies			(1.8	)		2.8			9.3			3.7
	Energy services			8.2			8.8			3.8			4.7
	Transportation			0.2			0.3			0.5			0.2
	Corporate			(6.2	)		(5.8	)		(6.1	)		(6.8	)
	Operating profit  (loss)			16.3			24.9			(24.6	)		19.2
	Income (loss) from continuing operations		$	10.5		$	16.5		$	(22.5	)	$	23
	Income (loss) on discontinued operations		$	-		$	0.1		$	(4.1	)	$	(0.2	)
	Net income (loss)		$	10.5		$	16.6		$	(26.6	)	$	22.8
	Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		$	-		$	-		$	(6.8	)	$	(0.1	)
	Net income (loss) attributable to AMCOL shareholders		$	10.5		$	16.6		$	(19.8	)	$	22.9
	Basic earnings per share attributable to AMCOL shareholders (A)		$	0.32		$	0.51		$	(0.61	)	$	0.71
	Diluted earnings per share attributable to AMCOL shareholders (A)		$	0.32		$	0.51		$	(0.61	)	$	0.7
	(A) Earnings per share (EPS) for each quarter is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the quarter, while EPS for the year is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the year.  Thus, the sum of the EPS for each of the four quarters may not equal the EPS for the year.
	In the first quarter ended March 31, 2013, our corporate segment recorded $1.0 of selling, general and administrative expense associated with amending certain SEC filings for 2012 and 2011.
	Our construction technologies and performance materials segments recorded following reorganization charges relating to our operations in Europe in the first quarter ended March 31, 2013 and second quarter ended June 30, 2013. See Note 18 for more details.
	Construction technologies:
		-	$0.5 and $0.2 in cost of goods sold during the first quarter and second quarter, respectively;
		-	$1.7 and $1.5 in selling, general and administrative expense during the first quarter and second quarter, respectively.
	Performance materials:
		-	$0.4 and $0.2 in selling, general and administrative expense during the first and second quarter, respectively.
	During the third quarter ended September 2013, our performance materials segment recorded following charges relating to impairment of certain long-lived assets in our South African chromite operations. See Note 5 for more details.
		-	$52.2 in cost of goods sold;
		-	$0.1 in selling, general and administrative expense.
	Our energy services segment recorded $1.6 of selling, general and administrative expense relating to a large bad debt expense in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013.
	Our income from continuing operations during the fourth quarter includes gain of $12.6 resulting from sale of available-for-sale securities and $1.0 of related tax expense.
			2012 Quarters
			First			Second			Third			Fourth
	Performance materials		$	120.9		$	125		$	116.7		$	111.1
	Construction technologies			51			61.4			60.6			50.1
	Energy services			55.3			61.1			69.1			71.8
	Transportation			11.1			11.7			10.7			10.5
	Intersegment sales			(7.1	)		(7.8	)		(7.9	)		(7.9	)
	Net sales			231.2			251.4			249.2			235.6
	Performance materials		$	32		$	33.5		$	30.1		$	25.7
	Construction technologies			14.6			18.7			20.1			15.1
	Energy services			15.4			19.2			17.7			18.8
	Transportation			1.2			1.2			1.1			1.1
	Intersegment gross profit			0.1			0.1			(0.3	)		0.1
	Gross profit			63.3			72.7			68.7			60.8
	Performance materials		$	21		$	21.8		$	18.4		$	14.8
	Construction technologies			1			6.3			7			1.3
	Energy services			4.8			7.7			7.9			8.3
	Transportation			0.2			0.3			0.2			0.1
	Corporate			(6.1	)		(5.7	)		(5.0	)		(6.5	)
	Operating profit			20.9			30.4			28.5			18
	Income from continuing operations		$	13.2		$	20.9		$	19.2		$	11.3
Income (loss) on discontinued operations		$	0.3		$	0.5		$	(0.2	)	$	(0.3	)
Net income		$	13.5		$	21.4		$	19		$	11
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		$	0.1		$	(0.3	)	$	-		$	-
Net income (loss) attributable to AMCOL shareholders		$	13.4		$	21.7		$	19		$	11
Basic earnings per share attributable to AMCOL shareholders (A)		$	0.42		$	0.68		$	0.59		$	0.34
Diluted earnings per share attributable to AMCOL shareholders (A)		$	0.41		$	0.67		$	0.59		$	0.34
(A) Earnings per share (EPS) for each quarter is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the quarter, while EPS for the year is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the year.  Thus, the sum of the EPS for each of the four quarters may not equal the EPS for the year.
Our construction technologies segment recorded an expense of $1.8 and $0.6 in other non-operating expense to provide for estimated losses on certain non-operating assets in the first quarter ended March 31, 2012 and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2012, respectively.
Our energy services segment recorded $1.3 of selling, general and administrative expense relating to a large bad debt expense in the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.
Our corporate segment recorded $0.7 of selling, general and administrative expense relating to impairment of certain corporate information technology assets in the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Recently Adopted and Recently Issued Accounting Guidance	'
	Recently Adopted and Recently Issued Accounting Guidance
	Adopted:
	In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-02 codified in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 220 – Comprehensive Income which adds new disclosure requirements for items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income.  This ASU requires entities to disclose additional information about reclassification adjustments, including changes in accumulated other comprehensive income balances by component and significant items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income.  Other than additional disclosure requirements, the adoption of this ASU on January 1, 2013 had no impact on our financial statements.
	In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, codified in ASC Topic 350 – Intangibles – Goodwill and Other.   This ASU gives entities the option to first assess the qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events and circumstances indicates that it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired.  If impairment is indicated, the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset should be determined and the quantitative impairment test should be performed by comparing the fair value with the carrying value in accordance with subtopic 350-30.  If impairment is not indicated, the entity is not required to take further action.  The adoption of this ASU on January 1, 2013 had no impact on our financial statements.
	Issued:
	In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05 codified in ASC Topic 830 – Foreign Currency Matters. This ASU clarifies the applicable guidance relating to a parent entity’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 parent entity is required to release any related cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income into net income in the following circumstances: (i) a parent entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a business within a foreign entity if the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity in which the subsidiary or group of assets had resided; (ii) a partial sale of an equity method investment that is a foreign entity; (iii) a partial sale of an equity method investment that is not a foreign entity whereby the partial sale represents a complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity that held the equity method investment; and (iv) the sale of an investment in a foreign entity. This ASU will become effective for us on January 1, 2014. The impact of this ASU on our financial statements will be considered in the event we initiate any of the transactions described above.
Principles of Consolidation	'
	Principles of Consolidation
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of our domestic and foreign subsidiaries as well as variable interest entities for which we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary.  We consolidate all majority-owned subsidiaries in which we exercise control.  We use the equity method of accounting to incorporate the results of our investments in companies in which we have significant influence, but do not control (generally 20% to 50% ownership interest) and cost method of accounting for investments in companies in which we do not exercise significant influence.
	Our corporate segment includes the elimination of intersegment sales as well as certain expenses associated with research and development, management, employee benefits and information technology activities for our Company.  Approximately 71% of the revenue elimination in the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and 77% of the revenue elimination in the year ended December 31, 2011 represent the elimination of shipping revenues between our transportation segment and its domestic sister companies.  Remaining revenue eliminations mainly relate to performance materials segment sales to construction technologies and energy services segments.
Segments	'
	Segments
	The composition of consolidated revenues by segment is as follows:
		Percentage of Net Sales
		2013			2012			2011
	Performance materials		48	%		49	%		50	%
	Construction technologies		22	%		23	%		27	%
	Energy services		29	%		27	%		21	%
	Transportation		4	%		5	%		6	%
	Intersegment sales		-3	%		-4	%		-4	%
			100	%		100	%		100	%
	Further descriptions of our products, principal markets and the relative significance of our segment operations are included in Note 2.
Use of Estimates	'
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported in our financial statements as well as certain disclosures contained therein.  Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition	'
	Revenue Recognition
	We recognize revenue from sales of products when title passes to the customer, the customer assumes the risks and rewards of ownership, and collectibility is reasonably assured; generally, this occurs when we ship product to customers.  We record allowances for discounts, rebates, and estimated returns at the time of sale and report these as reductions to revenue.  We generate some sales through independent, third-party representatives and record the commission paid to the representative as an expense within selling, general and administrative expenses.
	We recognize revenue for freight delivery services within our transportation segment when the service is provided.  We accrue amounts payable for purchased transportation, commissions and insurance when the related revenue is recognized.
	Service and rental revenues are primarily generated in our construction technologies and energy services segments.  We recognize these revenues in the period such services are performed and collectibility is reasonably assured.
	We record revenue from long-term construction contracts using the percentage-of-completion method.  Progress is generally based upon costs incurred to date as compared to the total estimated costs to complete the work under the contract or the amount of product installed in relation to the total amount expected to be installed.  All known or anticipated losses on contracts are provided when they become evident.  Cost adjustments that are in the process of being negotiated with customers for extra work or changes in scope of work are included in revenue when collection is reasonably assured.
Translation of Foreign Currencies	'
	Translation of Foreign Currencies
	Foreign entities generally utilize their local currency as the functional currency.  We record gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions in other income (expense) line within consolidated statements of operations, and we reflect the adjustments resulting from the translation of financial statements into our reporting currency during consolidation as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within equity section in consolidated balance sheets.  The assets and liabilities of subsidiaries located outside of the United States are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet dates.  The statements of operations are translated using average exchange rates throughout the period.
Cash Equivalents	'
	Cash Equivalents
	We classify all short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less as cash and cash equivalents.
Inventories	'
	Inventories
	Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value.  Cost is determined by the first‑in, first‑out (FIFO) method.  Mineral exploration costs are expensed as incurred.
Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	'
	Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
	We carry our receivables at their face amount less an allowance for bad debts.  We establish the allowance for bad debts based on a review of several factors, including historical collection experience, current aging status of the customer accounts, and the financial condition of our customers.
Property, Plant, Equipment, and Mineral Rights and Reserves	'
	Property, Plant, Equipment, and Mineral Rights and Reserves
	Property, plant, equipment, and mineral rights and reserves are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and depletion.  Depreciation expense, which includes depreciation on assets under capital leases, is computed using the straight-line method for substantially all of the assets.  Certain other assets, primarily field and stockpile related equipment and mineral rights and reserves, are depreciated on the units‑of‑production method.
Goodwill	'
	Goodwill
	Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets of acquired businesses.  Fair value reflects the price a market participant would be willing to pay in a potential sale of the reporting unit.  We review the carrying value of goodwill in each reporting unit for impairment annually as of October 1st or more frequently if indications exist which may suggest the carrying value is not recoverable.  Such indicators may include deterioration in general economic conditions, negative developments in equity and credit market, adverse changes in the market in which we operate, increase in input costs that have a negative impact on earnings and cash flows, or a trend of negative or declining cash flows over multiple periods, among others.
	We relied on the qualitative assessment method in conducting our 2013 annual goodwill impairment assessment.  We identified various events and circumstances (or factors) that would affect the estimated fair value of our reporting units and determined the level of impact a particular factor would have on the estimated fair value.  In addition, we considered the results of the most recent two-step quantitative impairment test completed for each reporting unit and compared the weighted average cost of capital between the current and prior years for each reporting unit.  We concluded that it was not more likely than not that any of our reporting units’ fair value under qualitative assessment were less than their carrying value.  As such, no further analysis was required.
Other Intangible Assets	'
	Other Intangible Assets
	Other intangible assets with a finite useful life are amortized on the straight‑line method over the expected periods to be benefited.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets	'
	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
	We review the carrying values of long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and intangible assets with a finite useful life whenever facts and circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired.  Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to its fair value.  We generally assess fair value by using discounted cash flow models or cost approach.   If we consider an asset to be impaired, we record an impairment charge equal to the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds the fair value.  We report assets held-for-sale at the lower of its carrying value or fair value, less costs of disposal.
	In the case of intangible assets with indefinite lives, we review them annually for impairment.  This review involves comparing the fair value of the intangible asset with its carrying amount.  If its carrying amount exceeds its fair value, we recognize an impairment loss equal to that excess.
Available-for-Sale Securities	'
	Available-for-Sale Securities
	We record available-for-sale securities at their fair value using quoted market prices.  We owned one available-for-sale security investment as of December 31, 2013 which reflected our equity ownership in Ashapura Minechem Limited, a company listed on Bombay stock exchange, which we sold in the fourth quarter of 2013.  We reported the unrealized gains and losses prior to sale, net of applicable taxes, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within Consolidated Balance Sheets, and as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) within Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.  The realized gain is recorded in other income within Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities relating to the future tax consequences of differences between the financial statement carrying value of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax values.  We measure deferred tax assets and liabilities using tax rates in effect in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  We recognize the effect that changes in tax rates have on deferred tax assets and liabilities in income in the period that the change is enacted.  Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts that are more likely than not to be realized.  We classify interest and penalties associated with income taxes, including uncertain tax positions, within the income tax expense line item of our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Freight and Sales Taxes	'
	Freight and Sales Taxes
	We report amounts charged to customers for shipping and handling fees as revenues and we report amounts incurred for these costs within cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations (i.e. gross presentation with revenues and cost of sales).  Also, we report amounts charged to customers for sales taxes and the related costs incurred for sales tax remittances to governmental agencies within net sales in the Consolidated Statements of Operations (i.e. net presentation within revenues).
Product Liability & Warranty Expenses	'
	Product Liability & Warranty Expenses
	We report expenses incurred for warranty and product liability costs in general, selling and administrative expenses in our Consolidated Statement of Operations.  Our warranty accrual is based on known warranty issues as of the balance sheet date as well as a reserve for unidentified claims based on historical experience.
Legal Fees	'
	Legal Fees
	We report expenses for fees, including legal costs associated with loss contingencies, when services are performed.
Land Reclamation	'
	Land Reclamation
	We mine land for various minerals using a surface-mining process that requires the removal of overburden.  In many instances, we are obligated to restore the land upon completion of the mining activity.  As we remove overburden, we recognize this liability for land reclamation based on the estimated fair value of the obligation.  We adjust the obligation to reflect the passage of time and changes in estimated future cash outflows.
Research and Development	'
	Research and Development
	Research and development costs are expensed as incurred within selling, general and administrative expenses.
Earnings per Share	'
	Earnings per Share
	Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to AMCOL shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is similarly computed, except the denominator is increased to include the dilutive effects of stock compensation awards and other share equivalents.  Stock compensation awards are antidilutive and therefore excluded from our diluted earnings per share calculation when their exercise would result in a net decrease in the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  A reconciliation between the shares used to compute basic and diluted earnings per share follows:
		2013			2012			2011
	Weighted average common shares outstanding for the year		32,463,634			32,050,538			31,708,949
	Dilutive impact of stock equivalents		303,319			347,827			436,824
	Weighted average common and common equivalent shares for the year		32,766,953			32,398,365			32,145,773
	Common shares outstanding at December 31		32,468,752			32,184,110			31,728,969
	Weighted average anti-dilutive shares excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share		273,802			402,485			189,768
Stock-Based Compensation	'
	Stock-Based Compensation
	We measure compensation cost for all our share-based payment awards at fair value and recognize cost over the vesting period.  We estimate the forfeiture rate based on our historical experience.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities	'
	Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
	From time to time, we use derivative financial instruments to manage exposures to changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates.  We do not use derivative instruments for trading or other speculative purposes.  We recognize our derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet at their fair value.  Our recognition of changes in the fair value (i.e. gains and losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and the type of that relationship.  Hedges designated as cash flow hedges result in the changes in fair value being recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.  Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments for which hedge accounting is not applied, are recorded within Other, net within our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Reclassifications	'
	Reclassifications
	Certain items in the prior years’ consolidated financial statements contained herein and notes thereto have been reclassified to conform with the consolidated financial presentation for 2013.  These reclassifications did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Revenue by segment	'
	The composition of consolidated revenues by segment is as follows:
		Percentage of Net Sales
		2013			2012			2011
	Performance materials		48	%		49	%		50	%
	Construction technologies		22	%		23	%		27	%
	Energy services		29	%		27	%		21	%
	Transportation		4	%		5	%		6	%
	Intersegment sales		-3	%		-4	%		-4	%
			100	%		100	%		100	%
Reconciliation between basic and diluted earnings per share	'
	Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to AMCOL shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is similarly computed, except the denominator is increased to include the dilutive effects of stock compensation awards and other share equivalents.  Stock compensation awards are antidilutive and therefore excluded from our diluted earnings per share calculation when their exercise would result in a net decrease in the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  A reconciliation between the shares used to compute basic and diluted earnings per share follows:
		2013			2012			2011
	Weighted average common shares outstanding for the year		32,463,634			32,050,538			31,708,949
	Dilutive impact of stock equivalents		303,319			347,827			436,824
	Weighted average common and common equivalent shares for the year		32,766,953			32,398,365			32,145,773
	Common shares outstanding at December 31		32,468,752			32,184,110			31,728,969
	Weighted average anti-dilutive shares excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share		273,802			402,485			189,768

Segment_Geographic_and_Market_1

Segment, Geographic, and Market Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment, Geographic, and Market Information [Abstract]	'
Segment disclosure	'
	The following table sets forth certain financial information as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:
		2013			2012			2011
	Net sales:
	Performance materials	$	488.1		$	473.7		$	459.2
	Construction technologies		218.1			223.1			251.9
	Energy services		295.4			257.3			194.7
	Transportation		45.5			44			54.1
	Intersegment sales		(34.4	)		(30.7	)		(33.6	)
	Total		1,012.70			967.4			926.3
	Operating profit (loss):
	Performance materials	$	20		$	76		$	67
	Construction technologies		14			15.6			17.3
	Energy services		25.5			28.7			21.3
	Transportation		1.2			0.8			2.2
	Corporate		(24.9	)		(23.3	)		(21.8	)
	Total		35.8			97.8			86
	Assets:
	Performance materials	$	384.1		$	454		$	430.8
	Construction technologies		166.6			157.6			159.4
	Energy services		263.3			225.8			194.7
	Transportation		4.1			4			3.9
	Corporate		60.6			69.2			60.3
	Total		878.7			910.6			849.1
	Depreciation, depletion and amortization:
	Performance materials	$	18.5		$	19.6		$	20.6
	Construction technologies		5.3			5.5			5.4
	Energy services		22.4			17.1			13.3
	Transportation		0.1			0.1			0.1
	Corporate		3.4			3			2.7
	Total		49.7			45.3			42.1
	Capital expenditures:
	Performance materials	$	25.6		$	29.4		$	27.3
	Construction technologies		2.6			8.3			8.3
	Energy services		45			31.5			23.1
	Transportation		0.3			0.1			0.2
	Corporate		14.2			5.2			2.1
	Total		87.7			74.5			61
	Research and development expenses:
	Performance materials	$	5.6		$	5.2		$	4.7
	Construction technologies		2.9			2.3			2.3
	Energy services		2.1			0.9			0.2
	Corporate		-			-			0.1
	Total		10.6			8.4			7.3
Geographic information	'
	The following table sets forth certain geographic financial information as of and for the three years ending December 31st.  EMEA includes the European, Middle East and African geographic regions.  Geographic sales and operating profit are determined based on origin of the sale as opposed to destination of the sale.  Inter-regional sales and operating profit are eliminated in Americas.
		2013			2012			2011
	Sales to unaffiliated customers shipped from:
	Americas	$	605.2		$	588.7		$	546.1
	EMEA		226.4			213.3			243.1
	Asia Pacific		181.1			165.4			137.1
	Total		1,012.70			967.4			926.3
	Operating profit from sales from:
	Americas	$	57.5		$	65.2		$	57.7
	EMEA		(41.4	)		10.4			10
	Asia Pacific		19.7			22.2			18.3
	Total		35.8			97.8			86
	Accounts receivable in:
	Americas	$	109.6		$	109.9		$	112.3
	EMEA		48.1			45.3			51.9
	Asia Pacific		55.8			47.5			40.2
	Total		213.5			202.7			204.4
	Property, plant, equipment, and mineral rights and reserves in:
	Americas	$	162.9		$	134.8		$	116
	EMEA		43.4			112.3			108.7
	Asia Pacific		57.3			54.8			48.8
	Total		263.6			301.9			273.5
	Identifiable assets in:
	Americas	$	430.4		$	448.3		$	420.4
	EMEA		274.4			303.3			289.4
	Asia Pacific		173.9			159			139.3
	Total		878.7			910.6			849.1
Net sales by product line	'
	Net sales by product line for each fiscal year are as follows:
		2013			2012			2011
	Metalcasting	$	269.3		$	265.6		$	247.3
	Energy services		295.4			257.3			194.7
	Environmental products		91.2			90.5			104.4
	Specialty materials		84.6			88.3			99.3
	Building materials		73.7			73.3			76.1
	Basic minerals		64.3			60.4			52.8
	Pet products		61.2			52.9			56.1
	Drilling products		41.6			38.2			31.4
	Contracting services		10.4			18.8			36
	Transportation		21			22.1			28.2
	Total		1,012.70			967.4			926.3

Balance_Sheet_Related_Informat1

Balance Sheet Related Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Balance Sheet Related Information [Abstract]	'
Allowance for doubtful accounts	'
	We are exposed to credit risk on certain assets, primarily accounts receivable.  We provide credit to customers in the ordinary course of business and perform ongoing credit evaluations.  Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are limited due to the large number of customers comprising our customer base.  We believe our allowance for doubtful accounts is sufficient to cover customer credit risks.  The allowance for doubtful accounts as of and the activity for the years ended December 31 was as follows:
		2013			2012			2011
	Balance at the beginning of the year	$	11		$	7.5		$	6.6
	Charged to expense (income)		4			5.3			3.6
	Write-offs and currency translation adjustments		(1.4	)		(1.8	)		(2.7	)
	Balance at the end of the year		13.6			11			7.5
Inventories	'
	Inventories at December 31 consisted of:
		2013			2012
	Crude stockpile inventories	$	51		$	60.8
	In-process and finished goods inventories		74.9			70.5
	Other raw material, container, and supplies inventories		23.3			22.5
			149.2			153.8
Inventory, raw materials and supplies, net of reserves	'
	Included within Other raw material, container, and supplies inventories in the table above is our reserve for slow moving and obsolete inventory.  The balance of this reserve as of and the activity for the years ended December 31 was as follows:
		2013			2012			2011
	Balance at the beginning of the year	$	2.6		$	2.1		$	2.7
	Charged to costs and expenses		3.1			2.1			2.1
	Disposals and currency translation adjustments		(1.5	)		(1.6	)		(2.7	)
	Balance at the end of the year		4.2			2.6			2.1
Reclamation liability	'
	The following table presents our reclamation liability at the end of and changes during each of the years presented:
		2013			2012
	Balance at beginning of the year	$	9.5		$	9.3
	Settlement of obligations		(3.2	)		(3.9	)
	Liabilities incurred and accretion expense		3.1			4.2
	Currency translation adjustments		(0.5	)		(0.1	)
	Balance at the end of the year		8.9			9.5
Accrued liabilities	'
	Accrued liabilities at December 31 consisted of:
		2013			2012
	Bonus	$	7.6		$	11.5
	Employee benefits and related costs		11.8			10.8
	Dividends payable		6.7			6.4
	Other		33.8			29.7
			59.9			58.4

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	'
	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at December 31 was comprised of the following components:
		2013			2012
	Cumulative foreign currency translation (net of tax benefit of $1.3 in 2013)	$	(19.1	)	$	6
	Prior service cost on pension plans (net of tax benefit of $0.1 in 2013 and $0.1 in 2012)		(0.1	)		(0.2	)
	Net actuarial loss on pension plans (net of tax benefit of $2.7 in 2013 and $7.8 in 2012)		(4.2	)		(12.0	)
	Unrealized loss on interest rate swap agreement (net of tax benefit of $2.1 in 2013 and $3.3 in 2012)		(3.3	)		(5.1	)
	Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities (net of tax expense of $1.2 in 2012)		-			12.1
			(26.7	)		0.8
Changes in other comprehensive income (loss) by component	'
	The following table summarizes the changes in other comprehensive income (loss) by component:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013										2012									2011
		Pre-Tax Amount			Tax (Expense) Benefit			Net-Of-Tax Amount				Pre-Tax Amount			Tax (Expense) Benefit			Net-Of-Tax Amount			Pre-Tax Amount			Tax (Expense) Benefit			Net-Of-Tax Amount
	Foreign currency translation adjustment	$	(26.9	)	$	1.3		$	(25.6	)		$	5.2		$	-		$	5.2		$	(24.8	)	$	-		$	(24.8	)
	Available-for-sale securities:
	Unrealized gains (losses) arising during period		(0.7	)		0.2			(0.5	)			10.8			(1.2	)		9.6			(10.3	)		1			(9.3	)
	Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income		(12.6	)		1			(11.6	)			-			-			-			-			-			-
	Interest rate swap agreements:
	Unrealized gains (losses) arising during period		0.3			(0.1	)		0.2				(1.7	)		0.1			(1.6	)		(5.0	)		1.9			(3.1	)
	Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income		2.6			(1.0	)		1.6				2.3			(0.1	)		2.2			2.6			(1.0	)		1.6
	Pension plans:
	Net acturial gains (losses) and prior service costs arising during the period		11.8			(4.6	)		7.2				(2.1	)		1.9			(0.2	)		(13.6	)		5			(8.6	)
	Amortization of net acturial (gains) losses and prior service costs		1.2			(0.5	)		0.7				1.2			(1.1	)		0.1			0.2			(0.1	)		0.1
	Total other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(24.3	)	$	(3.7	)	$	(28.0	)		$	15.7		$	(0.4	)	$	15.3		$	(50.9	)	$	6.8		$	(44.1	)
Reclassification out of accumulated other comprehensive income	'
	The following table summarizes the additions to and reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company and the affected line items in the consolidated statements of operations:
		Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
		Twelve Months Ended December 31,									Affected Line Item in the Statement Where Net Income (Loss) is Presented
		2013			2012			2011
	Reclassification of net (gains) losses on available for sale securities:
	Pre-tax amount	$	(12.6	)	$	-		$	-		Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities
	Tax		1			-			-		Income tax expense
	Net of tax		(11.6	)		-			-
	Reclassification of net (gains) losses on interest rate swaps:
	Pre-tax amount	$	2.6		$	2.3		$	2.6		Interest expense, net
	Tax		(1.0	)		(0.1	)		(1.0	)	Income tax expense
	Net of tax		1.6			2.2			1.6
	Amortization of pension items:
	Net acturial (gains) lossess and prior service costs, pre-tax amount		1.2			1.2			0.2		Components of net periodic benefit cost (see Employee Benefit Plans note for details)
	Tax		(0.5	)		(1.1	)		(0.1	)	Income tax expense
	Net of tax		0.7			0.1			0.1
	Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax	$	(9.3	)	$	2.3		$	1.7

Discontinued_Operations_Tables

Discontinued Operations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Discontinued Operations [Abstract]	'
Summarized results of operations, income, assets and liabilities reported in discontinued operations	'
	The following table presents HBS’s summarized results of operations reported in discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:
		Year Ended December 31,
	HBS	2013			2012		2011
	Net sales	$	14.2		$	18.2	$	17.5
	Pre-tax income/(loss)		(6.3	)		0.3		-
	Income tax expense/(benefit)		(2.1	)		-		-
	Income (loss) on discontinued operations		(4.2	)		0.3		-
	Assets and liabilities of HBS on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 include the following:
		December 31,
		2013*			2012
	Current assets	$	4.6		$	7
	Property, plant, and equipment, net		4.1			5.9
	Goodwill		-			1.8
	Intangible assets, net		3.6			5.1
	Other non-current assets		1.8			-
	Valuation allowance		(2.4	)		-
	Total assets of HBS		11.7			19.8
	Current liabilities		0.5			0.9
	Other LT liabilities		-			0.5
	Total liabilities of HBS		0.5			1.4
	* Note that the assets and liabilities of HBS at December 31, 2013 are recorded with assets-held-for-sale and accrued liabilities within our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Property_Plant_Equipment_and_M1

Property, Plant, Equipment and Mineral Rights and Reserves (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant, Equipment and Mineral Rights and Reserves [Abstract]	'
Property, plant, equipment and mineral rights and reserves	'
	Property, plant, equipment and mineral rights and reserves consisted of the following:
			December 31,
			2013		2012
	Mineral rights and reserves		$	5	$	48.6
	Land			10.7		13
	Buildings and improvements			87.9		104.9
	Machinery and equipment			437.4		414.5
	Construction in progress			47.9		32.6
				588.9		613.6
Range of useful lives to depreciate plant and equipment	'
	The range of useful lives to depreciate plant and equipment is as follows:
	Buildings and improvements	3-50 years
	Machinery and equipment	1-24 years
Depreciation and depletion charged to income	'
	Depreciation and depletion were charged to income as follows:
			2013		2012		2011
	Depreciation expense		$	44.1	$	39.3	$	35
	Depletion expense			1.5		1.6		2.6
				45.6		40.9		37.6

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_1

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]	'
Schedule of the balance of goodwill by segment and the activity occurring in the past two fiscal years	'
	The balance of goodwill by segment and the activity occurring in the past two fiscal years is as follows:
		Performance Materials			Construction Technologies			Energy Services		Consolidated
	Balance at December 31, 2011	$	17.4		$	21.1		$	31	$	69.5
	Change in goodwill relating to:
	Foreign exchange translation		0.4			0.3			-		0.7
	Total changes		0.4			0.3			-		0.7
	Balance at December 31, 2012		17.8			21.4			31		70.2
	Change in goodwill relating to:
	Reclassification to discontinued operations		(1.8	)		-			-		(1.8	)
	Acquisition		-			-			0.4		0.4
	Foreign exchange translation		(0.6	)		0.5			-		(0.1	)
	Total changes		(2.4	)		0.5			0.4		(1.5	)
	Balance at December 31, 2013		15.4			21.9			31.4		68.7
Schedule of the balance of intangible assets by segment and the activity occurring in the past two fiscal years	'
	Intangible assets were as follows:
		31-Dec-13								31-Dec-12
		Gross Carrying Value			Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value		Gross Carrying Value			Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value
	Intangibles subject to amortization:
	Customer related assets		45.8			(24.9	)		20.9		47.1			(23.0	)		24.1
	Patents		7.8			(6.6	)		1.2		6.9			(6.9	)		-
	Non-compete agreements		3.4			(2.2	)		1.2		2.2			(2.2	)		-
	Developed technology		-			-			-		4			(2.4	)		1.6
	Other		4			(2.3	)		1.7		3.9			(1.8	)		2.1
	Subtotal		61			(36.0	)		25		64.1			(36.3	)		27.8
	Intangibles not subject to amortization:
	Trademarks and tradenames		2.9			-			2.9		6.1			-			6.1
	Total		63.9			(36.0	)		27.9		70.2			(36.3	)		33.9
Schedule of estimate amortization expense of intangible assets for the future years	'
	Intangible assets with finite lives are being amortized primarily on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives.  The weighted average amortization period of our intangible assets with finite lives is 11 years.    Amortization expense on intangible assets for each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 was $4.1, $4.3, and $4.8, respectively.  We estimate amortization expense of intangible assets for the future years ending December 31 will approximate the following amounts:
		Amount
	2014	$	3.9
	2015		3.8
	2016		3.8
	2017		3.4
	2018		3.1

Investments_in_Joint_Ventures_

Investments in Joint Ventures (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Investments in Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
Investments in and advances to affiliates and joint ventures	'
	Information about our investments in and advances to affiliates and joint ventures at December 31, 2013 is as follows:
		Ownership Interest	Accounting Policy
	Ashapura Volclay Limited	50%	Equity Method
	CETCO-Bentonit Uniao Technologias Ambientais Ltda.	50%	Equity Method
	Egypt Bentonite & Derivatives Co.	30%	Equity Method
	Egypt Mining & Drilling Co.	31%	Equity Method
	Egypt Nano Technologies Co.	27%	Equity Method
	Maprid Tech Cast, S.A. de C.V.	49%	Equity Method
	Novinda Corporation	16%	Cost Method
	Volclay de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.	49%	Equity Method
	Volclay Japan Co., Ltd.	50%	Equity Method

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes [Abstract]	'
Income tax expense (benefit)	'
	Total income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31 was comprised of the following:
		2013			2012			2011
	Continuing operations	$	11		$	23.3		$	20.8
	Discontinued operations		(2.1	)		-			(0.6	)
			8.9			23.3			20.2
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and income (loss) from affiliates and joint ventures	'
	Income from continuing operations before income taxes and income (loss) from affiliates and joint ventures was comprised of the following:
		2013			2012			2011
	Income from continuing operations before income taxes and income from affiliates and joint ventures:
	Domestic	$	63		$	56.1		$	53.8
	Foreign		(27.7	)		27.9			21.5
			35.3			84			75.3
Components of provision for income taxes	'
	The components of the provision for income taxes attributable to income from continuing operations before income taxes and income from affiliates and joint ventures for the years ended December 31 consisted of:
		2013			2012			2011
	Provision (benefit) for income taxes:
	Federal:
	Current	$	10.4		$	14		$	5.7
	Deferred		1.2			0.8			5.9
	State:
	Current		1.2			2.8			3
	Deferred		(0.2	)		(1.9	)		0.3
	Foreign:
	Current		6.4			8.4			8
	Deferred		(8.0	)		(0.8	)		(2.1	)
			11			23.3			20.8
Significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities	'
	The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31 were as follows:
		2013			2012
	Deferred tax assets attributable to:
	Accounts receivable	$	2.7		$	2.1
	Inventories		2.6			2.7
	Employee benefit plans		24.7			28.3
	Accrued liabilities		1.7			0.6
	Employee incentive plans		1.2			2.4
	Tax credit carryforwards		7.9			6.9
	Other		0.6			0.3
	Total deferred tax assets		41.4			43.3
	Deferred tax liabilities attributable to:
	Plant and equipment		(17.0	)		(17.7	)
	Land and mineral reserves		(0.8	)		(12.7	)
	Joint ventures		(1.0	)		(2.0	)
	Intangible assets		(3.8	)		(2.7	)
	Available-for-sale securities		-			(1.2	)
	Other		(0.6	)		(0.8	)
	Total deferred tax liabilities		(23.2	)		(37.1	)
	Valuation allowances		(13.1	)		(5.1	)
	Net deferred tax asset (liability)		5.1			1.1
Effective income tax rate reconciliation	'
	The following analysis reconciles the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate to the effective tax rates related to income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income (loss) of affiliates and joint ventures:
		2013						2012						2011
					Percent						Percent						Percent
					of Pretax						of Pretax						of Pretax
		Amount			Income			Amount			Income			Amount			Income
	Provision for income taxes at
	U.S. statutory rates	$	12.3			35	%	$	29.5			35	%	$	26.3			35	%
	Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:
	Percentage depletion		(5.9	)		-16.7	%		(5.0	)		-6	%		(4.9	)		-6.5	%
	State taxes, net of federal benefit		1.1			3	%		1.7			2.1	%		2.2			2.9	%
	Foreign tax rates		1.2			3.6	%		(3.0	)		-3.6	%		(1.0	)		-1.4	%
	Domestic manufacturing deduction		(1.2	)		-3.3	%		(1.6	)		-1.9	%		(0.8	)		-1.1	%
	Change in state tax rates		0.2			0.5	%		(1.9	)		-2.2	%		-			0	%
	Foreign witholding tax		2.2			6.2	%		1.6			2	%		1			1.3	%
	Foreign tax credits		(3.6	)		-10.3	%		(3.2	)		-3.8	%		(2.4	)		-3.1	%
	Changes to valuation allowance		8			22.7	%		1.9			2.2	%		(0.2	)		-0.3	%
	Sale of available-for-sale securities		(3.5	)		-10	%		-			0	%		-			0	%
	Other		0.2			0.5	%		3.3			3.9	%		0.6			0.8	%
			11			31.2	%		23.3			27.7	%		20.8			27.6	%
Activity related to unrecognized tax benefits	'
	The following table summarizes the activity related to our unrecognized tax benefits:
		2013			2012			2011
	Balance at beginning of the year	$	-		$	-		$	0.8
	Increases related to prior year tax positions		0.2			-			-
	Decreases related to the expiration of statue of limitation / settlement of audits		-			-			(0.8	)
	Balance at the end of the year		0.2			-			-

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt [Abstract]	'
Amounts of long-term debt	'
	Amounts of debt were as follows:
		December 31,
		2013			2012
	Borrowings under revolving credit agreement	$	123.2		$	114.6
	Senior notes		125			125
	Other notes payable		1.8			10.2
			250			249.8
	Less: current portion		(0.9	)		(1.0	)
			249.1			248.8
Maturities of long-term debt outstanding	'
	Maturities of long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2013 were as follows:
		2014			2015			2016		2017		2018		Thereafter
	Borrowings under:
	Revolving credit agreement	$	-		$	-		$	-	$	123.2	$	-	$	-
	Senior notes		-			-			-		75		-		50
	Other notes payable		0.9			0.5			0.2		0.1		0.1		-
			0.9			0.5			0.2		198.3		0.1		50

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed1

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]	'
Fair value of derivative instruments in the Balance Sheet	'
	The following table sets forth the fair values of our derivative instruments and where they are recorded within our Consolidated Balance Sheets:
	Liability Derivatives	Balance Sheet Location		Fair Value as of December 31,
				2013				2012
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
	Interest rate swaps	Other long-term liabilities		$	(5.3	)		$	(8.4	)
	Interest rate swaps	Accrued liabilities			(0.5	)			-
Summary of cash flow hedges	'
	Cash Flow Hedges
			Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized
			in OCI on Derivatives, net of tax
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships		(Effective Portion)
			Year Ended December 31,
			2013				2012
	Interest rate swaps		$	1.8			$	0.6
Changes in fair value of foreign exchange contracts	'
	We have not designated these contracts for hedge accounting treatment and therefore, changes in fair value of these contracts are recorded in earnings as follows:
		Location of
		Gain or (Loss)		Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in
	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	Recognized in		Income on Derivatives
		Income on		Year Ended December 31,
		Derivatives			2013				2012			2011
	Foreign exchange derivative instruments	Other, net		$	(3.5	)		$	(0.4	)	$	(0.5	)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]	'
Summary of fair value instruments	'
	The following table categorizes our fair value instruments according to the assumptions used to calculate those values at the end of each of the past two years:
					Fair Value Measurements Using
	Description	Asset / (Liability)				Quoted Prices in		Significant Other			Significant
						Active Markets for					Unobservable
		Balance at				Identical Assets		Observable Inputs			Inputs
		12/31/13				(Level 1)		(Level 2)			(Level 3)
	Interest rate swaps	$	(5.8	)		$	-	$	(5.8	)	$	-
	Deferred compensation plan assets		11.9				-		11.9			-
	Supplementary pension plan assets		9.4				-		9.4			-
					Fair Value Measurements Using
			Asset /			Quoted Prices in					Significant
	Description		(Liability)			Active Markets for		Significant Other			Unobservable
			Balance at			Identical Assets		Observable Inputs			Inputs
			12/31/12			(Level 1)		(Level 2)			(Level 3)
	Interest rate swaps	$	(8.4	)		$	-	$	(8.4	)	$	-
	Available-for-sale securities		14.6				14.6		-			-
	Deferred compensation plan assets		9.4				-		9.4			-
	Supplementary pension plan assets		8.2				-		8.2			-

Noncontrolling_Interest_Tables

Noncontrolling Interest (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]	'
Net income and transfers from noncontrolling interest	'
	The following table sets forth the effects of these transactions on equity attributable to AMCOL’s shareholders.
		Twelve Months Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Net income attributable to AMCOL shareholders	$	30.2	$	65.1	$	58.5
	Transfers from noncontrolling interest:
	Decrease in additional paid-in capital for purchase of the remaining noncontrolling interest in  South Africa (Proprietary) Limited		-		-		(5.4	)
	Decrease in additional paid-in capital for transfer of 26% interest in Batlhako		-		-		(3.4	)
	Change from net income attributable to AMCOL shareholders and transfers from noncontrolling interest	$	30.2	$	65.1	$	49.7

Leases_Tables

Leases (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Leases [Abstract]	'
Summary of future minimum lease payments for operating leases	'
	The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments for operating leases (with initial terms in excess of one year) as of December 31, 2013:
		Minimum Lease
		Payments
		Domestic		Foreign		Total
	Year ending December 31:
	2014	$	19.7	$	2.5	$	22.2
	2015		15.8		2.1		17.9
	2016		11.8		1.6		13.4
	2017		8.7		0.9		9.6
	2018		6.8		0.5		7.3
	Thereafter		43.4		3.3		46.7
	Total		106.2		10.9		117.1

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Tables

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]	'
Pension obligations and funded status	'
	The following tables set forth our pension obligations and funded status at December 31:
			Pension Benefits
			Defined Benefit Pension Plan						Supplementary Pension Plan
			2013			2012			2013				2012
	Change in benefit obligations:
	Beginning projected benefit obligation		$	63.8		$	58.1		$	13.2			$	11.6
	Service cost			1.7			1.7			0.4				0.3
	Interest cost			2.6			2.7			0.5				0.5
	Actuarial (gain)/loss			(6.8	)		2.6			(1.6	)			1.2
	Benefits paid			(1.4	)		(1.3	)		(0.4	)			(0.4	)
	Ending projected benefit obligation			59.9			63.8			12.1				13.2
	Change in plan assets:
	Beginning fair value			39.1			34.5			-				-
	Actual return			6.2			4.3
	Company contribution			1.2			1.7			0.4				0.4
	Benefits paid			(1.4	)		(1.4	)		(0.4	)			(0.4	)
	Ending fair value			45.1			39.1			-				-
	Funded status of the plan			(14.8	)		(24.7	)		(12.1	)			(13.2	)
Summary of net periodic pension cost	'
	Pension cost in each of the following years was comprised of:
			Defined Benefit Pension Plan										Supplementary Pension Plan
			2013			2012			2011				2013			2012			2011
	Service cost – benefits earned during the year		$	1.7		$	1.7		$	1.5			$	0.4		$	0.3		$	0.2
	Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation			2.6			2.7			2.6				0.5			0.5			0.5
	Expected return on plan assets			(2.9	)		(2.6	)		(2.9	)			-			-			-
	Net amortization and deferral			1			1			0.1				0.3			0.2			0.1
	Net periodic pension cost			2.4			2.8			1.3				1.2			1			0.8
Assumptions used to determine pension obligations	'
	The following table summarizes the assumptions used in determining our pension obligations at the end of each of our last two years:
		Defined Benefit Pension Plan							Supplementary Pension Plan
		2013				2012			2013			2012
	Discount rate			5	%		4.17	%		4.85	%			4	%
	Rate of compensation increase			3	%		3	%		3	%			3	%
	Long-term rate of return on plan assets			7.5	%		7.5	%		N/A				N/A
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost	'
	The following table summarizes the assumptions used in determining our pension obligations at the end of each of our last two years:
		Defined Benefit Pension Plan							Supplementary Pension Plan
		2013				2012			2013			2012
	Discount rate			5	%		4.17	%		4.85	%			4	%
	Rate of compensation increase			3	%		3	%		3	%			3	%
	Long-term rate of return on plan assets			7.5	%		7.5	%		N/A				N/A
	The following table summarizes the assumptions used in determining our net periodic benefit cost in the years ended December 31:
			Defined Benefit Pension Plan										Supplementary Pension Plan
			2013			2012			2011				2013			2012			2011
	Discount rate			4.17	%		4.7	%		5.51	%			4	%		4.63	%		5.36	%
	Rate of compensation increase			3	%		4	%		4	%			3	%		4	%		4	%
	Long-term rate of return on plan assets			7.5	%		7.5	%		8	%			N/A			N/A			N/A
Expected payment of future benefits	'
	The estimated future benefit payments contemplated under these plans, reflecting expected future service, as appropriate, are presented in the following table:
			Defined Benefit Pension Plan			Supplementary Pension Plan
	2014		$	1.9		$	0.4
	2015			2.1			0.4
	2016			2.4			0.5
	2017			2.6			0.7
	2018			2.8			0.8
	2018 through 2022			18.1			4
Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income and prior service cost	'
	Note 4 shows the amounts included within accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 that have not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost.  Of these balances at December 31, 2013, the amounts expected to be amortized in the next fiscal year are $0.1 and $0.2 for the unrecognized prior service cost and unrecognized net actuarial loss, respectively.  Excluding the effect of income taxes, the amounts recognized within other comprehensive income and the prior service cost for 2013 and 2012, are as follows:
			2013			2012
	Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income:
	Net actuarial loss (gain)		$	(11.8	)	$	2.1
	Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain)			(1.2	)		(1.1	)
	Amortization of prior service cost (credit)			-			(0.1	)
	Total change in other comprehensive income			(13.0	)		0.9
Fair value of pension plan assets	'
	Fair values of our defined benefit pension plan assets at December 31, by asset category, are as follows:
			Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2013
						Quoted Prices			Significant Observable Inputs				Significant Unobservable Inputs
						in Active
						Markets for
						Identical Assets
			Total			Level 1			Level 2				Level 3
	Short term investment funds		$	0.1		$	-		$	0.1			$	-
	Equity securities:
	US equity securities			17.3			7.4			9.9				-
	International equity securities			12.3			4.4			7.9				-
	AMCOL International common stock			2.4			2.4			-				-
	Fixed income securities and bonds
	Governmental agencies			0.8			-			0.8				-
	Corporate bonds			6.8			6.8			-				-
	Other investments
	Real estate index funds			0.8			-			0.8				-
	Hedge funds			4.6			-			-				4.6
	Total			45.1			21			19.5				4.6
			Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2012
						Quoted Prices			Significant Observable Inputs				Significant Unobservable Inputs
						in Active
						Markets for
						Identical Assets
			Total			Level 1			Level 2				Level 3
	Short term investment funds		$	0.6		$	-		$	0.6			$	-
	Equity securities:
	US equity securities			14			1.4			12.6				-
	International equity securities			9.5			4.5			5				-
	AMCOL International common stock			2.1			2.1			-				-
	Fixed income securities and bonds
	Governmental agencies			0.7			-			0.7				-
	Corporate bonds			5.4			5.4			-				-
	Guaranteed investment contracts			1.3			-			1.3				-
	Other investments
	Real estate index funds			0.8			-			0.8				-
	Commodities linked funds			0.7			0.7			-				-
	Hedge funds			4			-			-				4
	Total			39.1			14.1			21				4
Reconciliation of changes in fair value measurements of plan assets	'
	The following is a reconciliation of changes in fair value measurements of plan assets using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):
			Hedge Funds
	Beginning balance at December 31, 2011		$	3.9
	Purchases, sales, and settlements			-
	Actual return on plan assets still held at reporting date			0.1
	Ending balance at December 31, 2012			4
	Purchases, sales, and settlements			-
	Actual return on plan assets still held at reporting date			0.6
	Ending balance at December 31, 2013			4.6

Stock_Compensation_Plans_Table

Stock Compensation Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Summary of fair value of awards granted	'
	For purposes of calculating compensation cost, we estimate the fair value of each award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.  The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of awards granted and the weighted average grant date fair value per share during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 are as follows:
		2013	2012	2011
	Risk-free interest rate	1.00%	1.00%	2.20%
	Expected life in years	5.37	5.39	5.51
	Expected dividend yield	2.60%	2.30%	2.50%
	Expected volatility	56.00%	56.40%	49.00%
	Weighted-average per share fair value of awards granted	$12.25	$12.36	$11.42
Summary of changes in options outstanding	'
	The following table summarizes information about intrinsic value of awards exercised, fair value of awards vested and grant date fair value of awards granted during 2013, 2012 and 2011:
	All Plans		2013			2012			2011
	Intrinsic value of awards exercised during the year		$	2.6		$	3.6		$	5.1
	Fair value of awards vested during the year			4			2.9			2.4
	Grant date fair value of awards granted during the year			3.3			5.2			4.3
Summary of all stock compensation plans	'
	The following table summarizes information about stock compensation awards outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2013:
						Weighted						Weighted
	All Plans					Average						Average
			Number			Exercise						Remaining
			of			Price			Intrinsic			Contractual
			Awards			Per Share			Value			Life (Yrs.)
	Awards outstanding at December 31, 2013			1,458,802		$	26.99		$	10.2			7.05
	Awards exercisable at December 31, 2013			834,737			24.57			7.9			6.07
Summary of nonvested stock compensation awards	'
	The following table summarizes information about our nonvested stock compensation awards outstanding:
		31-Dec-13						31-Dec-12						31-Dec-11
						Weighted						Weighted						Weighted
	All Plans -					Average						Average						Average
	Nonvested Awards					Grant date						Grant date						Grant date
						Fair value						Fair Value						Fair Value
		Awards				Per Share		Awards				Per Share		Awards				Per Share
	Nonvested awards outstanding at January 1			734,612		$	11.55			660,059		$	9.8			635,726		$	7.87
	Granted			268,300			12.25			417,420			12.36			379,425			11.42
	Vested			(360,832	)		11			(317,635	)		8.99			(311,630	)		7.8
	Forfeited			(18,015	)		12.09			(25,232	)		11.59			(43,462	)		9.77
	Nonvested awards outstanding at December 31			624,065			12.15			734,612			11.55			660,059			9.8
2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Summary of changes in options outstanding	'
	Changes in options outstanding are summarized as follows:
		31-Dec-13						31-Dec-12						31-Dec-11
						Weighted						Weighted						Weighted
						Average						Average						Average
	2006 Plan					Exercise						Exercise						Exercise
						Price						Price						Price
		Awards				Per Share		Awards				Per Share		Awards				Per Share
	Awards outstanding at January 1			883,109		$	22.84			1,189,012		$	22.91			1,389,598		$	23.02
	Exercised			(349,551	)		25.25			(297,528	)		23.11			(170,998	)		24.04
	Forfeited			-			-			(3,125	)		23.24			(20,087	)		20.48
	Expired			(49,224	)		29.84			(5,250	)		23.89			(9,501	)		23.64
	Awards outstanding at December 31			484,334			20.39			883,109			22.84			1,189,012			22.91
	Awards exercisable at December 31			484,334			20.39			781,574			22.79			885,003			23.67
2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Summary of changes in options outstanding	'
			31-Dec-13						31-Dec-12						31-Dec-11
						Weighted						Weighted						Weighted
						Average						Average						Average
	2010 Plan					Exercise						Exercise						Exercise
						Price						Price						Price
			Awards			Per Share			Awards			Per Share			Awards			Per Share
	Awards outstanding at January 1			750,296		$	30.2			356,050		$	30.66					$	-
	Granted			268,300			30.47			417,420			29.8			379,425			30.66
	Exercised			(26,113	)		30.36			(567	)		30.66			-			-
	Forfeited			(18,015	)		30.16			(22,107	)		30.12			(23,375	)		30.66
	Expired			-			-			(500	)		30.66			-			-
	Awards outstanding at December 31			974,468			30.27			750,296			30.2			356,050			30.66
	Awards exercisable at December 31			350,403			30.34			117,219			30.66			-			-
Summary of stock compensation awards outstanding and exercisable	'
	Restricted stock awards are subject to performance conditions established by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.  Restricted stock awards do not pay dividends or allow voting rights during the vesting period.  The fair value of these awards is equal to the quoted market price of our common stock on the grant date, discounted by the present value of the stream of dividends over the vesting period of the award. The fair value is amortized to compensation expense ratably over the performance period if achievement of the performance conditions is considered probable.
			31-Dec-13						31-Dec-12						31-Dec-11
						Weighted						Weighted						Weighted
						Average						Average						Average
	2010 Plan					Grant Date						Grant Date						Grant Date
						Fair Value						Fair Value						Fair Value
			Awards			Per Share			Awards			Per Share			Awards			Per Share
	Awards outstanding at January 1			49,997		$	30.66			75,000		$	30.66			-		$	-
	Granted			129,700			28.94			-			-			77,000			30.66
	Vested			(34,998	)		30.56			(25,003	)		30.66			-			-
	Forfeited			(1,700	)		28.95						-			(2,000	)		30.66
	Awards outstanding at December 31			142,999			29.15			49,997			30.66			75,000			30.66

Reorganization_Charges_Tables

Reorganization Charges (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Reorganization Charges [Abstract]	'
Reorganization Charges	'
	Our results for the year ended December 31, 2013 include certain expenses associated with reorganizing our operations.  These reorganization efforts mainly relate to our operations in Europe to close or reorganize certain offices there, improve our cost structure, and increase operating efficiencies.  The following table outlines the amount of expenses, where they were recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Operations, and the segments they relate to:
	Year Ended December 31, 2013		Performance Materials		Construction Technologies		Comsolidated
	Cost of sales line:
	Employee termination and other benefits		$	0.1	$	0.7	$	0.8
	Selling, general and administrative expenses line:
	Employee termination and other benefits			0.6		2.5		3.1
	Non-cash impairment charges (1)			-		0.6		0.6
	Total		$	0.7	$	3.8	$	4.5
	-1	Non-cash impairment charges relate to write-down of certain assets held-for-sale to their estimated fair values based on a third-party appraisal (a Level 2 fair value input).

Quarterly_Results_Unaudited_Ta

Quarterly Results (Unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Results (Unaudited) [Abstract]	'
Summary of quarterly results (unaudited)	'
	Unaudited summarized results for each quarter of the last two years are as follows:
			2013 Quarters
			First			Second			Third			Fourth
	Performance materials		$	113.4		$	123.2		$	126.1		$	125.4
	Construction technologies			42.8			56			62.8			56.5
	Energy services			73.1			77.7			72.8			71.8
	Transportation			10.2			11.5			12.7			11.1
	Intersegment sales			(6.6	)		(9.6	)		(10.9	)		(7.3	)
	Net sales			232.9			258.8			263.5			257.5
	Performance materials		$	28.3		$	30.8		$	(19.4	)	$	29.8
	Construction technologies			13.1			17.9			21.5			16.2
	Energy services			19.6			20.6			14			18.1
	Transportation			1.1			1.2			1.4			1.2
	Intersegment gross profit			-			0.1			-			0.1
	Gross profit			62.1			70.6			17.5			65.4
	Performance materials		$	15.9		$	18.8		$	(32.1	)	$	17.4
	Construction technologies			(1.8	)		2.8			9.3			3.7
	Energy services			8.2			8.8			3.8			4.7
	Transportation			0.2			0.3			0.5			0.2
	Corporate			(6.2	)		(5.8	)		(6.1	)		(6.8	)
	Operating profit  (loss)			16.3			24.9			(24.6	)		19.2
	Income (loss) from continuing operations		$	10.5		$	16.5		$	(22.5	)	$	23
	Income (loss) on discontinued operations		$	-		$	0.1		$	(4.1	)	$	(0.2	)
	Net income (loss)		$	10.5		$	16.6		$	(26.6	)	$	22.8
	Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		$	-		$	-		$	(6.8	)	$	(0.1	)
	Net income (loss) attributable to AMCOL shareholders		$	10.5		$	16.6		$	(19.8	)	$	22.9
	Basic earnings per share attributable to AMCOL shareholders (A)		$	0.32		$	0.51		$	(0.61	)	$	0.71
	Diluted earnings per share attributable to AMCOL shareholders (A)		$	0.32		$	0.51		$	(0.61	)	$	0.7
	(A) Earnings per share (EPS) for each quarter is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the quarter, while EPS for the year is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the year.  Thus, the sum of the EPS for each of the four quarters may not equal the EPS for the year.
	In the first quarter ended March 31, 2013, our corporate segment recorded $1.0 of selling, general and administrative expense associated with amending certain SEC filings for 2012 and 2011.
	Our construction technologies and performance materials segments recorded following reorganization charges relating to our operations in Europe in the first quarter ended March 31, 2013 and second quarter ended June 30, 2013. See Note 18 for more details.
	Construction technologies:
		-	$0.5 and $0.2 in cost of goods sold during the first quarter and second quarter, respectively;
		-	$1.7 and $1.5 in selling, general and administrative expense during the first quarter and second quarter, respectively.
	Performance materials:
		-	$0.4 and $0.2 in selling, general and administrative expense during the first and second quarter, respectively.
	During the third quarter ended September 2013, our performance materials segment recorded following charges relating to impairment of certain long-lived assets in our South African chromite operations. See Note 5 for more details.
		-	$52.2 in cost of goods sold;
		-	$0.1 in selling, general and administrative expense.
	Our energy services segment recorded $1.6 of selling, general and administrative expense relating to a large bad debt expense in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013.
	Our income from continuing operations during the fourth quarter includes gain of $12.6 resulting from sale of available-for-sale securities and $1.0 of related tax expense.
			2012 Quarters
			First			Second			Third			Fourth
	Performance materials		$	120.9		$	125		$	116.7		$	111.1
	Construction technologies			51			61.4			60.6			50.1
	Energy services			55.3			61.1			69.1			71.8
	Transportation			11.1			11.7			10.7			10.5
	Intersegment sales			(7.1	)		(7.8	)		(7.9	)		(7.9	)
	Net sales			231.2			251.4			249.2			235.6
	Performance materials		$	32		$	33.5		$	30.1		$	25.7
	Construction technologies			14.6			18.7			20.1			15.1
	Energy services			15.4			19.2			17.7			18.8
	Transportation			1.2			1.2			1.1			1.1
	Intersegment gross profit			0.1			0.1			(0.3	)		0.1
	Gross profit			63.3			72.7			68.7			60.8
	Performance materials		$	21		$	21.8		$	18.4		$	14.8
	Construction technologies			1			6.3			7			1.3
	Energy services			4.8			7.7			7.9			8.3
	Transportation			0.2			0.3			0.2			0.1
	Corporate			(6.1	)		(5.7	)		(5.0	)		(6.5	)
	Operating profit			20.9			30.4			28.5			18
	Income from continuing operations		$	13.2		$	20.9		$	19.2		$	11.3
	Income (loss) on discontinued operations		$	0.3		$	0.5		$	(0.2	)	$	(0.3	)
Net income		$	13.5		$	21.4		$	19		$	11
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		$	0.1		$	(0.3	)	$	-		$	-
Net income (loss) attributable to AMCOL shareholders		$	13.4		$	21.7		$	19		$	11
Basic earnings per share attributable to AMCOL shareholders (A)		$	0.42		$	0.68		$	0.59		$	0.34
Diluted earnings per share attributable to AMCOL shareholders (A)		$	0.41		$	0.67		$	0.59		$	0.34
(A) Earnings per share (EPS) for each quarter is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the quarter, while EPS for the year is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the year.  Thus, the sum of the EPS for each of the four quarters may not equal the EPS for the year.

Summary_of_Significant_Account3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Revenue By Segment (Details)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenue by segment [Abstract]	'	'	'
Percentage of revenue by segment (in hundredths)	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Performance materials [Member]	'	'	'
Revenue by segment [Abstract]	'	'	'
Percentage of revenue by segment (in hundredths)	48.00%	49.00%	50.00%
Construction technologies [Member]	'	'	'
Revenue by segment [Abstract]	'	'	'
Percentage of revenue by segment (in hundredths)	22.00%	23.00%	27.00%
Energy services [Member]	'	'	'
Revenue by segment [Abstract]	'	'	'
Percentage of revenue by segment (in hundredths)	29.00%	27.00%	21.00%
Transportation [Member]	'	'	'
Revenue by segment [Abstract]	'	'	'
Percentage of revenue by segment (in hundredths)	4.00%	5.00%	6.00%
Intersegment sales [Member]	'	'	'
Revenue by segment [Abstract]	'	'	'
Percentage of revenue by segment (in hundredths)	-3.00%	-4.00%	-4.00%

Summary_of_Significant_Account4

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Reconciliation Between Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Reconciliation between basic and diluted earnings per share [Abstract]	'	'	'
Weighted average common shares outstanding for the year (in shares)	32,463,634	32,050,538	31,708,949
Dilutive impact of stock equivalents (in shares)	303,319	347,827	436,824
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares for the year (in shares)	32,766,953	32,398,365	32,145,773
Common shares outstanding at December 31 (in shares)	32,468,752	32,184,110	31,728,969
Weighted average anti-dilutive shares excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share (in shares)	273,802	402,485	189,768

Summary_of_Significant_Account5

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Consolidation Policies (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Minimum percentage at which subsidiaries consolidated (in hundredths)	20.00%	'	'
Maximum percentage at which subsidiaries consolidated (in hundredths)	50.00%	'	'
Percentage of revenue elimination (in hundredths)	71.00%	71.00%	77.00%

Segment_Geographic_and_Market_2

Segment, Geographic, and Market Information - Financial Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
									Segment
Segment, Geographic, and Market Information [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of operating segments	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	5	'	'
Segment disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	$257.50	$263.50	$258.80	$232.90	$235.60	$249.20	$251.40	$231.20	$1,012.70	$967.40	$926.30
Operating profit (loss)	19.2	-24.6	24.9	16.3	18	28.5	30.4	20.9	35.8	97.8	86
Assets	878.7	'	'	'	910.6	'	'	'	878.7	910.6	849.1
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	49.7	45.3	42.1
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	87.7	74.5	61
Research and development expenses	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	10.6	8.4	7.3
Performance Materials [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	125.4	126.1	123.2	113.4	111.1	116.7	125	120.9	488.1	473.7	459.2
Operating profit (loss)	17.4	-32.1	18.8	15.9	14.8	18.4	21.8	21	20	76	67
Assets	384.1	'	'	'	454	'	'	'	384.1	454	430.8
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	18.5	19.6	20.6
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	25.6	29.4	27.3
Research and development expenses	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	5.6	5.2	4.7
Construction Technologies [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	56.5	62.8	56	42.8	50.1	60.6	61.4	51	218.1	223.1	251.9
Operating profit (loss)	3.7	9.3	2.8	-1.8	1.3	7	6.3	1	14	15.6	17.3
Assets	166.6	'	'	'	157.6	'	'	'	166.6	157.6	159.4
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	5.3	5.5	5.4
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2.6	8.3	8.3
Research and development expenses	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2.9	2.3	2.3
Energy Services [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	71.8	72.8	77.7	73.1	71.8	69.1	61.1	55.3	295.4	257.3	194.7
Operating profit (loss)	4.7	3.8	8.8	8.2	8.3	7.9	7.7	4.8	25.5	28.7	21.3
Assets	263.3	'	'	'	225.8	'	'	'	263.3	225.8	194.7
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	22.4	17.1	13.3
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	45	31.5	23.1
Research and development expenses	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2.1	0.9	0.2
Transportation [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	45.5	44	54.1
Operating profit (loss)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1.2	0.8	2.2
Assets	4.1	'	'	'	4	'	'	'	4.1	4	3.9
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0.1	0.1	0.1
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0.3	0.1	0.2
Intersegment Sales [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	-7.3	-10.9	-9.6	-6.6	-7.9	-7.9	-7.8	-7.1	-34.4	-30.7	-33.6
Corporate [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating profit (loss)	-6.8	-6.1	-5.8	-6.2	-6.5	-5	-5.7	-6.1	-24.9	-23.3	-21.8
Assets	60.6	'	'	'	69.2	'	'	'	60.6	69.2	60.3
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	3.4	3	2.7
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	14.2	5.2	2.1
Research and development expenses	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$0	$0	$0.10

Segment_Geographic_and_Market_3

Segment, Geographic, and Market Information - Sales to Unaffiliated Customers (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Geographic information [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Sales to unaffiliated customers shipped	$257.50	$263.50	$258.80	$232.90	$235.60	$249.20	$251.40	$231.20	$1,012.70	$967.40	$926.30
Operating profit from sales	19.2	-24.6	24.9	16.3	18	28.5	30.4	20.9	35.8	97.8	86
Account receivable	213.5	'	'	'	202.7	'	'	'	213.5	202.7	204.4
Property, plant, equipment, and mineral rights and reserves	263.6	'	'	'	301.9	'	'	'	263.6	301.9	273.5
Identifiable assets	878.7	'	'	'	910.6	'	'	'	878.7	910.6	849.1
Americas [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Geographic information [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Sales to unaffiliated customers shipped	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	605.2	588.7	546.1
Operating profit from sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	57.5	65.2	57.7
Account receivable	109.6	'	'	'	109.9	'	'	'	109.6	109.9	112.3
Property, plant, equipment, and mineral rights and reserves	162.9	'	'	'	134.8	'	'	'	162.9	134.8	116
Identifiable assets	430.4	'	'	'	448.3	'	'	'	430.4	448.3	420.4
EMEA [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Geographic information [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Sales to unaffiliated customers shipped	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	226.4	213.3	243.1
Operating profit from sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-41.4	10.4	10
Account receivable	48.1	'	'	'	45.3	'	'	'	48.1	45.3	51.9
Property, plant, equipment, and mineral rights and reserves	43.4	'	'	'	112.3	'	'	'	43.4	112.3	108.7
Identifiable assets	274.4	'	'	'	303.3	'	'	'	274.4	303.3	289.4
Asia Pacific [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Geographic information [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Sales to unaffiliated customers shipped	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	181.1	165.4	137.1
Operating profit from sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	19.7	22.2	18.3
Account receivable	55.8	'	'	'	47.5	'	'	'	55.8	47.5	40.2
Property, plant, equipment, and mineral rights and reserves	57.3	'	'	'	54.8	'	'	'	57.3	54.8	48.8
Identifiable assets	$173.90	'	'	'	$159	'	'	'	$173.90	$159	$139.30

Segment_Geographic_and_Market_4

Segment, Geographic, and Market Information - Net Sales by Product (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net sales by product line [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	$257.50	$263.50	$258.80	$232.90	$235.60	$249.20	$251.40	$231.20	$1,012.70	$967.40	$926.30
Metalcasting [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales by product line [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	269.3	265.6	247.3
Energy Services [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales by product line [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	295.4	257.3	194.7
Environmental products [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales by product line [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	91.2	90.5	104.4
Specialty Materials [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales by product line [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	84.6	88.3	99.3
Building Materials [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales by product line [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	73.7	73.3	76.1
Basic Minerals [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales by product line [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	64.3	60.4	52.8
Pet Products [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales by product line [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	61.2	52.9	56.1
Drilling Products [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales by product line [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	41.6	38.2	31.4
Contracting Services [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales by product line [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	10.4	18.8	36
Transportation [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales by product line [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$21	$22.10	$28.20

Balance_Sheet_Related_Informat2

Balance Sheet Related Information - Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (Details) (Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member]	'	'	'
Allowance for doubtful accounts [Abstract]	'	'	'
Balance at the beginning of the year	$11	$7.50	$6.60
Charged to expense (income)	4	5.3	3.6
Write-offs and currency translation adjustments	-1.4	-1.8	-2.7
Balance at the end of the year	$13.60	$11	$7.50

Balance_Sheet_Related_Informat3

Balance Sheet Related Information - Inventories (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Inventories [Abstract]	'	'
Crude stockpile inventories	$51	$60.80
In-process and finished goods inventories	74.9	70.5
Other raw material, container, and supplies inventories	23.3	22.5
Total	$149.20	$153.80

Balance_Sheet_Related_Informat4

Balance Sheet Related Information - Inventory, Raw Materials and Supplies, Net of Services (Details) (Inventory Valuation Reserve [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Inventory Valuation Reserve [Member]	'	'	'
Inventory valuation reserve [Abstract]	'	'	'
Balance at the beginning of the year	$2.60	$2.10	$2.70
Charged to costs and expenses	3.1	2.1	2.1
Disposals and currency translation adjustments	-1.5	-1.6	-2.7
Balance at the end of the year	$4.20	$2.60	$2.10

Balance_Sheet_Related_Informat5

Balance Sheet Related Information - Reclamation Liability (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Reclamation liability [Abstract]	'	'
Balance at beginning of the year	$9.50	$9.30
Settlement of obligations	-3.2	-3.9
Liabilities incurred and accretion expense	3.1	4.2
Currency translation adjustments	-0.5	-0.1
Balance at the end of the year	$8.90	$9.50

Balance_Sheet_Related_Informat6

Balance Sheet Related Information - Accrued Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Accrued liabilities [Abstract]	'	'
Bonus	$7.60	$11.50
Employee benefits and related costs	11.8	10.8
Dividends payable	6.7	6.4
Other	33.8	29.7
Accrued liabilities	$59.90	$58.40

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Accumulated other comprehensive income loss [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cumulative foreign currency translation	($19.10)	'	'	'	$6	'	'	'	($19.10)	$6	'
Prior service cost on pension plans (net of tax benefit of $0.1 in 2013 and $0.1 in 2012)	-0.1	'	'	'	-0.2	'	'	'	-0.1	-0.2	'
Net actuarial loss on pension plans (net of tax benefit of $2.7 in 2013 and $7.8 in 2012)	-4.2	'	'	'	-12	'	'	'	-4.2	-12	'
Unrealized loss on interest rate swap agreement (net of tax benefit of $2.1 in 2013 and $3.3 in 2012)	-3.3	'	'	'	-5.1	'	'	'	-3.3	-5.1	'
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities (net of tax expense of $1.2 in 2012)	0	'	'	'	12.1	'	'	'	0	12.1	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	-26.7	'	'	'	0.8	'	'	'	-26.7	0.8	'
Cumulative foreign currency translation, tax benefit	1.3	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1.3	'	'
Prior service cost on pension plans, tax benefit	0.1	'	'	'	0.1	'	'	'	0.1	0.1	'
Net actuarial loss on pension plans, tax benefit	2.7	'	'	'	7.8	'	'	'	2.7	7.8	'
Unrealized loss on interest rate swap agreement, tax benefit	2.1	'	'	'	3.3	'	'	'	2.1	3.3	'
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, tax benefit	'	'	'	'	1.2	'	'	'	'	1.2	'
Pre-Tax Amount [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustment	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-26.9	5.2	-24.8
Available-for-sale securities, Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-0.7	10.8	-10.3
Available for sale of securities, Reclassification of net (gains) losses to net income	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-12.6	0	0
Interest rate swap agreements, Unrealized gain (loss) arising during period	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0.3	-1.7	-5
Reclassification of net (gain) loss to on interest rate swaps, pre-tax amount	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2.6	2.3	2.6
Net actuarial gains (losses) and prior service costs arising during the period	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	11.8	-2.1	-13.6
Amortization of net actuarial (gains) losses and prior service costs	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1.2	1.2	0.2
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-Tax Amount	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-24.3	15.7	-50.9
Tax (Expense) Benefit [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustment	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1.3	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0.2	-1.2	1
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities, during period, tax	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1	0	0
Interest rate swap agreements, Unrealized gain (loss) arising during period	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-0.1	0.1	1.9
Interest rate swap agreements, Reclassification of net (gain) loss to net income	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-1	-0.1	-1
Net actuarial gains (losses) and prior service costs arising during the period	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-4.6	1.9	5
Amortization of net actuarial (gains) losses and prior service costs	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-0.5	-1.1	-0.1
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (Expense) Benefit	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-3.7	-0.4	6.8
Net-Of-Tax Amount [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustment	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-25.6	5.2	-24.8
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-0.5	9.6	-9.3
Unrealized gain(loss) on available sale of securities net of Tax	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-11.6	0	0
Interest rate swap agreements, Unrealized gain (loss) arising during period	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0.2	-1.6	-3.1
Interest rate swap agreements, Reclassification of net (gain) loss to net income	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1.6	2.2	1.6
Net actuarial gains (losses) and prior service costs arising during the period	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	7.2	-0.2	-8.6
Amortization of net actuarial (gains) losses and prior service costs	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0.7	0.1	0.1
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-28	15.3	-44.1
Schedule Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	12.6	0	0
Interest expense, net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-10.3	-10.4	-11
Income tax expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-11	-23.3	-20.8
Net income (loss) attributable to AMCOL shareholders	22.9	-19.8	16.6	10.5	11	19	21.7	13.4	30.2	65.1	58.5
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Schedule Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss) attributable to AMCOL shareholders	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-9.3	2.3	1.7
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Available-for-sale Securities [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Schedule Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-12.6	0	0
Income tax expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to AMCOL shareholders	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-11.6	0	0
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Schedule Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest expense, net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2.6	2.3	2.6
Income tax expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-1	-0.1	-1
Net income (loss) attributable to AMCOL shareholders	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1.6	2.2	1.6
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Amortization of Pension Items [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Schedule Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Components of net periodic benefit cost	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1.2	1.2	0.2
Income tax expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-0.5	-1.1	-0.1
Net income (loss) attributable to AMCOL shareholders	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$0.70	$0.10	$0.10

South_Africa_asset_impairment_

South Africa asset impairment (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended					3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
				South Africa [Member]	South Africa [Member]	South Africa [Member]	South Africa [Member]	Performance Materials [Member]	Performance Materials [Member]	Performance Materials [Member]
				Write down on Mineral Rights [Member]	Depreciable Assets [Member]	Cost of Sales [Member]	Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]	South Africa [Member]	South Africa [Member]	South Africa [Member]
									Write down on Mineral Rights [Member]	Depreciable Assets [Member]
Impairments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Impairment Charges	$59.80	$0.90	$0.10	$36	$16.30	($52.20)	($0.10)	$52.30	($36)	($16.30)

Discontinued_Operations_Detail

Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Income tax expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

($2.10)

$0

($0.60)

Income (loss) on discontinued operations

-0.2

-4.1

0.1

0

-0.3

-0.2

0.5

0.3

-4.2

0.3

-1.2

Impairment charge

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

59.8

0.9

0.1

Health and Beauty (HBS) [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net sales

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

14.2

18.2

17.5

Pre-tax income (loss)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-6.3

0.3

0

Income tax expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-2.1

0

0

Income (loss) on discontinued operations

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-4.2

0.3

0

Current assets

4.6

'

'

'

7

'

'

'

4.6

7

'

Property, plant, and equipment, net

4.1

'

'

'

5.9

'

'

'

4.1

5.9

'

Goodwill

0

'

'

'

1.8

'

'

'

0

1.8

'

Intangible assets, net

3.6

'

'

'

5.1

'

'

'

3.6

5.1

'

Other non-current assets

1.8

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

1.8

0

'

Valuation allowance

-2.4

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

-2.4

0

'

Total assets of HBS

11.7

[1]

'

'

'

19.8

'

'

'

11.7

[1]

19.8

'

Current liabilities

0.5

'

'

'

0.9

'

'

'

0.5

0.9

'

Other LT liabilities

0

'

'

'

0.5

'

'

'

0

0.5

'

Total liabilities of HBS

0.5

[1]

'

'

'

1.4

'

'

'

0.5

[1]

1.4

'

Assets held-for-sale

12

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

12

'

'

Valuation allowance against net assets

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.4

'

'

Fair value adjustment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6.6

'

'

Income tax benefit

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.4

'

'

Health and Beauty (HBS) [Member] | Goodwill [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Impairment charge

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.8

'

'

Health and Beauty (HBS) [Member] | Intangible Assets [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]

'

'

'

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'

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'

'

'

'

'

Assets held-for-sale

3.6

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'

'

'

'

'

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3.6

'

'

Impairment charge

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.1

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'

Health and Beauty (HBS) [Member] | Property, plant and equipment [Member]

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'

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'

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'

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Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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Impairment charge

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'

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$1.30

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[1]

Note that the assets and liabilities of HBS at December 31, 2013 are recorded with assets-held-for-sale and accrued liabilities within our consolidated balance sheets

Property_Plant_Equipment_and_M2

Property, Plant, Equipment and Mineral Rights and Reserves (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Property plant equipment and mineral rights and reserves [Abstract]	'	'
Mineral rights and reserves	$5	$48.60
Land	10.7	13
Buildings and improvements	87.9	104.9
Machinery and equipment	437.4	414.5
Construction in progress	47.9	32.6
Gross property, plant and equipment	$588.90	$613.60

Property_Plant_Equipment_and_M3

Property, Plant, Equipment and Mineral Rights and Reserves, Impairment Charge (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Impairment charge	$59.80	$0.90	$0.10
South Africa [Member] | Mineral Rights [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Impairment charge	36	'	'
South Africa [Member] | Depreciable Assets [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Impairment charge	$16.30	'	'

Property_Plant_Equipment_and_M4

Property, Plant, Equipment and Mineral Rights and Reserves - Useful Lives (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Building and Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Range of useful lives to depreciate plant and equipment [Abstract]	'
Range of useful lives to depreciate plant and equipment	'3 years
Building and Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Range of useful lives to depreciate plant and equipment [Abstract]	'
Range of useful lives to depreciate plant and equipment	'50 years
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Range of useful lives to depreciate plant and equipment [Abstract]	'
Range of useful lives to depreciate plant and equipment	'1 year
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Range of useful lives to depreciate plant and equipment [Abstract]	'
Range of useful lives to depreciate plant and equipment	'24 years

Property_Plant_Equipment_and_M5

Property, Plant, Equipment and Mineral Rights and Reserves - Depreciation and Depletion Charged to Income (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Depreciation and depletion charged to income [Abstract]	'	'	'
Depreciation expense	$44.10	$39.30	$35
Depletion expense	1.5	1.6	2.6
Depreciation and depletion	$45.60	$40.90	$37.60

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_2

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Impairment Charge (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Impairment charge	$59.80	$0.90	$0.10
Health and Beauty (HBS) [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Assets held-for-sale	12	'	'
Goodwill [Member] | Health and Beauty (HBS) [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Impairment charge	1.8	'	'
Impairment of goodwill	1.1	'	'
Intangible Assets [Member] | Health and Beauty (HBS) [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Impairment charge	1.1	'	'
Assets held-for-sale	3.6	'	'
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets	3.8	'	'
Impairment of intangible assets	$1.10	'	'

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_3

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Balance of Goodwill by Segment (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of the balance of goodwill by segment and the activity occurring in the past two fiscal years [Abstract]	'	'
Balance at beginning of the period	$70.20	$69.50
Change in goodwill relating to [Abstract]	'	'
Reclassification to discontinued operations	-1.8	'
Acquisition	0.4	'
Foreign exchange translation	-0.1	0.7
Total changes	-1.5	0.7
Balance at ending of the period	68.7	70.2
Performance Materials [Member]	'	'
Schedule of the balance of goodwill by segment and the activity occurring in the past two fiscal years [Abstract]	'	'
Balance at beginning of the period	17.8	17.4
Change in goodwill relating to [Abstract]	'	'
Reclassification to discontinued operations	-1.8	'
Acquisition	0	'
Foreign exchange translation	-0.6	0.4
Total changes	-2.4	0.4
Balance at ending of the period	15.4	17.8
Construction Technologies [Member]	'	'
Schedule of the balance of goodwill by segment and the activity occurring in the past two fiscal years [Abstract]	'	'
Balance at beginning of the period	21.4	21.1
Change in goodwill relating to [Abstract]	'	'
Reclassification to discontinued operations	0	'
Acquisition	0	'
Foreign exchange translation	0.5	0.3
Total changes	0.5	0.3
Balance at ending of the period	21.9	21.4
Energy Services [Member]	'	'
Schedule of the balance of goodwill by segment and the activity occurring in the past two fiscal years [Abstract]	'	'
Balance at beginning of the period	31	31
Change in goodwill relating to [Abstract]	'	'
Reclassification to discontinued operations	0	'
Acquisition	0.4	'
Foreign exchange translation	0	0
Total changes	0.4	0
Balance at ending of the period	$31.40	$31

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_4

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Balance of Intangible Assets by Segments (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Intangibles not subject to amortization: [Abstract]	'	'
Gross Carrying Value	$63.90	$70.20
Accumulated Amortization	-36	-36.3
Net Carrying Value	27.9	33.9
Trademarks And Tradenames [Member]	'	'
Intangibles not subject to amortization: [Abstract]	'	'
Gross Carrying Value	2.9	6.1
Net Carrying Value	2.9	6.1
Customer Related Assets [Member]	'	'
Schedule of the balance of intangible assets by segment and the activity occurring in the past two fiscal years [Abstract]	'	'
Gross Carrying Value	45.8	47.1
Accumulated Amortization	-24.9	-23
Net Carrying Value	20.9	24.1
Patents [Member]	'	'
Schedule of the balance of intangible assets by segment and the activity occurring in the past two fiscal years [Abstract]	'	'
Gross Carrying Value	7.8	6.9
Accumulated Amortization	-6.6	-6.9
Net Carrying Value	1.2	0
Non-compete Agreements [Member]	'	'
Schedule of the balance of intangible assets by segment and the activity occurring in the past two fiscal years [Abstract]	'	'
Gross Carrying Value	3.4	2.2
Accumulated Amortization	-2.2	-2.2
Net Carrying Value	1.2	0
Developed Technology [Member]	'	'
Schedule of the balance of intangible assets by segment and the activity occurring in the past two fiscal years [Abstract]	'	'
Gross Carrying Value	0	4
Accumulated Amortization	0	-2.4
Net Carrying Value	0	1.6
Other [Member]	'	'
Schedule of the balance of intangible assets by segment and the activity occurring in the past two fiscal years [Abstract]	'	'
Gross Carrying Value	4	3.9
Accumulated Amortization	-2.3	-1.8
Net Carrying Value	1.7	2.1
Subtotal [Member]	'	'
Schedule of the balance of intangible assets by segment and the activity occurring in the past two fiscal years [Abstract]	'	'
Gross Carrying Value	61	64.1
Accumulated Amortization	-36	-36.3
Net Carrying Value	$25	$27.80

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_5

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Estimated Amortization Expenses of Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of estimate amortization expense of intangible assets for the future years [Abstract]	'
2014	$3.90
2015	3.8
2016	3.8
2017	3.4
2018	$3.10

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_6

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Weighted Average Amortization Period (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Weighted average amortization period of intangible assets with finite lives	'11 years	'	'
Amortization expense of intangible assets	$4.10	$4.30	$4.80

Investments_in_Joint_Ventures_1

Investments in Joint Ventures - Investments in and Advance to Affiliates and Joint Venture (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Ashapura Volclay Limited [Member]	'
Equity method investments in and advances to affiliates and joint ventures [Abstract]	'
Ownership Interest - Equity Method (in hundredths)	50.00%
Accounting Policy - Equity Method	'Equity Method
CETCO-Bentonit Uniao Technologias Ambientais Ltda. [Member]	'
Equity method investments in and advances to affiliates and joint ventures [Abstract]	'
Ownership Interest - Equity Method (in hundredths)	50.00%
Accounting Policy - Equity Method	'Equity Method
Egypt Bentonite & Derivatives Co. [Member]	'
Equity method investments in and advances to affiliates and joint ventures [Abstract]	'
Ownership Interest - Equity Method (in hundredths)	30.00%
Accounting Policy - Equity Method	'Equity Method
Egypt Mining & Drilling Co. [Member]	'
Equity method investments in and advances to affiliates and joint ventures [Abstract]	'
Ownership Interest - Equity Method (in hundredths)	31.00%
Accounting Policy - Equity Method	'Equity Method
Egypt Nano Technologies Co. [Member]	'
Equity method investments in and advances to affiliates and joint ventures [Abstract]	'
Ownership Interest - Equity Method (in hundredths)	27.00%
Accounting Policy - Equity Method	'Equity Method
Maprid Tech Cast, S.A. de C.V. [Member]	'
Equity method investments in and advances to affiliates and joint ventures [Abstract]	'
Ownership Interest - Equity Method (in hundredths)	49.00%
Accounting Policy - Equity Method	'Equity Method
Novinda Corporation [Member]	'
Equity method investments in and advances to affiliates and joint ventures [Abstract]	'
Ownership Interest - Cost Method (in hundredths)	16.00%
Accounting Policy - Cost Method	'Cost Method
Volclay de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. [Member]	'
Equity method investments in and advances to affiliates and joint ventures [Abstract]	'
Ownership Interest - Equity Method (in hundredths)	49.00%
Accounting Policy - Equity Method	'Equity Method
Volclay Japan Co., Ltd. [Member]	'
Equity method investments in and advances to affiliates and joint ventures [Abstract]	'
Ownership Interest - Equity Method (in hundredths)	50.00%
Accounting Policy - Equity Method	'Equity Method

Investments_in_Joint_Ventures_2

Investments in Joint Ventures - Income Loss From Affiliates and Joint Ventures (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2013
				Ashapura AMCOL N.V. [Member]	Novinda Corporation [Member]
Schedule of Equity and Cost Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Income from affiliates and joint ventures	$3.20	$3.90	$5.20	'	'
Gain (loss) from sale of joint venture and affiliated entities	'	'	'	2.1	'
Business acquisition cost	'	'	'	'	$5

Income_Taxes_Income_Tax_Expens

Income Taxes - Income Tax Expense (Benefit), (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income tax expense (benefit) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Continuing operations	$11	$23.30	$20.80
Discontinued operations	-2.1	0	-0.6
Income tax expense benefit continuing and discontinued operations	$8.90	$23.30	$20.20

Income_Taxes_Income_From_Conti

Income Taxes - Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Income (Loss) From Affiliates and Joint Ventures (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and income from affiliates and joint ventures [Abstract]	'	'	'
Domestic	$63	$56.10	$53.80
Foreign	-27.7	27.9	21.5
Income before income taxes and income from affiliates and joint ventures	$35.30	$84	$75.30

Income_Taxes_Components_of_Pro

Income Taxes - Components of Provision For Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Federal [Abstract]	'	'	'
Current	$10.40	$14	$5.70
Deferred	1.2	0.8	5.9
State [Abstract]	'	'	'
Current	1.2	2.8	3
Deferred	-0.2	-1.9	0.3
Foreign [Abstract]	'	'	'
Current	6.4	8.4	8
Deferred	-8	-0.8	-2.1
Income tax expense (benefit), total	$11	$23.30	$20.80

Income_Taxes_Significant_Porti

Income Taxes - Significant Portion of the Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Deferred tax assets attributable to [Abstract]	'	'
Accounts receivable	$2.70	$2.10
Inventories	2.6	2.7
Employee benefit plans	24.7	28.3
Accrued liabilities	1.7	0.6
Employee incentive plans	1.2	2.4
Tax credit carryforwards	7.9	6.9
Other	0.6	0.3
Total deferred tax assets	41.4	43.3
Deferred tax liabilities attributable to: [Abstract]	'	'
Plant and equipment	-17	-17.7
Land and mineral reserves	-0.8	-12.7
Joint ventures	-1	-2
Intangible assets	-3.8	-2.7
Available-for-sale securities	0	-1.2
Other	-0.6	-0.8
Total deferred tax liabilities	-23.2	-37.1
Valuation allowances	-13.1	-5.1
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	$5.10	$1.10

Income_Taxes_Effective_Income_

Income Taxes - Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Abstract]	'	'	'
Provision for income taxes at U.S. statutory rates	$12.30	$29.50	$26.30
Percentage of Pretax Income, Provision for income taxes at U.S. statutory rates (in hundredths)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from [Abstract]	'	'	'
Percentage depletion	-5.9	-5	-4.9
Percent of pretax income, Percentage depletion (in hundredths)	-16.70%	-6.00%	-6.50%
State taxes, net of federal benefit	1.1	1.7	2.2
Percent of pretax income, State taxes, net of federal benefit (in hundredths)	3.00%	2.10%	2.90%
Foreign tax rates	1.2	-3	-1
Percent of pretax income, Foreign tax rates (in hundredths)	3.60%	-3.60%	-1.40%
Domestic manufacturing deduction	-1.2	-1.6	-0.8
Percent of pretax income, domestic manufacturing deduction (in hundredths)	-3.30%	-1.90%	-1.10%
Change in state tax rates	0.2	-1.9	0
Percent of pretax income, Change in state tax rates (in hundredths)	0.50%	-2.20%	0.00%
Foreign withholding tax	2.2	1.6	1
Percent of pretax income, foreign withholding tax (in hundredths)	6.20%	2.00%	1.30%
Foreign tax credits	-3.6	-3.2	-2.4
Percent of pretax income, Foreign tax credits (in hundredths)	-10.30%	-3.80%	-3.10%
Changes to valuation allowance	8	1.9	-0.2
Percent of pretax income, Changes to valuation allowance (in hundredths)	22.70%	2.20%	-0.30%
Sale of available-for-sale securities	-3.5	0	0
Percent of pretax income, Tax from foreign disregarded entities (in hundredths)	-10.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Other	0.2	3.3	0.6
Percent of pretax income, Other (in hundredths)	0.50%	3.90%	0.80%
Income tax expense (benefit), continuing operations, total	$11	$23.30	$20.80
Percent of pretax income, Effective tax rates related to income from continuing operations before income taxes (in hundredths)	31.20%	27.70%	27.60%

Income_Taxes_Activity_Related_

Income Taxes - Activity Related to Unrecognized Tax Benefit (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Activity related to unrecognized tax benefits [Rollforward]	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of the year	$0	$0	$0.80
Increases related to prior year tax positions	0.2	0	0
Decreases related to the expiration of statue of limitation / settlement of audits	0	0	-0.8
Balance at the end of the year	$0.20	$0	$0

Income_Taxes_Text_Details

Income Taxes - Text (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Taxes (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Undistributed earnings from international subsidiaries	$98.30	$138.90	'
Tax holidays resulted in reductions to Income tax expense	0	0.2	0.1
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$0	$0.01	$0
Preferential tax rate, Suzhou China (in hundredths)	15.00%	'	'
Preferential tax rate, Tianjin China (in hundredths)	12.50%	'	'
Taxable percentage of initial manufacturing activities (in hundredths)	50.00%	'	'
Percentage of income generated from tax holiday (in hundredths)	100.00%	'	'
Granted period to generate income from corporate income tax	'8 years	'	'
Additional taxable percentage of initial manufacturing activities (in hundredths)	50.00%	'	'
Additional granted period to generate income from corporate income tax	'5 years	'	'
Income tax credits	0.3	'	'
Income tax carryforward period	'10 years	'	'
Foreign and state net operating loss carryovers	$0.20	'	'

Debt_Amounts_of_LongTerm_Debt_

Debt - Amounts of Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Amounts of long-term debt [Abstract]	'	'
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement	$123.20	$114.60
Senior notes	125	125
Other notes payable	1.8	10.2
Total long term debt	250	249.8
Less: current portion	-0.9	-1
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	$249.10	$248.80

Debt_Maturities_of_LongTerm_De

Debt - Maturities of Long-Term Debt Outstanding (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Maturities of long-term debt outstanding [Abstract]	'
2014	$0.90
2015	0.5
2016	0.2
2017	198.3
2018	0.1
Thereafter	50
Revolving Credit Agreement [Member]	'
Maturities of long-term debt outstanding [Abstract]	'
2014	0
2015	0
2016	0
2017	123.2
2018	0
Thereafter	0
Senior Notes [Member]	'
Maturities of long-term debt outstanding [Abstract]	'
2014	0
2015	0
2016	0
2017	75
2018	0
Thereafter	50
Other Notes Payable [Member]	'
Maturities of long-term debt outstanding [Abstract]	'
2014	0.9
2015	0.5
2016	0.2
2017	0.1
2018	0.1
Thereafter	$0

Debt_Obligations_Details

Debt - Obligations (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Apr. 29, 2010	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013
					Tranche 1 [Member]	Tranche 2 [Member]	Tranche 2 [Member]	Minimum [Member]	Maximum [Member]	Short-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of credit facility basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1.00%	1.75%	'
Debt instrument basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	'	'	'	'	'	0.55%	'	'	'	'
Debt instrument interest rate effective percentage (in hundredths)	'	'	'	'	5.78%	5.60%	5.60%	'	'	'
Repayments of notes payable	'	'	'	'	'	$30	'	'	'	'
Credit facility maximum borrowing capacity	'	'	400	'	'	'	'	'	'	15
Short term debt weighted average interest rate (in hundredths)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1.42%
Debt bearing fixed interest rate (in hundredths)	64.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Average fixed interest rate (in hundredths)	5.10%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Debt instrument face amount	'	'	'	50	45	'	'	'	'	'
Interest swap rate outstanding	33	33	'	'	'	30	30	'	'	'
Long Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest rate on revolving credit facility (in hundredths)	3.30%	3.30%	'	5.46%	'	'	'	'	'	'
Average interest rate on revolving credit facility (in hundredths)	1.93%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Senior notes face amount	75	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Senior notes maturities repayment date	2-Apr-17	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of credit facility variable rate basis	'LIBOR	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Short-term credit facility maturity date	22-Oct-15	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Letters of credit outstanding amount	7.3	4.2	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of credit facility current borrowing capacity	'	'	300	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Credit facility remaining borrowing capacity	$176.80	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed2

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Fair Value of Derivative Instruments in Balance Sheet (Details) (Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member], Interest Rate Swaps [Member], USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member]	'	'
Liability Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Fair value of derivative liability	($5.30)	($8.40)
Accrued Liabilities [Member]	'	'
Liability Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Fair value of derivative liability	($0.50)	$0

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed3

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Summary of Cash Flow Hedges (Details) (Interest Rate Swaps [Member], Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Member]	'	'
Summary of Cash Flow Hedges [Abstract]	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivatives, net of tax (Effective Portion)	$1.80	$0.60

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed4

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Changes in Fair Value of Foreign Contracts (Details) (Foreign Exchange Derivative Instruments [Member], Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member], Other, Net [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Foreign Exchange Derivative Instruments [Member] | Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Other, Net [Member]	'	'	'
Changes in fair value of foreign exchange contracts [Abstract]	'	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	($3.50)	($0.40)	($0.50)

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed5

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Debt Instruments (Details) (Interest Rate Swaps [Member], USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Senior Notes [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'
Debt instrument outstanding	$30	$30
Interest Rate (in hundredths)	5.60%	5.60%
Borrowings [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'
Debt instrument outstanding	$33	$33
Interest Rate (in hundredths)	3.30%	3.30%

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail

Fair Value Measurements (Details) (Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member], USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]	'	'
Summary of fair value instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Interest rate swaps	($5.80)	($8.40)
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'
Summary of fair value instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Interest rate swaps	0	0
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'
Summary of fair value instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Interest rate swaps	-8.4	-8.4
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Summary of fair value instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Interest rate swaps	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities [Member]	'	'
Summary of fair value instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities	'	14.6
Available-for-sale Securities [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'
Summary of fair value instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities	'	14.6
Available-for-sale Securities [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'
Summary of fair value instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities	'	0
Available-for-sale Securities [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Summary of fair value instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Available-for-sale securities	'	0
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets [Member]	'	'
Summary of fair value instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Other assets, fair value disclosure	11.9	9.4
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'
Summary of fair value instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Other assets, fair value disclosure	0	0
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'
Summary of fair value instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Other assets, fair value disclosure	11.9	9.4
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Summary of fair value instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Other assets, fair value disclosure	0	0
Supplementary Pension Plan Assets [Member]	'	'
Summary of fair value instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Other assets, fair value disclosure	9.4	8.2
Supplementary Pension Plan Assets [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'
Summary of fair value instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Other assets, fair value disclosure	0	0
Supplementary Pension Plan Assets [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'
Summary of fair value instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Other assets, fair value disclosure	9.4	8.2
Supplementary Pension Plan Assets [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Summary of fair value instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Other assets, fair value disclosure	$0	$0

Noncontrolling_Interest_Net_In

Noncontrolling Interest - Net Income and Transfers From Noncontrolling Interest (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Equity attributable to AMCOL's shareholders [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to AMCOL shareholders	$22.90	($19.80)	$16.60	$10.50	$11	$19	$21.70	$13.40	$30.20	$65.10	$58.50
Transfers from noncontrolling interest: [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Decrease in additional paid-in capital for purchase of the remaining noncontrolling interest in South Africa (Proprietary) Limited	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-5.7
Decrease in additional paid-in capital for transfer of 26% interest in Batlhako	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0
AMCOL Shareholders [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Equity attributable to AMCOL's shareholders [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to AMCOL shareholders	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	30.2	65.1	58.5
Transfers from noncontrolling interest: [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Decrease in additional paid-in capital for purchase of the remaining noncontrolling interest in South Africa (Proprietary) Limited	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	-5.4
Decrease in additional paid-in capital for transfer of 26% interest in Batlhako	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	-3.4
Change from net income attributable to AMCOL shareholders and transfers from noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$30.20	$65.10	$49.70

Noncontrolling_Interest_Intere

Noncontrolling Interest - Interest Acquired and Interest Sold (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2012	Feb. 28, 2011
		Volclay South Africa (Proprietary) Limited [Member]	Vengawave (Proprietary) Limited [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Remaining noncontrolling interest acquired	$5.70	$5.60	'
Percentage of interest sold (in hundredths)	'	'	26.00%

Leases_Future_Minimum_Lease_Pa

Leases - Future Minimum Lease Payment For Operating Leases (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Summary of future minimum lease payments for operating leases [Abstract]	'
2014	$22.20
2015	17.9
2016	13.4
2017	9.6
2018	7.3
Thereafter	46.7
Total	117.1
Foreign [Member]	'
Summary of future minimum lease payments for operating leases [Abstract]	'
2014	2.5
2015	2.1
2016	1.6
2017	0.9
2018	0.5
Thereafter	3.3
Total	10.9
Domestic [Member]	'
Summary of future minimum lease payments for operating leases [Abstract]	'
2014	19.7
2015	15.8
2016	11.8
2017	8.7
2018	6.8
Thereafter	43.4
Total	$106.20

Leases_Lease_Rental_Payments_D

Leases - Lease Rental Payments (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Leases (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Rental payments under the terms of operating lease	$2.70	$2.70	$2.60
Percentage of increase under lease agreement (in hundredths)	2.00%	'	'
Total rent expense under operating lease agreements	$23.80	$20.10	$14.40

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Pension

Employee Benefit Plans - Pension Obligation and Funded Status (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Change in benefit obligations [Rollforward]	'	'	'
Beginning projected benefit obligation	$63.80	$58.10	'
Service cost	1.7	1.7	1.5
Interest cost	2.6	2.7	2.6
Actuarial (gain)/loss	-6.8	2.6	'
Benefits paid	-1.4	-1.3	'
Ending projected benefit obligation	59.9	63.8	58.1
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]	'	'	'
Beginning fair value	39.1	34.5	'
Actual return	6.2	4.3	'
Company contribution	1.2	1.7	'
Benefits paid	-1.4	-1.4	'
Ending fair value	45.1	39.1	34.5
Funded status of the plan	-14.8	-24.7	'
Supplementary Pension Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Change in benefit obligations [Rollforward]	'	'	'
Beginning projected benefit obligation	13.2	11.6	'
Service cost	0.4	0.3	0.2
Interest cost	0.5	0.5	0.5
Actuarial (gain)/loss	-1.6	1.2	'
Benefits paid	-0.4	-0.4	'
Ending projected benefit obligation	12.1	13.2	11.6
Change in plan assets [Rollforward]	'	'	'
Beginning fair value	0	0	'
Company contribution	0.4	0.4	'
Benefits paid	-0.4	-0.4	'
Ending fair value	0	0	0
Funded status of the plan	($12.10)	($13.20)	'

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Net_Per

Employee Benefit Plans - Net Periodic Pension Cost (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Summary of net periodic pension cost [Abstract]	'	'	'
Service cost - benefits earned during the year	$1.70	$1.70	$1.50
Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation	2.6	2.7	2.6
Expected return on plan assets	-2.9	-2.6	-2.9
Net amortization and deferral	1	1	0.1
Net periodic pension cost	2.4	2.8	1.3
Supplementary Pension Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Summary of net periodic pension cost [Abstract]	'	'	'
Service cost - benefits earned during the year	0.4	0.3	0.2
Interest cost on accumulated benefit obligation	0.5	0.5	0.5
Expected return on plan assets	0	0	0
Net amortization and deferral	0.3	0.2	0.1
Net periodic pension cost	$1.20	$1	$0.80

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Assumpt

Employee Benefit Plans - Assumptions Used To Determine Pension Obligation (Details)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]	'	'
Assumptions used to determine pension obligations [Abstract]	'	'
Discount rate (in hundredths)	5.00%	4.17%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)	3.00%	3.00%
Long-term rate of return on plan assets (in hundredths)	7.50%	7.50%
Supplementary Pension Plan [Member]	'	'
Assumptions used to determine pension obligations [Abstract]	'	'
Discount rate (in hundredths)	4.85%	4.00%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)	3.00%	3.00%

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Assumpt1

Employee Benefit Plans - Assumptions Used to Determine Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]	'	'	'
Discount rate (in hundredths)	4.17%	4.70%	5.51%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)	3.00%	4.00%	4.00%
Long-term rate of return on plan assets (in hundredths)	7.50%	7.50%	8.00%
Supplementary Pension Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]	'	'	'
Discount rate (in hundredths)	4.00%	4.63%	5.36%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)	3.00%	4.00%	4.00%

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Expecte

Employee Benefit Plans - Expected Payment of Future Benefits (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]	'
Expected payment of future benefits [Abstract]	'
2014	$1.90
2015	2.1
2016	2.4
2017	2.6
2018	2.8
2018 through 2022	18.1
Supplementary Pension Plan [Member]	'
Expected payment of future benefits [Abstract]	'
2014	0.4
2015	0.4
2016	0.5
2017	0.7
2018	0.8
2018 through 2022	$4

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Amounts

Employee Benefit Plans - Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income and Prior Service Cost (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net actuarial loss (gain)	($11.80)	$2.10	$13.60
Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain)	-1.2	-1.1	'
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	0	-0.1	'
Total change in other comprehensive income	($13)	$0.90	'

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Fair_Va

Employee Benefit Plans - Fair Value of Pension Plan Assets (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Hedge Funds [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	$4.60	$4	$3.90
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	45.1	39.1	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	21	14.1	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	19.5	21	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	4.6	4	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Short Term Investment Funds [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0.1	0.6	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Short Term Investment Funds [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Short Term Investment Funds [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0.1	0.6	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Short Term Investment Funds [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | US Equity Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	17.3	14	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | US Equity Securities [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	7.4	1.4	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | US Equity Securities [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	9.9	12.6	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | US Equity Securities [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | International Equity Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	12.3	9.5	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | International Equity Securities [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	4.4	4.5	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | International Equity Securities [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	7.9	5	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | International Equity Securities [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | AMCOL International Common Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	2.4	2.1	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | AMCOL International Common Stock [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	2.4	2.1	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | AMCOL International Common Stock [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | AMCOL International Common Stock [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Governmental Agencies [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0.8	0.7	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Governmental Agencies [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Governmental Agencies [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0.8	0.7	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Governmental Agencies [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	6.8	5.4	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	6.8	5.4	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Guaranteed Investment Contracts [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	'	1.3	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Guaranteed Investment Contracts [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	'	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Guaranteed Investment Contracts [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	'	1.3	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Guaranteed Investment Contracts [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	'	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Real Estate Index Funds [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0.8	0.8	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Real Estate Index Funds [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Real Estate Index Funds [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0.8	0.8	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Real Estate Index Funds [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Commodities Linked Funds [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	'	0.7	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Commodities Linked Funds [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	'	0.7	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Commodities Linked Funds [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	'	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Commodities Linked Funds [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	'	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Hedge Funds [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	4.6	4	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Hedge Funds [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Hedge Funds [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	0	0	'
Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member] | Hedge Funds [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Fair value of pension plan assets	$4.60	$4	'

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Reconci

Employee Benefit Plans - Reconciliation of Changes in Fair Value Measurement of Plan Assets (Details) (Hedge Funds [Member], Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Hedge Funds [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Reconciliation of changes in fair value measurements of plan assets [Rollforward]	'	'
Beginning fair value	$4	$3.90
Purchases, sales, and settlements	0	0
Actual return on plan assets still held at reporting date	0.6	0.1
Ending fair value	$4.60	$4

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Text_De

Employee Benefit Plans - Text (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Percentage of contribution (in hundredths)	3.00%	'	'
Company contribution	$2.40	$1.90	$1.80
Employee Benefit Plans (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Contribution to defined benefit pension plan	2.2	'	'
Accumulated benefit obligation for defined benefit pension plan	52.9	56.4	'
Accumulated benefit obligation for supplementary pension plan	9.5	9.4	'
Amount expected to be amortized in the next fiscal year for the unrecognized prior service cost	0.1	'	'
Amount expected to be amortized in the next fiscal year for the unrecognized net actuarial loss	0.2	'	'
Target allocation minimum percentage in cash (in hundredths)	0.00%	'	'
Target allocation maximum percentage in cash (in hundredths)	10.00%	'	'
Evaluation of investment allocations	'at least twice a year by the Pension Committee	'	'
Company contribution	2.4	1.9	1.8
Equity Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Employee Benefit Plans (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Target allocation minimum percentage for investments (in hundredths)	41.00%	'	'
Target allocation maximum percentage for investments (in hundredths)	69.00%	'	'
Fixed Income Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Employee Benefit Plans (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Target allocation minimum percentage for investments (in hundredths)	18.00%	'	'
Target allocation maximum percentage for investments (in hundredths)	31.00%	'	'
Alternative Investments [Member]	'	'	'
Employee Benefit Plans (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Target allocation minimum percentage for investments (in hundredths)	5.00%	'	'
Target allocation maximum percentage for investments (in hundredths)	23.00%	'	'
401(k) Savings Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Percentage of contribution (in hundredths)	4.00%	'	'
Company contribution	4.3	3.8	3.4
Employee Benefit Plans (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Company contribution	$4.30	$3.80	$3.40

Stock_Compensation_Plans_Summa

Stock Compensation Plans - Summary of Fair Value of Awards Granted (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Summary of fair value of awards granted [Abstract]	'	'	'
Risk-free interest rate (in hundredths)	1.00%	1.00%	2.20%
Expected life of option in years	'5 years 4 months 13 days	'5 years 4 months 20 days	'5 years 6 months 4 days
Expected dividend yield of stock (in hundredths)	2.60%	2.30%	2.50%
Expected volatility of stock price (in hundredths)	56.00%	56.40%	49.00%
Weighted-average per share fair value of options granted (in dollars per share)	$12.25	$12.36	$11.42

Stock_Compensation_Plans_Summa1

Stock Compensation Plans - Summary of Changes in Options Outstanding (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Summary of changes in options outstanding [Rollforward]	'	'	'
Number of Shares outstanding, Ending balance (in shares)	1,458,802	'	'
Number of Shares Exercisable, Ending balance (in shares)	834,737	'	'
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Weighted Average Exercise Price outstanding, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$26.99	'	'
Weighted Average Exercise Price Exercisable, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$24.57	'	'
2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Summary of changes in options outstanding [Rollforward]	'	'	'
Number of Shares outstanding, Beginning balance (in shares)	883,109	1,189,012	1,389,598
Number of Shares outstanding, Exercised (in shares)	-349,551	-297,528	-170,998
Number of Shares outstanding, Forfeited (in shares)	0	-3,125	-20,087
Number of Shares outstanding, Expired (in shares)	-49,224	-5,250	-9,501
Number of Shares outstanding, Ending balance (in shares)	484,334	883,109	1,189,012
Number of Shares Exercisable, Ending balance (in shares)	484,334	781,574	885,003
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Weighted Average Exercise Price outstanding, Beginning balance (in dollars per share)	$22.84	$22.91	$23.02
Weighted Average Exercise Price outstanding, Exercised (in dollars per share)	$25.25	$23.11	$24.04
Weighted Average Exercise Price outstanding, Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$0	$23.24	$20.48
Weighted Average Exercise Price outstanding, Expired (in dollars per share)	$29.84	$23.89	$23.64
Weighted Average Exercise Price outstanding, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$20.39	$22.84	$22.91
Weighted Average Exercise Price Exercisable, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$20.39	$22.79	$23.67
2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Summary of changes in options outstanding [Rollforward]	'	'	'
Number of Shares outstanding, Beginning balance (in shares)	750,296	356,050	'
Number of Shares outstanding, Granted (in shares)	268,300	417,420	379,425
Number of Shares outstanding, Exercised (in shares)	-26,113	-567	0
Number of Shares outstanding, Forfeited (in shares)	-18,015	-22,107	-23,375
Number of Shares outstanding, Expired (in shares)	0	-500	0
Number of Shares outstanding, Ending balance (in shares)	974,468	750,296	356,050
Number of Shares Exercisable, Ending balance (in shares)	350,403	117,219	0
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Weighted Average Exercise Price outstanding, Beginning balance (in dollars per share)	$30.20	$30.66	$0
Weighted Average Exercise Price outstanding, Granted (in dollars per share)	$30.47	$29.80	$30.66
Weighted Average Exercise Price outstanding, Exercised (in dollars per share)	$30.36	$30.66	$0
Weighted Average Exercise Price outstanding, Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$30.16	$30.12	$30.66
Weighted Average Exercise Price outstanding, Expired (in dollars per share)	$0	$30.66	$0
Weighted Average Exercise Price outstanding, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$30.27	$30.20	$30.66
Weighted Average Exercise Price Exercisable, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$30.34	$30.66	$0

Stock_Compensation_Plans_Summa2

Stock Compensation Plans - Summary of All Stock Option Plan (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Summary of all stock compensation plans [Abstract]	'	'	'
Intrinsic value of awards exercised during the year	$2.60	$3.60	$5.10
Fair value of awards vested during the year	4	2.9	2.4
Grant date fair value of awards granted during the year	$3.30	$5.20	$4.30

Stock_Compensation_Plans_Summa3

Stock Compensation Plans - Summary of Stock Option Compensation Awards Outstanding and Exercisable (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Summary of stock compensation awards outstanding and exercisable [Abstract]	'
Number of Awards outstanding, Ending balance (in shares)	1,458,802
Weighted Average Exercise Price Awards outstanding, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$26.99
Intrinsic Value Awards outstanding, Ending balance	$10.20
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life Awards outstanding, Ending balance	'7 years 0 months 18 days
Number of Awards exercisable, Ending balance (in shares)	834,737
Weighted Average Exercise Price Awards exercisable, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$24.57
Intrinsic Value Awards exercisable, Ending balance	$7.90
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life Awards exercisable, Ending balance	'6 years 0 months 25 days

Stock_Compensation_Plans_Summa4

Stock Compensation Plans - Summary of Nonvested Stock Compensation Awards (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Summary of nonvested stock compensation awards [Rollforward]	'	'	'
Number of Shares outstanding, Beginning balance (in shares)	734,612	660,059	635,726
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Beginning balance (in dollars per share)	$11.55	$9.80	$7.87
Number of Nonvested shares outstanding, Granted (in shares)	268,300	417,420	379,425
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted (in dollars per share)	$12.25	$12.36	$11.42
Number of Nonvested shares outstanding, Vested (in shares)	-360,832	-317,635	-311,630
Weighted Average grant Date Fair Value, Vested (in dollars per share)	$11	$8.99	$7.80
Number of Nonvested shares outstanding, Forfeited (in shares)	-18,015	-25,232	-43,462
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$12.09	$11.59	$9.77
Number of Nonvested shares outstanding, Ending balance (in shares)	624,065	734,612	660,059
Weighted Average Grant date Fair Value, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$12.15	$11.55	$9.80
2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Summary of nonvested stock compensation awards [Rollforward]	'	'	'
Number of Shares outstanding, Beginning balance (in shares)	49,997	75,000	0
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Beginning balance (in dollars per share)	$30.66	$30.66	$0
Number of Nonvested shares outstanding, Granted (in shares)	129,700	0	77,000
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted (in dollars per share)	$28.94	$0	$30.66
Number of Nonvested shares outstanding, Vested (in shares)	-34,998	-25,003	0
Weighted Average grant Date Fair Value, Vested (in dollars per share)	$30.56	$30.66	$0
Number of Nonvested shares outstanding, Forfeited (in shares)	-1,700	'	-2,000
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Forfeited (in dollars per share)	$28.95	$0	$30.66
Number of Nonvested shares outstanding, Ending balance (in shares)	142,999	49,997	75,000
Weighted Average Grant date Fair Value, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$29.15	$30.66	$30.66

Stock_Compensation_Plans_Text_

Stock Compensation Plans - Text (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
				2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]	2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Prior To 2009 Long Term Incentive Plans [Member]	2009 Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]	2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]	Restricted Stock Awards [Member]
Stock Compensation Plans (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of shares reserved (in shares)	'	'	'	1,500,000	'	'	'	2,000,000	'
Period of vesting of awards	'	'	'	'3 years	'	'	'	'	'
Period of life of awards granted	'	'	'	'10 years	'	'6 years	'10 years	'10 years	'
Total number of securities remaining available for future awards	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	795,852	'
Vesting of granted awards	'	'	'	'3 years	'	'	'	'3 years	'
Restricted stock awards, granted (in shares)	268,300	417,420	379,425	'	40,000	'	'	'	'
Share-based compensation expense	$3.80	$4.50	$3.20	'	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted stock expense	1.3	0	1.7	'	'	'	'	'	'
Unrecognized stock compensation expense	$2	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$2.10
Expected weighted average period of recognition	'0 years 8 months 12 days	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'1 year 3 months 18 days
Restricted stock awards fair value, granted (in dollars per share)	$12.25	$12.36	$11.42	'	$28.42	'	'	'	'

Reorganization_Charges_Details

Reorganization Charges (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Reorganizing charges	'	'	$4.50
Accrued liabilities to satisfy remaining obligations under reorganization initiatives	'	'	0.1
Employee Termination and Other Benefits [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Reorganizing charges	'	'	0.8
Employee Termination and Other Benefits [Member] | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Reorganizing charges	'	'	3.1
Non-Cash Impairment Charges [Member] | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Reorganizing charges	'	'	0.6	[1]
Performance Materials [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Reorganizing charges	0.2	0.4	0.7
Performance Materials [Member] | Employee Termination and Other Benefits [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Reorganizing charges	'	'	0.1
Performance Materials [Member] | Employee Termination and Other Benefits [Member] | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Reorganizing charges	'	'	0.6
Performance Materials [Member] | Non-Cash Impairment Charges [Member] | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Reorganizing charges	'	'	0	[1]
Construction Technologies [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Reorganizing charges	0.2	0.5	3.8
Construction Technologies [Member] | Employee Termination and Other Benefits [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Reorganizing charges	'	'	0.7
Construction Technologies [Member] | Employee Termination and Other Benefits [Member] | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Reorganizing charges	'	'	2.5
Construction Technologies [Member] | Non-Cash Impairment Charges [Member] | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Reorganizing charges	'	'	$0.60	[1]
[1]	Non-cash impairment charges relate to write-down of certain assets held-for-sale to their estimated fair values based on a third-party appraisal (a Level 2 fair value input).

Contingencies_Details

Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 24, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
	Lawsuit	Other [Member]	Imerys Transaction Litigation [Member]	Armada PTE Limited [Member]	Armada PTE Limited [Member]	Armada PTE Limited [Member]
			Lawsuit		Minimum [Member]	Maximum [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Lawsuit alleges damages	$28	$9	'	'	'	'
Contingencies [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of lawsuits alleging damages	2	'	3	'	'	'
Former ownership rate in company (in hundredths)	'	'	'	'	20.00%	19.00%
Estimated liability, minimum	'	2	'	'	'	'
Estimated liabiliity, maximum	'	3.4	'	'	'	'
Accrual for estimated liability	2	'	'	'	'	'
Amount awarded through arbitration	'	'	'	$70	'	'

Subsequent_Event_Details

Subsequent Event (Details) (USD $)	Feb. 26, 2014	Feb. 24, 2014	Feb. 11, 2014	Feb. 24, 2014
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Imerys SA [Member]	Subsequent Event [Member]	Subsequent Event [Member]	Subsequent Event [Member]
			Imerys SA [Member]	Mineral Technologies, Inc "MTI" [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Purchase price of acquisition (in dollars per share)	$42.75	$42.50	$41	'
Reverse termination fee, in event of termination	'	'	'	$70

Quarterly_Results_Unaudited_De

Quarterly Results (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Summary of Quarterly Results [Abstract]	'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Net sales	$257.50		$263.50		$258.80		$232.90		$235.60		$249.20		$251.40		$231.20		$1,012.70	$967.40	$926.30
Gross profit	65.4		17.5		70.6		62.1		60.8		68.7		72.7		63.3		215.6	265.5	247.5
Operating profit	19.2		-24.6		24.9		16.3		18		28.5		30.4		20.9		35.8	97.8	86
Income (loss) from continuing operations	23		-22.5		16.5		10.5		11.3		19.2		20.9		13.2		27.5	64.6	59.7
Income (loss) on discontinued operations	-0.2		-4.1		0.1		0		-0.3		-0.2		0.5		0.3		-4.2	0.3	-1.2
Net income (loss)	22.8		-26.6		16.6		10.5		11		19		21.4		13.5		23.3	64.9	58.5
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	-0.1		-6.8		0		0		0		0		-0.3		0.1		-6.9	-0.2	0
Net income (loss) attributable to AMCOL shareholders	22.9		-19.8		16.6		10.5		11		19		21.7		13.4		30.2	65.1	58.5
Basic earnings per share attributable to AMCOL shareholders (in dollars per share)	$0.70	[1]	($0.61)	[1]	$0.51	[1]	$0.32	[1]	$0.34	[1]	$0.59	[1]	$0.67	[1]	$0.42	[1]	$0.93	$2.04	$1.84
Diluted earnings per share attributable to AMCOL shareholders (in dollars per share)	$0.70	[1]	($0.61)	[1]	$0.51	[1]	$0.32	[1]	$0.34	[1]	$0.59	[1]	$0.67	[1]	$0.41	[1]	$0.92	$2.01	$1.82
Performance Materials [Member]	'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Summary of Quarterly Results [Abstract]	'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Net sales	125.4		126.1		123.2		113.4		111.1		116.7		125		120.9		488.1	473.7	459.2
Gross profit	29.8		-19.4		30.8		28.3		25.7		30.1		33.5		32		'	'	'
Operating profit	17.4		-32.1		18.8		15.9		14.8		18.4		21.8		21		20	76	67
Construction Technologies [Member]	'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Summary of Quarterly Results [Abstract]	'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Net sales	56.5		62.8		56		42.8		50.1		60.6		61.4		51		218.1	223.1	251.9
Gross profit	16.2		21.5		17.9		13.1		15.1		20.1		18.7		14.6		'	'	'
Operating profit	3.7		9.3		2.8		-1.8		1.3		7		6.3		1		14	15.6	17.3
Energy Services [Member]	'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Summary of Quarterly Results [Abstract]	'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Net sales	71.8		72.8		77.7		73.1		71.8		69.1		61.1		55.3		295.4	257.3	194.7
Gross profit	18.1		14		20.6		19.6		18.8		17.7		19.2		15.4		'	'	'
Operating profit	4.7		3.8		8.8		8.2		8.3		7.9		7.7		4.8		25.5	28.7	21.3
Transportation [Member]	'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Summary of Quarterly Results [Abstract]	'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Net sales	11.1		12.7		11.5		10.2		10.5		10.7		11.7		11.1		'	'	'
Gross profit	1.2		1.4		1.2		1.1		1.1		1.1		1.2		1.2		'	'	'
Operating profit	0.2		0.5		0.3		0.2		0.1		0.2		0.3		0.2		'	'	'
Intersegment Sales/Gross Profit [Member]	'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Summary of Quarterly Results [Abstract]	'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Net sales	-7.3		-10.9		-9.6		-6.6		-7.9		-7.9		-7.8		-7.1		-34.4	-30.7	-33.6
Gross profit	0.1		0		0.1		0		0.1		-0.3		0.1		0.1		'	'	'
Corporate [Member]	'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Summary of Quarterly Results [Abstract]	'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Operating profit	($6.80)		($6.10)		($5.80)		($6.20)		($6.50)		($5)		($5.70)		($6.10)		($24.90)	($23.30)	($21.80)
[1]	Earnings per share (EPS) for each quarter is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the quarter, while EPS for the year is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the year.B B Thus, the sum of the EPS for each of the four quarters may not equal the EPS for the year.

Quarterly_Results_Unaudited_Te

Quarterly Results (Unaudited) - Text (Details) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Performance Materials [Member]

Performance Materials [Member]

Performance Materials [Member]

Construction Technologies [Member]

Construction Technologies [Member]

Construction Technologies [Member]

Construction Technologies [Member]

Corporate [Member]

Cost of Sales [Member]

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment recorded expenses

($2.80)

($3.40)

$0.30

'

'

'

'

$1.80

$0.60

'

$1

'

'

Impairment of certain corporate information technology assets

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.7

52.2

0.1

Reorganizing charges

$4.50

'

'

$0.20

$0.40

$0.70

$0.20

$0.50

'

$3.80

'

'

'