XML 47 R28.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.3.0.15

PROVISIONALLY PRICED SALES: (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

PROVISIONALLY PRICED SALES:

Schedule of provisionally priced sales

Copper (million lbs.)		Priced at (per pound)			Month of Settlement
54.2		$	3.18		October 2011
16.4		3.18			November 2011
70.6		$	3.18

Molybdenum (million lbs.)		Priced at (per pound)			Month of Settlement
3.2		$	14.40		October 2011
3.4		14.40			November 2011
2.6		14.40			December 2011
0.7		14.40			January 2012
9.9		$	14.40

X

- Details

Name:	scco_ProvisionallyPricedSalesDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	scco
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Tabular presentation of the amount of sales which are recorded at an average forward price, provisionally, pending the final prices in the future month of settlement.

+ Details

Name:	scco_ScheduleOfProvisionallyPricedSalesTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	scco
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration