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INCOME TAXES: (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2009 Southern Copper Corporation ("SCC")	Sep. 30, 2011 Asarco
INCOME TAXES:
Income tax provision	$ 252,507,000	$ 178,717,000		$ 792,523,000	$ 556,859,000
Effective income tax rate (as a percent)				30.50%	34.30%
Decrease in unrecognized tax positions due to audit settlement			$ 26,000,000
Ownership interest held by the parent company
Percentage of ownership interest held by the parent company (as a percent)						80.00%	100.00%

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The gross amount of decreases in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from audit settlements with taxing authorities.

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