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INCOME TAXES: (Details 4) | 12 Months Ended |  | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2011 United States Minera Mexico USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2011 Mexican Operations. USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2011 Mexican Operations. MXN | Jun. 30, 2010 Mexican Operations. USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2010 Mexican Operations. MXN | Dec. 31, 2011 Mexican Operations. | Dec. 31, 2009 Mexican Operations. USD ($) Y | Dec. 31, 2011 Peru USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2011 Peru | Dec. 31, 2011 Peru Maximum | Dec. 31, 2011 Peru Minimum
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Corporate flat tax rate (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17.50% |  |  |  |  |
Excess of financial reporting over tax basis for stock in subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,900,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred tax liability potentially remitted foreign earnings |  |  |  |  |  |  | 91,600,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign earnings potentially repatriated |  |  |  |  |  |  | 951,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special mining tax (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8.40% | 2.00%
Operating income margin (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10.00% |  |
Increment in operating income margin (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 85.00% | 5.00%
Increase in royalty tax rate for each 5% increase up to 85% increase in operating income margin (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.40% |  |
Provision for special mining tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16,400,000 |  |  |
Net operating loss carryforward period before enactment of new tax laws (in years) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 |  |  |  |
Net operating loss carryforward period (in years) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |  |
Additional tax liability due to enactment of new tax laws |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 106,600,000 |  |  |  |
Income tax expenses attributable to enactment of new tax laws |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 22,600,000 |  |  |  |
Amount of additional tax liability recognized as deferred tax charge |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 84,000,000 |  |  |  |
Tax payments |  |  |  | 1,234,453,000 | 600,371,000 | 339,421,000 |  | 9,300,000 | 125,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 121,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Mexican tax rate (as a percent) | 28.00% | 29.00% | 30.00% | 30.00% | 30.00% | 28.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Changes in unrecognized tax benefits |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits, opening balance |  |  | 70,600,000 | 75,700,000 | 30,700,000 | 64,900,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross increases tax positions in prior period |  |  |  | 21,600,000 | 46,300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross decreases tax positions in prior period |  |  |  | (26,800,000) | (1,800,000) | (44,100,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross increases current-period tax positions |  |  |  | 100,000 | 500,000 | 11,400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Decreases related to settlements with taxing authorities |  |  |  |  |  | (1,500,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits, ending balance |  |  |  | 70,600,000 | 75,700,000 | 30,700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Overall decrease in unrecognized tax benefit |  |  |  | 5,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate |  |  |  | 52,900,000 | 35,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued interest and penalties included in liability for uncertain tax positions |  |  |  |  | $ 8,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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