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SEGMENTS AND RELATED INFORMATION: (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Provisionally priced sales |  |
Provisional price sales adjustment amounts included in accounts receivable | $ (2.0) | $ 12.1
Provisional price sales adjustment amounts included in net sales | (2.0) | 12.1
Copper |  |
Provisionally priced sales |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of commodity (in million lbs.) | 64,300,000 |
Provisional price sales adjustment amounts included in accounts receivable | 1.4 | 4.8
Provisional price sales adjustment amounts included in net sales | 1.4 | 4.8
Copper | January 2012 |  |
Provisionally priced sales |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of commodity (in million lbs.) | 52,500,000 |
Provisional price | 3.44 |
Copper | February 2012 |  |
Provisionally priced sales |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of commodity (in million lbs.) | 11,800,000 |
Provisional price | 3.45 |
Molybdenum |  |
Provisionally priced sales |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of commodity (in million lbs.) | 10,300,000 |
Provisional price | 13.35 |
Provisional price sales adjustment amounts included in accounts receivable | (3.4) | 7.3
Provisional price sales adjustment amounts included in net sales | $ (3.4) | $ 7.3
Molybdenum | January 2012 |  |
Provisionally priced sales |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of commodity (in million lbs.) | 4,400,000 |
Provisional price | 13.35 |
Molybdenum | February 2012 |  |
Provisionally priced sales |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of commodity (in million lbs.) | 3,200,000 |
Provisional price | 13.35 |
Molybdenum | March 2012 |  |
Provisionally priced sales |  |
Nonmonetary notional amount of commodity (in million lbs.) | 2,700,000 |
Provisional price | 13.35 |

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- Definition Aggregate notional amount of provisionally priced sales agreements with notional amounts expressed in nonmonetary units. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
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- Details
Name: | scco_ProvisionallyPricedSalesLineItems
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Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The per unit price of provisionally priced sales agreements. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type: | na
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- Definition Represents the provisional sales price adjustment amounts included in net sales. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_ProvisionalPriceSalesAdjustmentInNetSales
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Represents the provisional sales price adjustment amounts included in accounts receivable. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant