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COMMITTMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: (Details 4) (USD $) |  | 3 Months Ended |  | 2 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 1997 Y | Mar. 31, 2012 Tia Maria t | Mar. 31, 2012 Tia Maria Peru | Jan. 31, 2005 Minera Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (the "Transaction") lawsuit | Oct. 31, 2011 Americas Mining Corporation ("AMC") merger transaction | Oct. 31, 2010 Americas Mining Corporation ("AMC") merger transaction lawsuit | Oct. 31, 2010 Americas Mining Corporation ("AMC") merger transaction Asarco LLC lawsuit
Litigation matter |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of purported class action derivative lawsuits filed |  |  |  | 3 |  | 4 | 2
Number of purported class action derivative lawsuits which are consolidated |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |
Number of consolidated purported class action derivative lawsuits |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |
Damages awarded by court |  |  |  |  | $ 1,347,000,000 |  |
Pre-adjustment interest |  |  |  |  | 684,600,000 |  |
Attorney's fees and expenses awarded, option 1 |  |  |  |  | 304,700,000 |  |
Attorney's fees and expenses awarded, option 2 (as a percent) |  |  |  |  | 15.00% |  |
Other commitments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated annual production of copper cathodes (in tons) |  | 120,000 |  |  |  |  |
Term of power purchase agreement related to sale of power plant (in years) | 20 |  |  |  |  |  |
Total budget for the project |  |  | 1,000,000,000 |  |  |  |
Amount invested in mine and leach equipment and required studies |  |  | $ 401,100,000 |  |  |  |

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