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COMMITTMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: (Details 3) | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2012 union
Peru |
Labor matters |
Percentage of labor unionized | 60.00%
Number of workers who were unionized | 4,264
Number of labor unions represent majority of workers | 3
Number of labor unions at each production area represent majority of workers | 1
Number of labor unions other than majority workers unions | 5
Mexican Operations. |
Labor matters |
Percentage of labor unionized | 75.00%
Number of workers who were unionized | 8,034
Number of labor unions | 3
Period of other benefits negotiated under collective bargaining agreement (in years) | 2
Mexican Operations. | Buenavista mine |
Labor matters |
Number of workers covered under collective bargaining agreement | 780

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- Definition Represents the number of companies whose workers are unionized. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Represents the number of labor unions in the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The number of labor unions in the entity representing the majority of workers at each production area. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Represents the number of labor unions other than the majority workers unions in the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The number of labor unions in the entity representing the majority of workers. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Represents the approximate number of workers covered under collective bargaining agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Represents the percentage of labor which was unionized labor. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Represents the duration for which the other benefits are negotiated under collective bargaining agreement (in years). + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration