XML 62 R51.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended |  | 3 Months Ended |  |  | 3 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2012 | Feb. 28, 2012 TREASURY STOCK: | Mar. 31, 2012 TREASURY STOCK: | Mar. 31, 2011 TREASURY STOCK: | Mar. 31, 2012 Southern Copper common shares. TREASURY STOCK: | Mar. 31, 2011 Southern Copper common shares. TREASURY STOCK: | Dec. 31, 2010 Southern Copper common shares. TREASURY STOCK: | Mar. 31, 2012 Parent Company (Grupo Mexico) common shares. TREASURY STOCK: | Mar. 31, 2011 Parent Company (Grupo Mexico) common shares. TREASURY STOCK:
Activity in treasury stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance at the beginning of the period | $ 897,852,000 |  |  | $ 630,600,000 | $ 734,100,000 | $ 461,000,000 | $ 461,000,000 | $ 163,700,000 | $ 161,700,000
Stock dividend |  |  | (151,458,000) |  | (151,400,000) |  |  |  |
Other activity, including dividend, interest and currency translation effect |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,700,000 | 7,900,000
Balance at the end of the period | $ 760,088,000 |  | $ 760,100,000 | $ 630,600,000 | $ 582,700,000 | $ 461,000,000 | $ 461,000,000 | $ 177,400,000 | $ 169,600,000
Stock dividend paid (in shares) | 9,000,000 | 0.0107 | 0.0107 |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Represents the value of other activity impacting treasury stock including dividend, interest and currency translation effect. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_TreasuryStockValueOtherActivityIncludingDividendInterestAndCurrencyTranslationEffect
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | scco_TreasuryStockValueRollForward
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of shares of common stock issued as dividends during the period. Excludes stock splits. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsShares
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Equity impact of stock dividends for common shareholders declared by an entity during the period. This element includes paid and unpaid dividends declared during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockStock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount allocated to treasury stock. Treasury stock is common and preferred shares of an entity that were issued, repurchased by the entity, and are held in its treasury. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Technical Bulletin (FTB) -Number 85-6 -Paragraph 3 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405834&loc=d3e23315-112656 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant