COMMITTMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: (Details 3)	3 Months Ended
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

Represents the number of companies whose workers are unionized.

No definition available.

Name:	scco_NumberOfCompaniesWhoseLabourUnionized
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of labor unions in the entity.

No definition available.

The number of labor unions in the entity representing the majority of workers at each production area.

No definition available.

Name:	scco_NumberOfLaborUnionsAtEachProductionAreaRepresentMajorityOfWorkers
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of labor unions other than the majority workers unions in the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	scco_NumberOfLaborUnionsOtherThanMajorityWorkersUnions
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of labor unions in the entity representing the majority of workers.

No definition available.

Name:	scco_NumberOfLaborUnionsRepresentMajorityOfWorkers
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the approximate number of workers covered under collective bargaining agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	scco_NumberOfWorkersCoveredUnderCollectiveBargainingAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the percentage of labor which was unionized labor.

No definition available.

Name:	scco_PercentageOfLaborUnionized
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the duration for which the other benefits are negotiated under collective bargaining agreement (in years).

No definition available.

Name:	scco_PeriodOfOtherBenefitsNegotiatedUnderCollectiveBargainingAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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