XML 44 R24.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

INCOME TAXES: (Tables) | 6 Months Ended
--- | ---
Jun. 30, 2012
INCOME TAXES: |
Schedule of income tax provision and effective income tax rate |
|  | 2012 |  | 2011 |
Income tax provision |  | $ | 628.7 |  | $ | 540.0 |
Effective income tax rate |  | 35.1 | % | 32.1 | %

X
- Definition Disclosure of the income tax provision attributable to continuing operations and the effective income tax rate. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_ScheduleOfIncomeTaxProvisionAndEffectiveIncomeTaxRateTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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