XML 35 R31.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.6

COMMITTMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

Schedule of environmental capital expenditures

		2012			2011
Peruvian operations		$	3.0		$	1.7
Mexican operations		13.8			7.7
		$	16.8		$	9.4

X

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of environmental capital expenditures incurred during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	scco_ScheduleOfEnvironmentalCapitalExpendituresTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

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