XML 33 R76.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

CONCENTRATION OF RISK: (Details) | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 item | Dec. 31, 2012 Cash equivalents | Dec. 31, 2012 Cash equivalents United States | Dec. 31, 2012 Cash equivalents Peru | Dec. 31, 2012 Cash equivalents Mexican Operations | Dec. 31, 2012 Cash equivalents Europe | Dec. 31, 2012 Accounts receivable trade Five largest customers | Dec. 31, 2011 Accounts receivable trade Five largest customers | Dec. 31, 2010 Accounts receivable trade Five largest customers | Dec. 31, 2012 Accounts receivable trade Largest customer | Dec. 31, 2011 Accounts receivable trade Largest customer | Dec. 31, 2010 Accounts receivable trade Largest customer | Dec. 31, 2012 Total sales Five largest customers | Dec. 31, 2011 Total sales Five largest customers | Dec. 31, 2010 Total sales Five largest customers | Dec. 31, 2012 Total sales Largest customer | Dec. 31, 2011 Total sales Largest customer | Dec. 31, 2010 Total sales Largest customer
CONCENTRATION OF RISK: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of open-pit copper mines | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of underground poly metallic mines | 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of smelters | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of refineries | 8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of total cash |  |  | 69.70% | 5.40% | 1.40% | 23.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage invested in one institution |  |  | 32.60% | 63.50% | 36.50% | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of cash in US dollars |  | 99.20% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of accounts receivable and total sales |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40.00% | 35.90% | 49.10% | 10.40% | 10.80% | 16.30% | 28.80% | 28.70% | 29.60% | 7.40% | 7.30% | 9.90%

X
- Definition Represents the cash equivalents invested as a percentage of the total cash held by the entity as on the balance sheet. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_ConcentrationRiskCashEquivalentsInvestedAsPercentageOfTotalCash
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the percentage of concentration risk of cash equivalents invested in a single institution. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_ConcentrationRiskCashEquivalentsInvestedInOneInstitutionPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the percentage of the entity's total cash denominated in US dollars. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_ConcentrationRiskPercentageOfTotalCashDenominatedInUSD
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of open pit copper mines which represent long-lived, depletable assets that represent the legal right to explore, extract and retain some or all portions of the benefits from mining. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_NumberOfOpenPitCopperMines
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of refineries operated by the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_NumberOfRefineries
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of smelting plants operated by the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_NumberOfSmelters
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of underground poly metal mines which represent long-lived, depletable assets that represent the legal right to explore, extract and retain some or all portions of the benefits from mining. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_NumberOfUndergroundPolyMetalMines
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- Definition For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6404-108592 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13537-108611 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13531-108611 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 18 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6351-108592 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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