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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 segment Y | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: |  |  |
Average estimated recovery period of long-term leach stockpiles (in years) | 5 |  |
Estimated useful lives of buildings and equipment, low end of range (in years) | 5 |  |
Estimated useful lives of buildings and equipment, high end of range (in years) | 40 |  |
Increase in total reserves at a property to qualify as a major expansion (as a percent) | 10.00% |  |
Period considered for calculation of average metal price (in years) | 3 |  |
Current price of copper (in dollars per pound) | 3.68 | 3.26 | 2.97
Average price of copper (in dollars per pound) | 3.00 |  |
Average price of molybdenum (in dollars per pound) | 12.00 |  |
Number of years of average prices for copper and molybdenum used for impairment analysis | 3 |  |
Number of reportable segments | 3 |  |
Financial information related to segments |  |  |
Total property, net | $ 5,156,731 | $ 4,429,906 | $ 4,095,000
Maximum |  |  |
Financial information related to segments |  |  |
Maximum period after shipping within which pricing is based by customer contracts in most cases (in months) | 3 |  |
Maximum maturity period of cash equivalents (in months) | 3 |  |
Mine development |  |  |
Financial information related to segments |  |  |
Total property, net | 37,900 | 39,800 |
Mexican IMMSA Unit |  |  |
Financial information related to segments |  |  |
Number of underground poly metal mines | 5 |  |
Total property, net | 350,900 | 320,100 | 296,300
Peruvian Operations |  |  |
Financial information related to segments |  |  |
Number of open-pit copper mines | 2 |  |
Total property, net | $ 2,231,400 | $ 2,225,900 | $ 2,164,700

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