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INCOME TAXES: (Details 4) | 12 Months Ended |  | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2012 Peru USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2011 Peru USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2012 Peru Maximum | Dec. 31, 2012 Peru Minimum | Dec. 31, 2012 United States Minera Mexico USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2012 Mexican Operations USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2012 Mexican Operations MXN | Dec. 31, 2009 Mexican Operations | Dec. 31, 2014 Mexican Operations USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 Mexican Operations USD ($)
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Corporate flat tax rate (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17.50% | 17.50% |  |  |
Excess of financial reporting over tax basis for stock in subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,600,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Deferred tax liability potentially remitted foreign earnings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 41,300,000 |  |  |  |  |
Foreign earnings potentially repatriated |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 425,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Special mine tax (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8.40% | 2.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating income margin (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Increment in operating income margin (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 85.00% | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Increase in special mining tax rate for each 5% increase up to 85% increase in operating income margin (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  | 0.40% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Provision for special mining tax |  |  |  |  |  | 49,600,000 | 16,400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization period of tax liability |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  |
Deferred balance of taxes to be paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 300,000,000 | 27,000,000 |  | 9,000,000 | 18,000,000
Mexican tax rate (as a percent) | 28.00% | 29.00% | 30.00% | 30.00% | 30.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Changes in unrecognized tax benefits |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits, opening balance |  |  | 70,600,000 | 75,700,000 | 30,700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross increases tax positions in prior period |  |  | 39,700,000 | 21,600,000 | 46,300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross decreases tax positions in prior period |  |  | 200,000 | (26,800,000) | (1,800,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross increases current-period tax positions |  |  | 110,700,000 | 100,000 | 500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net increase / decrease |  |  | 150,600,000 | (5,100,000) | 45,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits, ending balance |  |  | 221,200,000 | 70,600,000 | 75,700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate |  |  | 221,200,000 | 70,600,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued interest and penalties included in liability for uncertain tax positions |  |  |  |  | $ 8,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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