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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 2 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2013 item | Mar. 31, 2012 item | Dec. 31, 2011 item | Dec. 31, 2010 item | Mar. 31, 2013 Tia Maria ha | Mar. 31, 2013 Virgen Maria ha | Mar. 31, 2013 Garcia Ataucuri litigation plaintiff | Jul. 31, 2012 Minera Krypton Mining Rehabilitation workers | Dec. 25, 2012 Peruvian operations | Feb. 28, 2013 Peruvian operations | Mar. 31, 2013 Peruvian operations item | Dec. 31, 1992 Peruvian operations | Dec. 31, 1978 Peruvian operations | Dec. 31, 1971 Peruvian operations | Mar. 31, 2013 Peruvian operations Agreements expiring during 2012 item | Apr. 30, 1996 Peruvian operations Garcia Ataucuri and Others against SCC's Peruvian Branch person | Mar. 31, 2013 Peruvian operations Garcia Ataucuri and Others against SCC's Peruvian Branch laborshares | Mar. 31, 2013 Peruvian operations Garcia Ataucuri and Others against SCC's Peruvian Branch solesdeoro | Aug. 31, 2009 Peruvian operations Exploraciones de Concesiones Metalicas S.A.C. ("Excomet") | Feb. 19, 2010 Mexican Operations Pasta de Conchos Accident person
Litigation matter |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of former employees who filed the complaint |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 900 |  |  |  |
Number of workers hired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 130 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Statutory participation of mine workers in pre-tax profit (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8.00% |  | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Statutory participation of mine workers in pre-tax profit paid in cash (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% | 4.00% | 40.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Statutory participation of mine workers in pre-tax profit received as equity interest of enterprise (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of pre-tax profits delivered as "labor shares" |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Damages sought by the plaintiff |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 38,763,806.80 | 3,876,380,679.65 |  |
Face value of one labor share |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00 | 100.00 |  |
Plaintiffs do not represent the percent of SCC's eligible employees |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% | 100.00% |  |
Soles de oro equivalent to today's one nuevo sol |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,000,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 |  |
Number of plaintiffs involved in lawsuits filed |  |  |  |  |  |  | 800 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Area of mining concession (in hectares) |  |  |  |  | 32,989.64 | 943.72 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of mining concession |  |  |  |  |  | 2.90% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase price of shares paid to former stockholders |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2 |
Number of widows of miners who filed the complaint |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3
Percentage of labor unionized |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 65.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total number of workers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,574 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of labor unions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 |  |  |  | 8 |  |  |  |  |
Number of labor unions represent majority of workers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of labor unions at each production area represent majority of workers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total number of workers at the three major unions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,229 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of labor unions other than majority workers unions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term of collective bargaining agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of annual salary increase as per collective bargaining agreement in year 2013 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of annual salary increase as per collective bargaining agreement in year 2014 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of annual salary increase as per collective bargaining agreement in year 2015 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period of illegal work stoppage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of strikes during period | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Represents the area of mining concessions. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_AreaOfMiningConcession
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:areaItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the face value of one labor share. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_LaborShareFaceValue
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of shares in awards which the plaintiff seeks in the legal matter. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtShares
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of former employees who filed the complaint seeking the delivery of a substantial number of its labor shares (acciones laborales) plus dividends on such shares. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_LossContingencyNumberOfFormerEmployeesComplaintFiled
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of plaintiffs involved in new claims filed pertaining to a loss contingency during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffsInvolvedInNewClaimsFiled
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of widows of miners, who perished in the 2006 Pasta de Conchos accident, that filed a complaint for damages. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_LossContingencyNumberOfWidowsComplaintFiled
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the purchase price of shares paid to the plaintiff. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_LossContingencyPurchasePriceOfSharesPaidToPlaintiff
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of labor unions in the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_NumberOfLaborUnions
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of labor unions in the entity representing the majority of workers at each production area. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_NumberOfLaborUnionsAtEachProductionAreaRepresentMajorityOfWorkers
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of labor unions other than the majority workers unions in the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_NumberOfLaborUnionsOtherThanMajorityWorkersUnions
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of labor unions in the entity representing the majority of workers. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_NumberOfLaborUnionsRepresentMajorityOfWorkers
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of strikes during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_NumberOfStrikesDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the total number of workers at three major unions. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_NumberOfUnionizedWorkers
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of workers hired for the rehabilitation of the entity's mining unit. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_NumberOfWorkersHired
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the percentage of annual salary increase under the collective bargaining agreement for the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_PercentageOfAnnualSalaryIncreaseAsPerCollectiveBargainingAgreementInYearOne
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the percentage of annual salary increase under the collective bargaining agreement for third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_PercentageOfAnnualSalaryIncreaseAsPerCollectiveBargainingAgreementInYearThree
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the percentage of annual salary increase under the collective bargaining agreement for second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_PercentageOfAnnualSalaryIncreaseAsPerCollectiveBargainingAgreementInYearTwo
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the percentage of SCC's eligible employees during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_PercentageOfEligibleEmployees
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the percentage of labor which was unionized labor. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_PercentageOfLaborUnionized
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the percentage of mining concessions. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_PercentageOfMiningConcession
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the period of illegal stoppage of work by major unions. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_PeriodOfIllegalWorkStoppageByMajorUnion
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the amount of soles de oro equivalent to one nuevo sol. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_SolesDeOroEquivalentToOneNuevoSol
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the percentage of pre-tax profit provided to mine workers in statutory participation enacted by the law. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_StatutoryParticipationPercentageOfPretaxProfitsProvidedToMineWorkers
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the percentage of pre-tax profit provided to mine workers in cash in statutory participation enacted by the law. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_StatutoryParticipationPercentageOfPretaxProfitsProvidedToMineWorkersPaidInCash
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the percentage of pre-tax profit provided to mine workers in equity interest of the enterprise in statutory participation enacted by the law. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_StatutoryParticipationPercentageOfPretaxProfitsProvidedToMineWorkersPaidInEquity
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the portion of pre-tax profit provided to mine workers as equity pursuant to government legislation. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_StatutoryParticipationReceivedAsEquity
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the term of the collective bargaining agreement with labor unions which represent the majority of workers (in years). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_TermOfCollectiveBargainingAgreement
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of workers of the Peruvian operations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_TotalNumberOfWorkers
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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