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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 6 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 40 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Jan. 01, 2009 Peruvian operations | Jun. 30, 2013 Peruvian operations | Jun. 30, 2012 Peruvian operations | Dec. 31, 2007 Peruvian operations | Jun. 30, 2013 Peruvian operations Minimum | Jun. 30, 2013 Peruvian operations Maximum | Jun. 30, 2013 Mexican Operations | Jun. 30, 2012 Mexican Operations | Dec. 31, 2011 Mexican Operations person category | Jun. 30, 2013 Mexican Operations
Environmental costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Environmental capital expenditure | $ 23.3 | $ 12.8 |  | $ 2.1 | $ 2.1 |  |  |  | $ 21.2 | $ 10.7 |  |
Cost of the modernization of the smelter |  |  |  |  |  | 570.0 |  |  |  |  |  |
Air quality standards for sulfur dioxide as per environmental regulation (in micrograms per cubic meter) |  |  | 80 | 20 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
World air quality standards for sulfur dioxide (in micrograms per cubic meter) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 105 | 250 |  |  |  |
Sulfur dioxide recapture percentage before modernization of Ilo smelter |  |  |  |  |  | 33.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Sulfur dioxide recapture percentage after modernization of Ilo smelter |  |  |  |  |  | 92.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Sulfur dioxide recapture percentage Ilo smelter |  |  |  | 95.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated period for enhancing compliance under new standards |  |  |  | 5 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated cost for enhancing compliance |  |  |  | 350 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of categories of collective actions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |
Minimum number of people claiming injury due to collective action initiative in Civil Federal Procedures Code (CFPC) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30 |
Plant demolition and soil remediation budgeted cost |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 35.7
Plant demolition and soil cost recognized |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 32.5

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- Definition Amount before accumulated depreciation of building structures held for productive use including addition, improvement, or renovation to the structure, including, but not limited to, interior masonry, interior flooring, electrical, and plumbing. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 12 -Paragraph 5 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6361293&loc=d3e6812-107765 + Details
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