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CONCENTRATION OF RISK: (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
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 |  |
Cash equivalents |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Total cash and short-term investment | $ 1,881.0 |  |
Percentage of total cash | 100.00% |  |
Percentage of cash in US dollars | 98.70% |  |
Cash equivalents | United States |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Total cash and short-term investment | 1,020.0 |  |
Percentage of total cash | 54.20% |  |
Percentage invested in one institution of country | 45.80% |  |
Percentage invested in one institution of total cash | 24.90% |  |
Cash equivalents | Peru |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Total cash and short-term investment | 94.0 |  |
Percentage of total cash | 5.00% |  |
Percentage invested in one institution of country | 73.70% |  |
Percentage invested in one institution of total cash | 3.70% |  |
Cash equivalents | Mexican Operations |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Total cash and short-term investment | 147.1 |  |
Percentage of total cash | 7.80% |  |
Percentage invested in one institution of country | 95.10% |  |
Percentage invested in one institution of total cash | 7.40% |  |
Cash equivalents | Switzerland |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Total cash and short-term investment | $ 619.9 |  |
Percentage of total cash | 33.00% |  |
Percentage invested in one institution of country | 100.00% |  |
Percentage invested in one institution of total cash | 33.00% |  |
Accounts receivable trade | Five largest customers |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Percentage of accounts receivable and total sales | 37.10% | 40.00% | 35.90%
Accounts receivable trade | Largest customer |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Percentage of accounts receivable and total sales | 12.20% | 10.40% | 10.80%
Total sales | Five largest customers |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Percentage of accounts receivable and total sales | 28.70% | 28.80% | 28.70%
Total sales | Largest customer |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Percentage of accounts receivable and total sales | 8.40% | 7.40% | 7.30%

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- 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
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- Definition Cash includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the customer may deposit additional funds at any time and effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid Investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months. Short-term investments, exclusive of cash equivalents, generally consist of marketable securities intended to be sold within one year (or the normal operating cycle if longer) and may include trading securities, available-for-sale securities, or held-to-maturity securities (if maturing within one year), as applicable. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash Equivalents -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 7, 8, 9, 10 -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. + Details
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