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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 item | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($) | Sep. 15, 2014 Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V USD ($) | Sep. 15, 2014 Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V MXN | Aug. 06, 2014 Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V m3 km | Sep. 30, 2014 Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V country | Dec. 31, 2014 Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V MXN | Dec. 31, 2014 Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V Maximum USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V Maximum MXN | Dec. 31, 2014 Peru USD ($) item | Dec. 31, 2013 Peru USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2012 Peru USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 Peru Maximum | Dec. 31, 2014 Mexico USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 Mexico USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2012 Mexico USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2011 Mexico person category
Environmental costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Environmental capital expenditure |  | $ 151.4 us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod | $ 116.7 us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod | $ 47.7 us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 127.0 us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_PE | $ 76.9 us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_PE | $ 27.0 us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_PE |  | $ 24.4 us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_MX | $ 39.8 us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_MX | $ 20.7 us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_MX |
Period required for ambient air monitoring as per environmental regulation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 months |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revised air quality standards for sulfur dioxide as per new environmental regulation (in micrograms per cubic meter) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20 scco_RevisedStandardForConcentrationOfAirPollutantAsPerEnvironmentalRegulation / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_PE |  |  |  |
Air quality standards level for sulfur dioxide to be maintained when emission is excess than specified as per new environmental regulation (in micrograms per cubic meter) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 80 scco_StandardForConcentrationOfAirPollutantLevelRequiredToBeMaintainedByAreasHavingExcessEmissionAsPerEnvironmentalRegulation / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_PE |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of atmospheric basins established that require further attention |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 scco_NumberOfAtmosphericBasinsEstablishedThatRequireFurtherAttention / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_PE |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of categories of collective actions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 scco_NumberOfCategoriesOfCollectiveActionsForEnvironmentalMatters / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_MX
Minimum number of people claiming injury due to collective action initiative in Civil Federal Procedures Code (CFPC) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30 scco_MinimumNumberOfPeopleClaimingInjuryToInitiateCollectiveAction / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_MX
Volume of copper sulfate solution (in cubic meters) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40,000 scco_VolumeOfCopperSulfateSolution / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Distance of pond under construction from mine (in kilometers) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 scco_DistanceOfPondUnderConstructionFromMine / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of administrative fines and sanctions (in pesos) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 scco_AmountOfAdministrativeFinesAndSanctions / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember | 40 scco_AmountOfAdministrativeFinesAndSanctions / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount committed to the Mexican Federal Government to establish a trust (in peso) |  |  |  |  | 150 scco_AmountCommittedToMexicanFederalGovernmentToEstablishTrust / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember | 2,000 scco_AmountCommittedToMexicanFederalGovernmentToEstablishTrust / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of countries in which riverside residents are affected by the spill |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 scco_NumberOfCountriesInWhichRiversideResidentsAreAffectedBySpill / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount deposited in the trust (in peso) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 74.9 scco_AmountDepositedInTrust / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember | 1,000.0 scco_AmountDepositedInTrust / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated contingent liability |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 91.4 scco_EstimatedContingentLiability / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount already paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 16.4 scco_RemediationAlreadySpent / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of lawsuits | 3 scco_NumberOfCollectiveActionLawsuits |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Represents the amount committed to the Mexican Federal Government to establish a trust to support the remedial efforts undertaken and to comply with the environmental remediation plan. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_AmountCommittedToMexicanFederalGovernmentToEstablishTrust
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the amount deposited in the trust to compensate claims as they arise. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_AmountDepositedInTrust
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the maximum amount of administrative fines and sanctions, which the company may require to pay. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_AmountOfAdministrativeFinesAndSanctions
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the distance of pond under construction from mine. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_DistanceOfPondUnderConstructionFromMine
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:lengthItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | scco_EnvironmentalCostLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the amount of estimated contingent liability. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_EstimatedContingentLiability
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the minimum number of people claiming injury, to initiate collective action for environmental matters. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_MinimumNumberOfPeopleClaimingInjuryToInitiateCollectiveAction
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of atmospheric basins established environmental agency of the government which require further attention as per the new environmental regulations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_NumberOfAtmosphericBasinsEstablishedThatRequireFurtherAttention
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of categories of collective actions for environmental matters. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_NumberOfCategoriesOfCollectiveActionsForEnvironmentalMatters
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of collective action lawsuits sought for damages. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_NumberOfCollectiveActionLawsuits
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of countries in which riverside residents are affected by the spill. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_NumberOfCountriesInWhichRiversideResidentsAreAffectedBySpill
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the period required for ambient air monitoring to establish daily sulfur dioxide (SO2) levels of those areas with average emissions equal or less then specified air quality standard as per the new environmental regulations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_PeriodRequiredForAmbientAirmonitoringAsPerEnvironmentalRegulation
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the amount paid previous to the establishment of the trust. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_RemediationAlreadySpent
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the revised standard for concentration of an air pollutant (e.g. ozone) which is given in micrograms (one-millionth of a gram) as per the new environmental regulations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_RevisedStandardForConcentrationOfAirPollutantAsPerEnvironmentalRegulation
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the standard for concentration of an air pollutant level which is given in micrograms (one-millionth of a gram) to be maintained by areas which are having emission in excess than specified as per the new environmental regulations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_StandardForConcentrationOfAirPollutantLevelRequiredToBeMaintainedByAreasHavingExcessEmissionAsPerEnvironmentalRegulation
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the volume of copper sulfate solution, which accidentally spilled at the mine of Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_VolumeOfCopperSulfateSolution
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:volumeItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of environmental remediation costs capitalized. These expenditures may relate to long-lived improvements in operating facilities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 30 -Section 25 -Paragraph 18 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=39739230&loc=d3e11660-110855 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration