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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014 segment | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: |  |  |  |
Average estimated recovery period of long-term leach stockpiles |  | 5 years |  |
Increase in total reserves at a property to qualify as a major expansion (as a percent) |  | 10.00%scco_MineDevelopmentTotalReserveIncreaseToQualifyAsMajorExpansion |  |
Period considered for calculation of average metal price |  | 3 years |  |
Current price of copper (in dollars per pound) | 3.36 scco_OreReservesCopperPriceConsideredToDetermineAveragePrice | 3.36 scco_OreReservesCopperPriceConsideredToDetermineAveragePrice | 3.65 scco_OreReservesCopperPriceConsideredToDetermineAveragePrice | 3.68 scco_OreReservesCopperPriceConsideredToDetermineAveragePrice
Impairment in the carrying value of long-term assets |  | $ 0 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse |  |
Number of years of average prices for copper and molybdenum used for impairment analysis |  | 3 years |  |
Leachable material inventories recognized in cost of sales | 17,000,000 scco_InventoryOreStockpilesOnLeachPadsRecognizedAsCostOfSales | 177,500,000 scco_InventoryOreStockpilesOnLeachPadsRecognizedAsCostOfSales | 109,300,000 scco_InventoryOreStockpilesOnLeachPadsRecognizedAsCostOfSales | 68,500,000 scco_InventoryOreStockpilesOnLeachPadsRecognizedAsCostOfSales
Current leachable inventory | 762,800,000 scco_InventoryOreStockpilesOnLeachPadsCurrent | 762,800,000 scco_InventoryOreStockpilesOnLeachPadsCurrent |  |
Leachable inventory classified as a current asset | 250,100,000 scco_LeachableInventoryClassifiedCurrentAsset | 250,100,000 scco_LeachableInventoryClassifiedCurrentAsset |  |
Number of reportable segments |  | 3 scco_NumberOfReportableSegment |  |
Financial information related to segments |  |  |  |
Total property, net | 7,436,430,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet | 7,436,430,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet | 6,476,168,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet |
Maximum |  |  |  |
Financial information related to segments |  |  |  |
Maximum period after shipping within which pricing is based by customer contracts in most cases |  | 3 months |  |
Estimated useful lives of buildings and equipment |  | 40 years |  |
Minimum |  |  |  |
Financial information related to segments |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of buildings and equipment |  | 5 years |  |
Mine development |  |  |  |
Financial information related to segments |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, cost capitalization |  | $34.8 | $36.2 |
Mexican IMMSA Unit |  |  |  |
Financial information related to segments |  |  |  |
Number of underground poly metal mines |  | 5 scco_NumberOfUndergroundPolyMetalMiningProperties / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_MexicanIMMSAUnitMember |  |
Total property, net | 389,000,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_MexicanIMMSAUnitMember | 389,000,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_MexicanIMMSAUnitMember | 378,200,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_MexicanIMMSAUnitMember | 350,900,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_MexicanIMMSAUnitMember
Peruvian Operations |  |  |  |
Financial information related to segments |  |  |  |
Number of open-pit copper mines |  | 2 scco_NumberOfOpenPitCopperMiningProperties / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_PeruvianOperationsMember |  |
Total property, net | $ 2,561,400,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_PeruvianOperationsMember | $ 2,561,400,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_PeruvianOperationsMember | $ 2,451,400,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_PeruvianOperationsMember | $ 2,231,400,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_PeruvianOperationsMember

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- Definition The current inventory balance before last-in first-out (LIFO) and valuation reserves of ore stockpile material contained on a leach pad, for example, but not limited to, copper or gold ore. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the costs recognized under cost of sales of ore stockpile material contained on a leach pad, such as copper or gold ore. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the average estimated recovery period of long-term leach stockpiles based on the recovery percentages of each mine. + References No definition available. + Details
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