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ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION: (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 item | Dec. 31, 2013 | Jan. 31, 2014
Period after which successive reviews are required by the law (in years) | 5 years |  |
Accepted value of the Lima office building | $ 27,800,000 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentFairValueDisclosure |  |
Cumulative guarantee amount | 17,900,000 scco_AssetRetirementObligationAnnualGuarantees |  |
Number of units with future closure costs recognized as an asset retirement obligation | 3 scco_AssetRetirementObligationUnitsNumber |  |
Decrease in asset retirement obligation | (36,300,000)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationPeriodIncreaseDecrease |  |
Environmental reclamation | 91,350,000 us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationExpense |  |
Increase to net property due to closure of mine |  | 20,300,000 scco_AssetRetirementObligationIncreaseInCarryingAmountOfTheRelatedLonglivedAsset |
Asset retirement obligation activity |  |  |
Balance at the beginning of the period | 124,800,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation | 122,300,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation | 124,800,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
Changes in estimates | (9,600,000)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate |  |
Additions |  | 25,100,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred |
Payments | (12,200,000)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled | (6,300,000)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled |
Accretion expense | 13,100,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense | 8,800,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense |
Balance at the end of the period | 116,100,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation | 124,800,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation |
Mexico |  |  |
Plant demolition and soil remediation budgeted cost |  |  | 62,400,000 us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostsAnticipatedCost / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_MX
Environmental reclamation | $ 46,900,000 us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationExpense / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_MX |  |

X
- Definition Represents the cumulative amount of Guarantees paid for an asset retirement obligation. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the increase to the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset due to asset retirement obligation. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the period after which successive reviews are required by the law. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the number of units for which the entity has recognized an asset retirement obligation. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Asset Retirement Obligation -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505190 + Details
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- Definition Amount of accretion expense recognized during the period that is associated with an asset retirement obligation. Accretion expense measures and incorporates changes due to the passage of time into the carrying amount of the liability. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392676&loc=d3e7480-110848 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 + Details
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- Definition Amount of asset retirement obligations incurred during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 + Details
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- Definition Amount of asset retirement obligations settled, or otherwise disposed of, during the period. This may include asset retirement obligations transferred to third parties associated with the sale of a long-lived asset. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 + Details
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- Definition Net Increase or Decrease in the asset retirement obligation during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 + Details
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- Definition Amount of the Increase or Decrease in the amount of the asset retirement obligation during the current period for changes in the amount or timing of the estimated cash flows associated with the settlement of the obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 + Details
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- Definition Total anticipated costs associated with remediation, site restoration, postclosure, monitoring commitments, or other exit costs that may occur on the sale, disposal, or abandonment of a particular property resulting from unanticipated contamination of the assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.Y.Q4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011672&loc=d3e149879-122751 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section Y -Paragraph Question 4 + Details
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- Definition The charge against earnings in the period for known or estimated future costs arising from requirements to perform environmental remediation activities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13296-110859 + Details
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- Definition Fair value portion of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19190-110258 + Details
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