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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)	3.36scco_OreReservesCopperPriceConsideredToDetermineAveragePrice	3.36scco_OreReservesCopperPriceConsideredToDetermineAveragePrice	3.65scco_OreReservesCopperPriceConsideredToDetermineAveragePrice	3.68scco_OreReservesCopperPriceConsideredToDetermineAveragePrice
Impairment in the carrying value of long-term assets		$ 0us-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	17,000,000scco_InventoryOreStockpilesOnLeachPadsRecognizedAsCostOfSales	177,500,000scco_InventoryOreStockpilesOnLeachPadsRecognizedAsCostOfSales	109,300,000scco_InventoryOreStockpilesOnLeachPadsRecognizedAsCostOfSales	68,500,000scco_InventoryOreStockpilesOnLeachPadsRecognizedAsCostOfSales
Current leachable inventory	762,800,000scco_InventoryOreStockpilesOnLeachPadsCurrent	762,800,000scco_InventoryOreStockpilesOnLeachPadsCurrent
Leachable inventory classified as a current asset	250,100,000scco_LeachableInventoryClassifiedCurrentAsset	250,100,000scco_LeachableInventoryClassifiedCurrentAsset
Number of reportable segments		3scco_NumberOfReportableSegment
Financial information related to segments
Total property, net	7,436,430,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	7,436,430,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	6,476,168,000us-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		5scco_NumberOfUndergroundPolyMetalMiningProperties / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_MexicanIMMSAUnitMember
Total property, net	389,000,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_MexicanIMMSAUnitMember	389,000,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_MexicanIMMSAUnitMember	378,200,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_MexicanIMMSAUnitMember	350,900,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_MexicanIMMSAUnitMember
Peruvian Operations
Financial information related to segments
Number of open-pit copper mines		2scco_NumberOfOpenPitCopperMiningProperties / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_PeruvianOperationsMember
Total property, net	$ 2,561,400,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_PeruvianOperationsMember	$ 2,561,400,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_PeruvianOperationsMember	$ 2,451,400,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = scco_PeruvianOperationsMember	$ 2,231,400,000us-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.

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Represents the average estimated recovery period of long-term leach stockpiles based on the recovery percentages of each mine.

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The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long lived assets held for use (including those held for disposal by means other than sale).

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Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

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