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INCOME TAXES: (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Foreign tax credits
Unrecognized tax benefits	$ 319.4us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	$ 221.2us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	$ 221.2us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	$ 70.6us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Foreign
Foreign tax credits
Tax credits carryback period	1 year
Tax credits carryforward period	10 years
Foreign tax credit carryforward	447.0us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
Unrecognized tax benefits	302.2us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
Foreign tax credit carryforward net of unrecognized	144.8scco_TaxCarryforwardNetOfUnrecognizedTaxBenefit / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
2016 | Foreign
Foreign tax credits
Foreign tax credit carryforward	19.0us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember / us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis = scco_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDate2016Member
2018 | Foreign
Foreign tax credits
Foreign tax credit carryforward	20.4us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember / us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis = scco_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDate2018Member
2019 | Foreign
Foreign tax credits
Foreign tax credit carryforward	63.7us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember / us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis = scco_TaxCreditCarryForwardExpirationDate2019Member
2020 | Foreign
Foreign tax credits
Foreign tax credit carryforward	42.0us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember / us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis = scco_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDate2020Member
2021 | Foreign
Foreign tax credits
Foreign tax credit carryforward	11.7us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember / us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis = scco_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDate2021Member
2022 | Foreign
Foreign tax credits
Foreign tax credit carryforward	84.1us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember / us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis = scco_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDate2022Member
2023 | Foreign
Foreign tax credits
Foreign tax credit carryforward	69.2us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember / us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis = scco_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDate2023Member
Foreign tax credit carryforward net of unrecognized	7.9scco_TaxCarryforwardNetOfUnrecognizedTaxBenefit / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember / us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis = scco_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDate2023Member
2024 | Foreign
Foreign tax credits
Foreign tax credit carryforward	136.9us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember / us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis = scco_TaxCreditCarryForwardExpirationDate2024Member
Foreign tax credit carryforward net of unrecognized	$ 136.9scco_TaxCarryforwardNetOfUnrecognizedTaxBenefit / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember / us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis = scco_TaxCreditCarryForwardExpirationDate2024Member

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+ References

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