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INCOME TAXES: (Details 5)
12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Foreign subsidiaries
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Peru
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Peru
PEN
Dec. 31, 2013
Peru
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Peru
PEN
Dec. 31, 2012
Peru
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Peru
PEN
Dec. 31, 2014
Peru
2015 - 2016
Dec. 31, 2014
Peru
2017 - 2018
Dec. 31, 2014
Peru
2019 and later
Dec. 31, 2014
Peru
Minimum
Dec. 31, 2014
Peru
Maximum
Dec. 31, 2014
United States
Minera Mexico
USD ($)
Jan. 01, 2014
Mexico
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Mexico
Dec. 31, 2013
Mexico
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Mexico
Jan. 01, 2014
Mexico
Minimum
Jan. 01, 2014
Mexico
Maximum
Income Taxes                                            
Excess of financial reporting over tax basis for stock in subsidiary                               $ 5,300,000,000scco_InvestmentsInForeignSubsidiariesAndForeignCorporateJointVenturesThatAreEssentiallyPermanentInDuration
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= scco_MineraMexicoMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
           
Cash, cash equivalents,restricted cash and short-term investments 722,000,000scco_CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndShortTermInvestments     37,700,000scco_CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndShortTermInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= scco_ForeignSubsidiariesMember
                                   
Short-term investments 338,589,000us-gaap_ShortTermInvestments 208,268,000us-gaap_ShortTermInvestments                                        
Foreign earnings that may be repatriated 76,200,000us-gaap_ForeignEarningsRepatriated                                          
Special mine tax (as a percent)                           2.00%scco_PercentageOfSpecialMiningTax
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
8.40%scco_PercentageOfSpecialMiningTax
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
             
Operating income margin (as a percent)                             10.00%scco_OperatingIncomeMarginThresholdPercentage
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
             
Increment in operating income margin (as a percent)                           5.00%scco_OperatingIncomeMarginIncreaseOverThresholdPercentage
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
85.00%scco_OperatingIncomeMarginIncreaseOverThresholdPercentage
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
             
Increase in special mining tax rate for each 5% increase up to 85% increase in operating income margin (as a percent)         0.40%scco_PercentageIncreaseInSpecialMiningTaxAtEach5PercentIncreaseInOperatingIncomeMarginThresholdPercentageUpto85Percent
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
0.40%scco_PercentageIncreaseInSpecialMiningTaxAtEach5PercentIncreaseInOperatingIncomeMarginThresholdPercentageUpto85Percent
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
                               
Provision for special mining tax         35,300,000scco_SpecialMiningTax
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
  25,500,000scco_SpecialMiningTax
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
  49,600,000scco_SpecialMiningTax
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
                         
Income tax rate ( as a percent) 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate   30.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
30.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
30.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
30.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
30.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
30.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
28.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
/ us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis
= scco_RatesForPeriodBetwen2015And2016Member
27.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
/ us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis
= scco_RatesForPeriodBetwen2017And2018Member
26.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
/ us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis
= scco_RatesForPeriodBetween2019AndLaterMember
        35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX
35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX
35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX
   
Dividend tax rate         4.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionsDividends
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
4.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionsDividends
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
        6.80%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionsDividends
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
/ us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis
= scco_RatesForPeriodBetwen2015And2016Member
8.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionsDividends
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
/ us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis
= scco_RatesForPeriodBetwen2017And2018Member
9.30%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionsDividends
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
/ us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis
= scco_RatesForPeriodBetween2019AndLaterMember
                 
Mining royalty tax (as a percent)                           1.00%scco_PercentageOfMiningRoyaltyTax
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
12.00%scco_PercentageOfMiningRoyaltyTax
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
  7.50%scco_PercentageOfMiningRoyaltyTax
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX
         
Royalty charge assessed as a percentage of net sales         1.00%scco_MiningRoyaltyTaxAssessedAsPercentageOfNetSales
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
1.00%scco_MiningRoyaltyTaxAssessedAsPercentageOfNetSales
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
                               
Increment in operating income margin for royalty tax (as a percent)                           5.00%scco_OperatingIncomeMarginIncreaseOverThresholdPercentageForRoyaltyTax
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
10.00%scco_OperatingIncomeMarginIncreaseOverThresholdPercentageForRoyaltyTax
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
             
Increase in royalty tax rate for each 5% increase up to 12% increase in operating income margin (as a percent)         0.75%scco_PercentageIncreaseInRoyaltyTaxAtEach5PercentIncreaseInOperatingIncomeMarginThresholdPercentageUpto12Percent
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
0.75%scco_PercentageIncreaseInRoyaltyTaxAtEach5PercentIncreaseInOperatingIncomeMarginThresholdPercentageUpto12Percent
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
                               
Royalty charge           32,400,000scco_RoyaltyExpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
  34,800,000scco_RoyaltyExpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
  51,000,000scco_RoyaltyExpenses
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
                       
Provision for royalty tax         7,500,000scco_MiningRoyaltyTax
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE
                                 
Additional royalty tax over gross income from sales of gold, silver and platinum (as a percent)                                 0.50%scco_PercentageOfAdditionalRoyaltyTaxOverGrossIncomeFromSalesOfGoldSilverAndPlatinum
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX
         
Withholding on dividends distributed to individuals or foreign residents (as a percent)                                 10.00%scco_PercentageOfWithholdingOnDividendsDistributedToIndividualsOrForeignResidents
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX
         
Deductions for tax-exempt salaries and for contributions to pension plans (as a percent)                                         47.00%scco_PercentageOfDeductionsForTaxExemptSalariesAndForContributionsToPensionPlans
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX
53.00%scco_PercentageOfDeductionsForTaxExemptSalariesAndForContributionsToPensionPlans
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX
Mexican statutory tax rate (as a percent)                                 30.00%scco_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtForeignIncomeTaxRate
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX
         
Mining Royalty Amount on Earnings before taxes                                 79,300,000scco_MiningRoyaltyAmountTaxableEBITdNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX
         
Annual estimated cost resulted due to new environmental tax on the sale and importation of fossil fuels                                 9,400,000scco_AnnualEstimatedCostResultedDueToNewEnvironmentalTaxOnSaleAndImportationOfFossilFuels
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX
         
Recognized deferred income tax charge (233,794,000)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit (97,188,000)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 55,807,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit                               34,700,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX
     
Changes in unrecognized tax benefits                                            
Unrecognized tax benefits, opening balance 221,200,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 221,200,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 70,600,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits                                      
Gross increases tax positions in prior period 55,100,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions   39,700,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions                                      
Gross decreases tax positions in prior period     200,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions                                      
Gross increases current-period tax positions 43,100,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions   110,700,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions                                      
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Period Increase (Decrease), Total 98,200,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsPeriodIncreaseDecrease   150,600,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsPeriodIncreaseDecrease                                      
Unrecognized tax benefits, ending balance 319,400,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 221,200,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 221,200,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits                                      
Amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate $ 319,400,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate $ 319,400,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate