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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	$ 27,800,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentFairValueDisclosure
Cumulative guarantee amount	17,900,000scco_AssetRetirementObligationAnnualGuarantees
Number of units with future closure costs recognized as an asset retirement obligation	3scco_AssetRetirementObligationUnitsNumber
Decrease in asset retirement obligation	(36,300,000)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Environmental reclamation	91,350,000us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationExpense
Increase to net property due to closure of mine		20,300,000scco_AssetRetirementObligationIncreaseInCarryingAmountOfTheRelatedLonglivedAsset
Asset retirement obligation activity
Balance at the beginning of the period	124,800,000us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation	122,300,000us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation	124,800,000us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
Changes in estimates	(9,600,000)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate
Additions		25,100,000us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred
Payments	(12,200,000)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled	(6,300,000)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled
Accretion expense	13,100,000us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense	8,800,000us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense
Balance at the end of the period	116,100,000us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation	124,800,000us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
Mexico
Plant demolition and soil remediation budgeted cost			62,400,000us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostsAnticipatedCost / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_MX
Environmental reclamation	$ 46,900,000us-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.

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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.

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- Definition

Represents the period after which successive reviews are required by the law.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the number of units for which the entity has recognized an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

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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)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Asset Retirement Obligation

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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

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Amount of asset retirement obligations incurred during the period.

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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

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Net Increase or Decrease in the asset retirement obligation during the period.

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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.

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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

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-Publisher FASB

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The charge against earnings in the period for known or estimated future costs arising from requirements to perform environmental remediation activities.

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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.

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