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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: (Details)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 0 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
item
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
USD ($)
Sep. 15, 2014
Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V
USD ($)
Sep. 15, 2014
Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V
MXN
Aug. 06, 2014
Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V
m3
km
Sep. 30, 2014
Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V
country
Dec. 31, 2014
Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V
MXN
Dec. 31, 2014
Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V
Maximum
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V
Maximum
MXN
Dec. 31, 2014
Peru
USD ($)
item
Dec. 31, 2013
Peru
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Peru
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Peru
Maximum
Dec. 31, 2014
Mexico
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Mexico
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Mexico
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Mexico
person
category
Environmental costs                                        
Environmental capital expenditure   $ 151.4us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod $ 116.7us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod $ 47.7us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod                 $ 127.0us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE		 $ 76.9us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE		 $ 27.0us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE		   $ 24.4us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX		 $ 39.8us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX		 $ 20.7us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX		  
Period required for ambient air monitoring as per environmental regulation                         12 months              
Revised air quality standards for sulfur dioxide as per new environmental regulation (in micrograms per cubic meter)                               20scco_RevisedStandardForConcentrationOfAirPollutantAsPerEnvironmentalRegulation
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE		        
Air quality standards level for sulfur dioxide to be maintained when emission is excess than specified as per new environmental regulation (in micrograms per cubic meter)                         80scco_StandardForConcentrationOfAirPollutantLevelRequiredToBeMaintainedByAreasHavingExcessEmissionAsPerEnvironmentalRegulation
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE		              
Number of atmospheric basins established that require further attention                         3scco_NumberOfAtmosphericBasinsEstablishedThatRequireFurtherAttention
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_PE		              
Number of categories of collective actions                                       3scco_NumberOfCategoriesOfCollectiveActionsForEnvironmentalMatters
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX
Minimum number of people claiming injury due to collective action initiative in Civil Federal Procedures Code (CFPC)                                       30scco_MinimumNumberOfPeopleClaimingInjuryToInitiateCollectiveAction
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX
Volume of copper sulfate solution (in cubic meters)             40,000scco_VolumeOfCopperSulfateSolution
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember		                          
Distance of pond under construction from mine (in kilometers)             10scco_DistanceOfPondUnderConstructionFromMine
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember		                          
Amount of administrative fines and sanctions (in pesos)                     3scco_AmountOfAdministrativeFinesAndSanctions
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		 40scco_AmountOfAdministrativeFinesAndSanctions
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		                
Amount committed to the Mexican Federal Government to establish a trust (in peso)         150scco_AmountCommittedToMexicanFederalGovernmentToEstablishTrust
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember		 2,000scco_AmountCommittedToMexicanFederalGovernmentToEstablishTrust
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember		                            
Number of countries in which riverside residents are affected by the spill               7scco_NumberOfCountriesInWhichRiversideResidentsAreAffectedBySpill
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember		                        
Amount deposited in the trust (in peso)                 74.9scco_AmountDepositedInTrust
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember		 1,000.0scco_AmountDepositedInTrust
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember		                    
Estimated contingent liability                 91.4scco_EstimatedContingentLiability
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember		                      
Amount already paid                 $ 16.4scco_RemediationAlreadySpent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember		                      
Number of lawsuits 3scco_NumberOfCollectiveActionLawsuits