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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: (Details) | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
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Mar. 02, 2015 USD ($) | Mar. 02, 2015 MXN | Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) item | Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Mar. 02, 2015 Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V item | Sep. 15, 2014 Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V USD ($) | Sep. 15, 2014 Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V MXN | Aug. 29, 2014 Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V item | Aug. 06, 2014 Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V m3 km | Mar. 31, 2015 Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V MXN item | Dec. 31, 2014 Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V MXN | Mar. 31, 2014 Peru | Mar. 31, 2015 Peru USD ($) item | Mar. 31, 2014 Peru USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 Peru | Mar. 31, 2015 Peru Maximum | Mar. 31, 2015 Mexico USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2014 Mexico USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2011 Mexico person category
Environmental costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Environmental capital investment |  |  | $ 22,100,000 us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod | $ 24,700,000 us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 18,900,000 us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_PE | $ 18,300,000 us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_PE |  |  | $ 3,200,000 us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_MX | $ 6,400,000 us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_MX |
Period required for ambient air monitoring as per environmental regulation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 day |  |  |  |
Revised air quality standards for sulfur dioxide as per new environmental regulation (in micrograms per cubic meter) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20 scco_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) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 80 scco_StandardForConcentrationOfAirPollutantLevelRequiredToBeMaintainedByAreasHavingExcessEmissionAsPerEnvironmentalRegulation / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_PE |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of atmospheric basins established that require further attention |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 scco_NumberOfAtmosphericBasinsEstablishedThatRequireFurtherAttention / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_PE |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of months for identification of contaminated sites and around in facilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 months |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period for preparation of decontamination plan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | P24M |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period of extension for preparation of decontamination plan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 year |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of days in which results of soil confirmation tests are to be presented to authorities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of categories of collective actions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 scco_NumberOfCategoriesOfCollectiveActionsForEnvironmentalMatters / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_MX
Minimum number of people claiming injury due to collective action initiative in Civil Federal Procedures Code (CFPC) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30 scco_MinimumNumberOfPeopleClaimingInjuryToInitiateCollectiveAction / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_MX
Volume of copper sulfate solution (in cubic meters) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40,000 scco_VolumeOfCopperSulfateSolution / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Distance of pond under construction from mine (in kilometers) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 scco_DistanceOfPondUnderConstructionFromMine / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of administrative fines and sanctions (in pesos) | 1,700,000 scco_AmountOfAdministrativeFinesAndSanctions | 23,500,000 scco_AmountOfAdministrativeFinesAndSanctions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of zones |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 scco_NumberOfZones / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount committed to the Mexican Federal Government to establish a trust (in peso) |  |  |  |  |  | 150,000,000 scco_AmountCommittedToMexicanFederalGovernmentToEstablishTrust / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember | 2,000,000,000 scco_AmountCommittedToMexicanFederalGovernmentToEstablishTrust / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount contributed to the Mexican Federal Government (in peso) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,000,000,000 scco_AmountContributedToMexicanFederalGovernmentToEstablishTrust / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of administrative proceedings. |  |  |  |  | 4 scco_NumberOfAdministrativeProceedings / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of workers hired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,200 scco_NumberOfWorkersHired / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated contingent liability |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 97,300,000 scco_EstimatedContingentLiability / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount already paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16,400,000 scco_RemediationAlreadySpent / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount deposited in the trust (in peso) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 74,900,000 scco_AmountDepositedInTrust / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember | 1,000,000,000 scco_AmountDepositedInTrust / dei_LegalEntityAxis = scco_BuenavistaDelCobreSaDeCVMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of lawsuits |  |  | 3 scco_NumberOfCollectiveActionLawsuits |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Represents the amount committed to the Mexican Federal Government to establish a trust to support the remedial efforts undertaken and to comply with the environmental remediation plan. + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | debit
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- Definition Represents the amount contributed to the Mexican Federal Government trust. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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- Definition Represents the amount deposited in the trust to compensate claims as they arise. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Represents the maximum amount of administrative fines and sanctions, which the company may require to pay. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition Represents the distance of pond under construction from mine. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:lengthItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | scco_EnvironmentalCostLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
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- Definition Represents the amount of estimated contingent liability. + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Represents the minimum number of people claiming injury, to initiate collective action for environmental matters. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
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- Definition Represents the information pertaining to number of administrative proceedings. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Represents the number of atmospheric basins established environmental agency of the government which require further attention as per the new environmental regulations. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
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- Definition Represents the number of categories of collective actions for environmental matters. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
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- Definition Represents the number of collective action lawsuits sought for damages. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Represents the number of workers hired for the rehabilitation of the entity's mining unit. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Represents the number of zones in which the program will be developed. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the period in which the entity has to to identify contaminated sites in and around its facilities and present a Report of Identified Contaminated Sites. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | scco_PeriodForIdentificationOfContaminationSitesAndAroundInFacilities
Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Represents the period for preparation of decontamination plan. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Represents the period of extension the entity may request for decontamination plan preparation. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
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Balance Type: | na
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- Definition Represents the period required for ambient air monitoring to establish daily sulfur dioxide (SO2) levels of those areas with average emissions equal or less then specified air quality standard as per the new environmental regulations. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the number of days in which results of soil confirmation tests are to be presented to authorities. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Represents the amount paid previous to the establishment of the trust. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Represents the revised standard for concentration of an air pollutant (e.g. ozone) which is given in micrograms (one-millionth of a gram) as per the new environmental regulations. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the standard for concentration of an air pollutant level which is given in micrograms (one-millionth of a gram) to be maintained by areas which are having emission in excess than specified as per the new environmental regulations. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the volume of copper sulfate solution, which accidentally spilled at the mine of Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | scco_
Data Type: | num:volumeItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Amount of environmental remediation costs capitalized. These expenditures may relate to long-lived improvements in operating facilities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 30 -Section 25 -Paragraph 18 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=39739230&loc=d3e11660-110855 + Details
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