Represents the amount committed to funding for social and infrastructure improvement projects

No definition available.

Name:	scco_AmountCommittedForFundingSocialAndInfrastructureImprovementProjects
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the amount paid out in the period for development projects in the Candarave province.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	scco_AmountPaidOutForFundingUnderFinalAgreementForCandaraveProvince
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the amount spend in the current year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	scco_AmountSpendInCurrentYear
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the annual production in volume during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	scco_AnnualProduction
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	num:massItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	scco_CommitmentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Captial expansion programs at the Mexican operations that are scheduled to be expended in the next twelve months.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	scco_CommitmentsForCapitalProjects
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the estimated increase in annual production.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	scco_EstimatedIncreaseInAnnualProduction
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	num:massItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the net total capacity of the natural gas-fired combined cycle power generating units.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	scco_PowerGeneratingUnitsTotalCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	num:powerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the original term (in years) of the power purchase agreement completed in connection with the sale of a power plant to an independent power company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	scco_PowerPurchaseAgreementTerm
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the budget amount of the project.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	scco_ProjectBudgetAmount
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of power plants constructed by the related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	scco_RelatedPartyTransactionsNumberOfPowerPlants
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represent the percentage of power supply to third-party energy users out of power output from plant by the related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	scco_RelatedPartyTransactionsPercentageOfPowerSupplyToThirdPartyEnergyUsers
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: (Details 3)	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: (Details 3)	Mar. 31, 2015 Mexico USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 Tia Maria Peru USD ($) T	Mar. 31, 2015 Toquepala Concentrator Expansion Peru USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Toquepala Concentrator Expansion Peru USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Toquepala Concentrator Expansion Peru PEN	Dec. 31, 2014 Toquepala Concentrator Expansion Peru USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Toquepala Concentrator Expansion Peru PEN	Mar. 31, 2015 MGE	Dec. 31, 2005 MGE item	Mar. 31, 2015 MGE Mexico item MW	Mar. 31, 2015 Copper Toquepala Concentrator Expansion Peru T	Mar. 31, 2015 Molybdenum Toquepala Concentrator Expansion Peru T	Dec. 31, 1997 Enersur Power purchase agreements	Jun. 30, 2014 Electroperu S.A Power purchase agreements	Jul. 31, 2014 Kallpa Power purchase agreements
Other commitments:
Project Budget		$ 1,400,000,000	$ 1,200,000,000
Amount expended in current year		354,000,000	348,600,000
Annual production ( in tons)		120,000
Amount committed to funding for social and infrastructure improvement projects						33,000,000	100,000,000
Estimated increase in annual production (in tons)											100,000	3,100
Term of power purchase agreement related to sale of power plant													20 years	20 years	10 years
Amount paid-out for development projects in the Candarave province				143,000,000	445,000,000
Number of power plants									2	2
Percentage of supply to third-party energy users								12.00%
Commitment for capital projects	$ 464,000,000
Net total capacity (in megawatts)										516.2