Name:	scco_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPercentageOfDeductionInFairMarketSalesValueFromPaymentUponResignationOrTerminationOccurringDuringFifthYearFromGrantDate
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the percentage of title acquired by the employee in every two years on shares paid in previous two years.

No definition available.

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

Represents the ratio of bonus granted to the participant upon meeting the eligibility period of the share based compensation plan.

No definition available.

Name:	scco_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRatioOfBonusSharesGrantedAtEndOfExpirationTerm
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the percentage of deduction from the amount payable to the employee, if the termination or resignation takes place in the first year after the grant date upon voluntary resignation or involuntary termination of employment. The amount payable to the employee is the fair market sales price per fully paid share, net of costs and taxes when the fair market value exceeds the purchase price.

No definition available.

Name:	scco_ShareBasedPaymentAwardPercentageOfDeductionInFairMarketSalesValueFromPaymentUponResignationOrTerminationOccurringDuringFirstYearFromGrantDate
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the percentage of deduction from the amount payable to the employee, if the terminating event takes place in the fourth year after the grant date, upon voluntary resignation or involuntary termination of employment. The amount payable to the employee is the fair market sales price per fully paid share, net of costs and taxes when the fair market value exceeds the purchase price.

No definition available.

Name:	scco_ShareBasedPaymentAwardPercentageOfDeductionInFairMarketSalesValueFromPaymentUponResignationOrTerminationOccurringDuringFourthYearFromGrantDate
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Upon voluntary resignation or involuntary termination of employment, represents the percentage of deduction from the amount payable to the employee if the termination or resignation takes place in the second year after the grant date. The amount payable to the employee is the fair market sales price per fully paid share, net of costs and taxes when the fair market value exceeds the purchase price.

No definition available.

Name:	scco_ShareBasedPaymentAwardPercentageOfDeductionInFairMarketSalesValueFromPaymentUponResignationOrTerminationOccurringDuringSecondYearFromGrantDate
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the percentage of deduction from the amount payable to the employee, if the terminating event takes place in the seventh year after the grant date, upon voluntary resignation or involuntary termination of employment. The amount payable to the employee is the fair market sales price per fully paid share, net of costs and taxes when the fair market value exceeds the purchase price.

No definition available.

Name:	scco_ShareBasedPaymentAwardPercentageOfDeductionInFairMarketSalesValueFromPaymentUponResignationOrTerminationOccurringDuringSeventhYearFromGrantDate
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the percentage of deduction from the amount payable to the employee, if the terminating event takes place in the sixth year after the grant date, upon voluntary resignation or involuntary termination of employment. The amount payable to the employee is the fair market sales price per fully paid share, net of costs and taxes when the fair market value exceeds the purchase price.

No definition available.

Name:	scco_ShareBasedPaymentAwardPercentageOfDeductionInFairMarketSalesValueFromPaymentUponResignationOrTerminationOccurringDuringSixthYearFromGrantDate
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the percentage of deduction from the amount payable to the employee, if the termination or resignation takes place in the third year after the grant date, upon voluntary resignation or involuntary termination of employment. The amount payable to the employee is the fair market sales price per fully paid share, net of costs and taxes when the fair market value exceeds the purchase price.

No definition available.

Name:	scco_ShareBasedPaymentAwardPercentageOfDeductionInFairMarketSalesValueFromPaymentUponResignationOrTerminationOccurringDuringThirdYearFromGrantDate
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901