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CONCENTRATION OF RISK: (Details) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) item | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
CONCENTRATION OF RISK: |  |  |
Number of open-pit copper mines | item | 4 |  |
Number of underground poly metallic mines | item | 5 |  |
Number of smelters | item | 2 |  |
Number of refineries | item | 8 |  |
Cash equivalents |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Total cash and short-term investment | $ 877.9 |  |
Percentage of total cash | 100.00% |  |
Percentage of cash in US dollars | 98.90% |  |
Cash equivalents | United States |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Total cash and short-term investment | $ 373.8 |  |
Percentage of total cash | 42.60% |  |
Percentage invested in one institution of country | 55.60% |  |
Percentage invested in one institution of total cash | 23.70% |  |
Cash equivalents | Switzerland |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Total cash and short-term investment | $ 491.0 |  |
Percentage of total cash | 55.90% |  |
Percentage invested in one institution of country | 100.00% |  |
Percentage invested in one institution of total cash | 55.90% |  |
Cash equivalents | Peru |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Total cash and short-term investment | $ 6.2 |  |
Percentage of total cash | 0.70% |  |
Percentage invested in one institution of country | 29.40% |  |
Percentage invested in one institution of total cash | 0.20% |  |
Cash equivalents | Mexico |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Total cash and short-term investment | $ 6.9 |  |
Percentage of total cash | 0.80% |  |
Percentage invested in one institution of country | 10.30% |  |
Percentage invested in one institution of total cash | 0.10% |  |
Accounts receivable trade | Five largest customers |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Percentage of accounts receivable and total sales | 32.40% | 31.20% | 37.10%
Accounts receivable trade | Largest customer |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Percentage of accounts receivable and total sales | 10.90% | 8.00% | 12.20%
Total sales | Five largest customers |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Percentage of accounts receivable and total sales | 28.00% | 34.30% | 28.70%
Total sales | Largest customer |  |  |
Concentration of risk |  |  |
Percentage of accounts receivable and total sales | 7.70% | 8.20% | 8.40%

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