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INCOME TAXES: - Effective tax rate (Details) - item	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Reconciliation of the statutory income tax rate to the effective tax rate
Expected tax at U.S. statutory rate (as a percent)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Foreign tax at other than statutory rate, net of foreign tax credit benefit (as a percent)	2.00%	3.60%	3.60%
Percentage depletion (as a percent)	(2.70%)	(5.90%)	(5.20%)
Other permanent differences (as a percent)		0.70%	0.10%
Increase (decrease) in unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions (as a percent)	0.20%	6.70%	0.50%
Repatriated foreign earnings (as a percent)	3.60%		(0.40%)
Amounts (over) / under provided in prior years	(0.50%)	(2.20%)	2.20%
Other (as a percent)	2.30%	1.20%	0.70%
Effective income tax rate	39.90%	39.10%	36.50%
Number of jurisdictions where company files income tax returns	3
Duration for which statutory tax rates for Peru and Mexico are considered to determine effective tax rate	3 years
Mexico
Reconciliation of the statutory income tax rate to the effective tax rate
Expected tax at U.S. statutory rate (as a percent)	30.00%	30.00%	30.00%
Peru
Reconciliation of the statutory income tax rate to the effective tax rate
Expected tax at U.S. statutory rate (as a percent)	28.00%	28.00%	30.00%	30.00%

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Represents the duration for which statutory tax rates for Peru and Mexico considered to determine effective tax rate.

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The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate that can be explained by the difference between special tax rate applicable to eligible income and the domestic federal statutory income tax rate recorded during the period.

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Percentage of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

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Percentage of domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable to pretax income (loss).

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Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations applicable to statutory income tax expense (benefit) outside of the country of domicile.

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Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to depletion.

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