SEGMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION: (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) segment	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Financial information related to segments
Number of reportable segments \| segment				3
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	$ 1,529.8	$ 1,335.1		$ 3,113.8	$ 2,580.1
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)	804.8	751.6		1,648.6	1,478.5
Selling, general and administrative	22.2	23.6		43.6	49.9
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	171.2	164.5		324.6	299.8
Exploration	5.7	10.3		10.8	20.7
Environmental remediation				(10.2)
Operating income	525.9	385.1		1,096.4	731.2
Interest, net	(71.7)		$ (70.0)	(161.6)	(142.8)
Other income (expense)	3.1	5.8		7.8	5.4
Income taxes	(160.3)	(102.0)		(336.6)	(194.2)
Equity earnings of affiliate	3.5	3.6		9.7	8.7
Non-controlling interest	(0.8)	(0.6)		(1.6)	(1.3)
Net income attributable to SCC	299.7	221.9		614.1	407.0
Capital investment	252.1	341.6		497.7	564.9
Property and mine development, net	8,837.5	8,498.4		8,837.5	8,498.4	$ 8,766.5
Total assets	13,515.3	12,787.4		13,515.3	12,787.4	$ 13,234.3
Intersegment sales
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales				(38.1)	(34.5)
Corporate, other and eliminations
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	(17.6)	(19.4)
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)	(21.6)	(65.1)		(41.4)	(106.0)
Selling, general and administrative	0.6	0.5		0.8	0.7
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	1.6	(11.4)		7.7	(4.8)
Exploration	1.9	3.4		3.7	7.1
Operating income	(0.1)	53.2		(9.0)	68.5
Capital investment	1.6			1.8	0.1
Property and mine development, net	229.0	253.1		229.0	253.1
Total assets	(659.1)	(723.9)		(659.1)	(723.9)
Mexican Open-pit \| Operating segment
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	899.8	815.9		1,852.0	1,557.5
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)	391.5	431.8		856.4	826.3
Selling, general and administrative	11.1	12.7		21.1	26.2
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	100.0	107.6		198.6	172.5
Exploration	0.7	1.4		1.2	3.0
Environmental remediation				(10.2)
Operating income	396.5	262.4		784.9	529.5
Capital investment	88.8	157.8		146.1	266.9
Property and mine development, net	5,149.8	5,068.5		5,149.8	5,068.5
Total assets	8,660.5	8,640.2		8,660.5	8,640.2
Mexican IMMSA Unit \| Operating segment
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	107.3	82.7		217.6	152.7
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)	91.4	73.3		174.4	142.0
Selling, general and administrative	2.0	1.8		4.2	3.3
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	12.5	14.4		25.9	23.8
Exploration	0.9	1.3		1.6	3.1
Operating income	18.1	11.3		49.6	15.0
Capital investment	6.0	10.7		13.0	17.5
Property and mine development, net	376.0	455.9		376.0	455.9
Total assets	868.3	790.4		868.3	790.4
Mexican IMMSA Unit \| Intersegment sales
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	17.6	19.4		38.1	34.5
Peruvian Operations \| Operating segment
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	522.7	436.5		1,044.2	869.9
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)	343.5	311.6		659.2	616.2
Selling, general and administrative	8.5	8.6		17.5	19.7
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	57.1	53.9		92.4	108.3
Exploration	2.2	4.2		4.3	7.5
Operating income	111.4	58.2		270.8	118.2
Capital investment	155.7	173.1		336.8	280.4
Property and mine development, net	3,082.7	2,720.9		3,082.7	2,720.9
Total assets	$ 4,645.6	$ 4,080.7		$ 4,645.6	$ 4,080.7

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