SEGMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION: (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Financial information related to segments
Number of reportable segments \| segment			3
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	$ 1,676.5	$ 1,400.7	$ 4,790.2	$ 3,980.8
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)	781.5	831.4	2,430.2	2,309.9
Selling, general and administrative	25.0	22.7	68.6	72.5
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	169.3	174.5	493.8	474.3
Exploration	8.1	9.7	18.9	30.4
Environmental remediation			(10.2)
Operating income	692.6	362.4	1,788.9	1,093.7
Interest, net	(69.8)	(71.3)	(231.4)	(214.1)
Other income (expense)	(6.2)	9.6	1.6	14.9
Income taxes	(220.1)	(111.2)	(556.6)	(305.4)
Equity earnings of affiliate	6.3	8.7	16.1	17.4
Non-controlling interest	(1.0)	(0.6)	(2.6)	(1.9)
Net income attributable to SCC	401.8	197.6	1,016.0	604.6
Capital investment	212.7	275.6	710.4	840.5
Property and mine development, net	8,928.3	8,581.4	8,928.3	8,581.4	$ 8,766.5
Total assets	13,982.4	13,063.0	13,982.4	13,063.0	$ 13,234.3
Intersegment sales
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales			(54.1)	(53.5)
Corporate, other and eliminations
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	(16.0)	(19.0)
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)	(16.5)	(46.8)	(57.8)	(152.7)
Selling, general and administrative	(0.7)	0.3	0.1	1.0
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	4.0	10.2	11.6	5.4
Exploration	0.6	3.4	4.3	10.5
Operating income	(3.4)	13.9	(12.3)	82.3
Capital investment	1.1	2.3	2.9	2.4
Property and mine development, net	246.3	242.0	246.3	242.0
Total assets	14.9	(51.9)	14.9	(51.9)
Mexican Open-pit \| Operating segment
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	1,023.3	865.0	2,875.3	2,422.5
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)	373.6	462.6	1,230.0	1,288.8
Selling, general and administrative	15.3	11.3	36.4	37.5
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	97.1	94.5	295.7	267.0
Exploration	0.7	2.5	1.9	5.5
Environmental remediation			(10.2)
Operating income	536.6	294.1	1,321.5	823.7
Capital investment	71.6	112.8	217.7	379.7
Property and mine development, net	5,109.2	5,094.2	5,109.2	5,094.2
Total assets	8,466.8	8,052.2	8,466.8	8,052.2
Mexican IMMSA Unit \| Operating segment
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	87.5	94.9	305.0	247.5
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)	73.8	73.8	248.2	215.8
Selling, general and administrative	1.5	2.1	5.7	5.4
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	13.1	15.8	39.0	39.6
Exploration	1.9	1.7	3.5	4.7
Operating income	13.2	20.5	62.7	35.5
Capital investment	12.8	8.7	25.8	26.2
Property and mine development, net	374.1	448.6	374.1	448.6
Total assets	887.2	800.3	887.2	800.3
Mexican IMMSA Unit \| Intersegment sales
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	16.0	19.0	54.1	53.5
Peruvian Operations \| Operating segment
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	565.7	440.8	1,609.9	1,310.8
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)	350.6	341.8	1,009.8	958.0
Selling, general and administrative	8.9	9.0	26.4	28.6
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	55.1	54.0	147.5	162.3
Exploration	4.9	2.1	9.2	9.7
Operating income	146.2	33.9	417.0	152.2
Capital investment	127.2	151.8	464.0	432.2
Property and mine development, net	3,198.7	2,796.6	3,198.7	2,796.6
Total assets	$ 4,613.5	$ 4,262.4	$ 4,613.5	$ 4,262.4

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