Represents the cumulative amount of Guarantees paid for an asset retirement obligation.

No definition available.

Name:	scco_AssetRetirementObligationAnnualGuarantees
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the period after which successive reviews are required by the law.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of units for which the entity has recognized an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum percentage of annual guarantees secured.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of guarantee pledged for office complex.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of guarantee for stand by letters of credit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of accretion expense recognized during the period that is associated with an asset retirement obligation. Accretion expense measures and incorporates changes due to the passage of time into the carrying amount of the liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392676&loc=d3e7480-110848

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of asset retirement obligations settled, or otherwise disposed of, during the period. This may include asset retirement obligations transferred to third parties associated with the sale of a long-lived asset.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in the asset retirement obligation from changes in the amount or timing of the estimated cash flows associated with the settlement of the obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Section 35
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392603&loc=d3e7123-110846

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

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ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION: (Details) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION: (Details) $ in Millions	Jun. 24, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION:
Maximum annual guarantees secured	50.00%
Percentage of guarantee for Lima complex			50.00%
Percentage of security for LOC			50.00%
Asset retirement obligation activity
Balance at the beginning of the year			$ 217.7	$ 222.5
Changes in estimates			36.4	(15.6)
Closure Payments			(5.3)	(0.6)
Accretion expense			13.5	11.4
Balance at the end of the year			$ 262.3	$ 217.7
Peru
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION:
Period after which successive reviews are required by the law (in years)			5 years
Cumulative guarantee amount			$ 47.1
Number of units with future closure costs recognized as an asset retirement obligation \| item			3
Asset retirement obligation activity
Changes in estimates			$ 28.1
Mexico
Asset retirement obligation activity
Changes in estimates		$ (10.4)