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

No definition available.

Name:	scco_AssetRetirementObligationPeriodAfterWhichSuccessiveReviewsAreRequired
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

Name:	scco_AssetRetirementObligationUnitsNumber
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

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense
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

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled
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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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

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

- Definition

Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121555522&loc=d3e12069-110248

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_PE
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_MX
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION: (Details) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION: (Details) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($) item	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION:
Maximum annual guarantees secured	50.00%
Percentage of guarantee for Lima complex	50.00%
Percentage of security for LOC	50.00%
Total guarantees	$ 56.5
Asset retirement obligation activity
Balance at the beginning of the year	545.0	$ 262.3	$ 262.3
Closure Payments	(1.9)	(0.8)
Accretion expense	12.2	7.4
Balance at the end of the year	$ 555.3	$ 268.9	545.0	$ 262.3
Peru
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION:
Period after which successive reviews are required by the law (in years)	5 years
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			$ 269.3