INCOME TAXES: (Details 2)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012 Y item	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Reconciliation of the statutory income tax rate to the effective tax rate
Expected tax (as a percent)			30.00%	30.00%	30.00%
Effect of income taxed at a rate other than the statutory rate (as a percent)			1.60%	4.30%	5.30%
Percentage depletion			(4.20%)	(4.00%)	(4.30%)
Other permanent differences (as a percent)			3.70%	1.20%	1.80%
Peru tax on net income deemed distributed (as a percent)			1.30%	1.30%	2.00%
Special mining tax			1.60%	0.50%
Mexican tax on dividends (as a percent)					0.40%
Increase (decrease) in unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions (as a percent)			5.00%		4.60%
Repatriated foreign earnings (as a percent)			(1.70%)	2.10%
Amounts (over) / under provided in prior years (as a percent)			(0.60%)	(3.50%)	(4.50%)
Other (as a percent)			(0.40%)	0.10%	0.40%
Effective income tax rate (as a percent)			36.30%	32.00%	35.70%
Number of jurisdictions where company files income tax returns			3
Peruvian tax rate (as a percent)			30.00%	30.00%	30.00%
U.S. statutory rate (as a percent)			35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Mexican tax rate (as a percent)	28.00%	29.00%	30.00%	30.00%	30.00%
Duration for which statutory tax rates for Peru and Mexico are considered to determine effective tax rate (in years)			3

The Mexican statutory income tax rate applicable under enacted tax laws to the company's pretax income for the period.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

The Peruvian statutory income tax rate applicable under enacted tax laws to the company's pretax income for the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to the dividend declared by the company's Mexican branch.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to income deemed to be distributed, by the company's Peruvian branch.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to special mining tax.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the number of jurisdictions where the entity files its income tax returns.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

A ratio calculated by dividing the reported amount of income tax expense attributable to continuing operations for the period by GAAP-basis pretax income from continuing operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32687-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 109

-Paragraph 47

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph h

-Subparagraph 2

-Article 4

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 13

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32698-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Definition

The domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable under enacted tax laws to the Company's pretax income from continuing operations for the period. The "statutory" tax rate is the regular tax rate if there are alternative tax systems.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6889476&loc=d3e330036-122817

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 109

-Paragraph 47

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 13

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32698-109319

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32687-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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 statutory income tax rates in foreign jurisdictions and the domestic federal statutory income tax rate recorded during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 13

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32698-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32687-109319

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6889476&loc=d3e330036-122817

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate that can be explained by the different methods of depletion allowed under generally accepted accounting principles and enacted tax laws.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseDepletion
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to nondeductible expenses under enacted tax laws, or differences in the methodologies used to determine expense amounts for financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, not otherwise listed in the existing taxonomy.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to all other items not otherwise listed in the existing taxonomy.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to revisions in previously reported amounts of income tax provision.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationPriorYearIncomeTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The sum of the differences between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to changes in all income tax contingencies, whether recorded or adjusted, during the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxContingencies
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration