SEGMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION: (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 segment country	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
SEGMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION:
Number of reportable segments									3
Financial information related to segments
Number of countries having open-pit operations									2
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales outside of segments									$ 5,952,900,000	$ 6,669,300,000	$ 6,818,700,000
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)									2,871,299,000	2,769,233,000	2,763,152,000
Selling, general and administrative									102,579,000	101,297,000	104,473,000
Depreciation, amortization and depletion									395,970,000	325,743,000	288,138,000
Legal fees related to SCC shareholder derivative lawsuit (Note 14)										316,233,000
Exploration									50,983,000	47,877,000	37,535,000
Operating income	615,900,000	580,900,000	565,300,000	770,000,000	812,600,000	447,800,000	875,600,000	972,900,000	2,532,112,000	3,108,883,000	3,625,423,000
Interest, net									(176,600,000)	(157,200,000)	(172,800,000)
Other income (expense)									17,106,000	21,833,000	(4,043,000)
Income taxes									(769,322,000)	(1,080,872,000)	(1,104,335,000)
Equity earnings of affiliate									20,905,000	48,702,000
Non-controlling interest									(5,664,000)	(6,740,000)	(7,929,000)
Net income attributable to SCC	406,200,000	344,200,000	372,700,000	495,400,000	531,800,000	217,900,000	563,500,000	621,400,000	1,618,517,000	1,934,632,000	2,336,424,000
Capital expenditures									1,703,300,000	1,051,900,000	612,900,000
Property, net	6,476,168,000				5,156,731,000				6,476,168,000	5,156,731,000	4,429,900,000
Total assets	11,210,422,000				10,383,749,000				11,210,422,000	10,383,749,000	8,062,700,000
Mexican Open-pit
Financial information related to segments
Number of open-pit copper mines									2
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales outside of segments									2,976,700,000	3,339,000,000	3,212,100,000
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)									1,308,900,000	1,228,200,000	1,115,800,000
Selling, general and administrative									35,400,000	34,400,000	34,100,000
Depreciation, amortization and depletion									178,900,000	145,600,000	133,600,000
Exploration									3,200,000	5,200,000	3,500,000
Operating income									1,450,300,000	1,925,600,000	1,925,100,000
Capital expenditures									1,209,900,000	804,400,000	357,600,000
Property, net	3,579,900,000				2,444,900,000				3,579,900,000	2,444,900,000	1,827,200,000
Total assets	6,010,300,000				4,241,400,000				6,010,300,000	4,241,400,000	3,471,600,000
Mexican IMMSA Unit
Financial information related to segments
Number of underground poly metal mines									5
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales outside of segments									361,600,000	378,000,000	420,100,000
Intersegment sales									96,900,000	135,000,000	126,100,000
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)									320,700,000	292,400,000	309,300,000
Selling, general and administrative									15,100,000	14,600,000	14,700,000
Depreciation, amortization and depletion									31,000,000	25,200,000	24,500,000
Exploration									27,200,000	28,200,000	22,000,000
Operating income									64,500,000	152,600,000	175,700,000
Capital expenditures									60,600,000	56,000,000	48,700,000
Property, net	378,200,000				350,900,000				378,200,000	350,900,000	320,100,000
Total assets	895,600,000				873,100,000				895,600,000	873,100,000	743,400,000
Peruvian Operations
Financial information related to segments
Number of open-pit copper mines									2
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales outside of segments									2,614,600,000	2,952,300,000	3,186,500,000
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)									1,358,600,000	1,380,500,000	1,441,000,000
Selling, general and administrative									49,800,000	48,500,000	50,800,000
Depreciation, amortization and depletion									177,200,000	160,300,000	140,600,000
Exploration									20,600,000	14,500,000	12,000,000
Operating income									1,008,400,000	1,348,500,000	1,542,100,000
Capital expenditures									372,300,000	257,800,000	205,500,000
Property, net	2,451,400,000				2,231,400,000				2,451,400,000	2,231,400,000	2,225,900,000
Total assets	3,753,700,000				3,353,000,000				3,753,700,000	3,353,000,000	3,164,000,000
Corporate, other and eliminations
Financial information relating to segments
Intersegment sales									(96,900,000)	(135,000,000)	(126,100,000)
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)									(116,900,000)	(131,900,000)	(102,900,000)
Selling, general and administrative									2,300,000	3,800,000	4,900,000
Depreciation, amortization and depletion									8,800,000	(5,300,000)	(10,600,000)
Legal fees related to SCC shareholder derivative lawsuit (Note 14)										316,200,000
Operating income									8,900,000	(317,800,000)	(17,500,000)
Capital expenditures									60,500,000	(66,300,000)	1,100,000
Property, net	66,700,000				129,500,000				66,700,000	129,500,000	56,700,000
Total assets	$ 550,800,000				$ 1,916,200,000				$ 550,800,000	$ 1,916,200,000	$ 683,700,000