SEGMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION: (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 segment	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
SEGMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION:
Number of reportable segments	3
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	$ 1,354,400,000	$ 1,623,000,000
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)	641,894,000	722,749,000
Selling, general and administrative	24,498,000	25,374,000
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	110,453,000	90,572,000
Exploration	14,611,000	10,324,000
Operating income	562,927,000	773,983,000
Interest, net	(36,000,000)	(47,200,000)
Other income (expense)	(4,206,000)	848,000
Income taxes	(204,162,000)	(238,879,000)
Equity earnings of affiliate	6,038,000	8,163,000
Non-controlling interest	(1,208,000)	(1,641,000)
Net income attributable to SCC	323,389,000	495,392,000
Capital expenditure	323,700,000	316,800,000
Property, net	6,685,506,000	5,349,200,000	6,476,168,000
Total assets	11,264,748,000	10,562,000,000	10,996,029,000
Corporate, other and eliminations
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	(24,400,000)	(32,000,000)
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)	4,900,000	(44,100,000)
Selling, general and administrative	1,000,000	700,000
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	800,000	2,200,000
Exploration	6,800,000	1,000,000
Operating income	(37,900,000)	8,200,000
Capital expenditure	1,600,000
Property, net	85,800,000	81,800,000
Total assets	658,300,000	1,811,600,000
Mexican Open-Pit | Operating segment
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	648,000,000	862,600,000
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)	229,400,000	380,700,000
Selling, general and administrative	8,600,000	8,800,000
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	54,700,000	40,300,000
Exploration	800,000	900,000
Operating income	354,500,000	431,900,000
Capital expenditure	255,200,000	259,600,000
Property, net	3,764,700,000	2,693,800,000
Total assets	6,314,900,000	4,647,500,000
Mexican IMMSA Unit | Operating segment
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	96,100,000	89,900,000
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)	84,500,000	73,100,000
Selling, general and administrative	3,700,000	3,800,000
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	7,800,000	6,700,000
Exploration	5,000,000	6,100,000
Operating income	19,500,000	32,200,000
Capital expenditure	9,100,000	17,900,000
Property, net	380,800,000	359,700,000
Total assets	863,000,000	892,700,000
Mexican IMMSA Unit | Intersegment sales
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	24,400,000	32,000,000
Peruvian Operations | Operating segment
Financial information relating to segments
Net sales	610,300,000	670,500,000
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)	323,100,000	313,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	11,200,000	12,100,000
Depreciation, amortization and depletion	47,200,000	41,400,000
Exploration	2,000,000	2,300,000
Operating income	226,800,000	301,700,000
Capital expenditure	57,800,000	39,300,000
Property, net	2,454,200,000	2,213,900,000
Total assets	$ 3,428,500,000	$ 3,210,200,000