Represents the value of other activity impacting treasury stock including dividend, interest and currency translation effect.

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	scco_TreasuryStockValueRollForward
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of common and preferred shares that were previously issued and that were repurchased by the issuing entity and held in treasury on the financial statement date. This stock has no voting rights and receives no dividends.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.28,29)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount allocated to treasury stock. Treasury stock is common and preferred shares of an entity that were issued, repurchased by the entity, and are held in its treasury.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405834&loc=d3e23315-112656

+ Details

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

- Definition

Equity impact of the cost of common and preferred stock that were repurchased during the period. Recorded using the cost method.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405813&loc=d3e23239-112655

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Period Type:

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			87 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: (Details) (USD $)	Feb. 28, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Mar. 21, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2008	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Activity in treasury stock
Balance at the beginning of the period		$ 1,900,686,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue		$ 1,900,686,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue
Purchase of shares	76,300,000	160,700,000	133,100,000	370,100,000	682,800,000	281,400,000	878,100,000	2,212,400,000
Balance at the end of the period				2,267,944,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue	1,900,686,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue			2,267,944,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue	1,275,400,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue
TREASURY STOCK: \| Southern copper common shares
Activity in treasury stock
Balance at the beginning of the period		1,693,500,000		1,693,500,000	1,011,000,000				1,011,000,000
Purchase of shares				370,100,000					52,500,000
Balance at the end of the period				2,063,600,000				2,063,600,000	1,063,500,000
Treasury stock balance at the end of the period (in shares)				85,058,843				85,058,843	51,152,615
TREASURY STOCK: \| Parent Company (Grupo Mexico) common shares
Activity in treasury stock
Balance at the beginning of the period		207,200,000		207,200,000	205,600,000				205,600,000
Other activity, including dividend, interest and currency translation effect				(2,900,000)					6,300,000
Balance at the end of the period				$ 204,300,000				$ 204,300,000	$ 211,900,000
Treasury stock balance at the end of the period (in shares)				94,325,311				94,325,311	72,814,824