No definition available.

Name:	scco_EnvironmentalCostLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	scco_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the minimum number of people claiming injury, to initiate collective action for environmental matters.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the number of categories of collective actions for environmental matters.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of environmental remediation costs capitalized. These expenditures may relate to long-lived improvements in operating facilities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Section 25
-Paragraph 18
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=39739230&loc=d3e11660-110855

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedCapitalizedInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of any recovery from third parties that is credited to environmental remediation costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13296-110859

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EnvironmentalCostsRecognizedRecoveryCreditedToExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_MX
Namespace Prefix:
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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: - Environmental matters (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 person category
Environmental costs
Environmental capital investment	$ 24.6	$ 68.8
Peru
Environmental costs
Environmental capital investment		12.9
Environmental capital investment	(4.0)
Mexico
Environmental costs
Environmental capital investment	$ 28.6	$ 55.9
Number of categories of collective actions \| category			3
Minimum number of people claiming injury due to collective action initiative in Civil Federal Procedures Code (CFPC) \| person			30