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CONTINGENCIES (Asset Retirement Obligations) (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | $ 2,328,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation |  | $ 1,146,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation |  | $ 921,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation |
Liabilities assumed in the acquisitions of PXP and MMR | 0 fcx_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesAssumed | [1] | 1,028,000,000 fcx_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesAssumed | [1] | 0 fcx_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesAssumed | [1]
Liabilities incurred | 430,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred | [2] | 45,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred |  | 6,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred |
Settlements and revisions to cash flow estimates, net | 65,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate |  | 123,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate |  | 211,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate |
Accretion expense | 117,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense |  | 95,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense |  | 55,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense |
Dispositions | (61,000,000)fcx_AssetRetirementObligationDispositions |  | 0 fcx_AssetRetirementObligationDispositions |  | 0 fcx_AssetRetirementObligationDispositions |
Spending | (99,000,000)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationCashPaidToSettle |  | (107,000,000)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationCashPaidToSettle |  | (47,000,000)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationCashPaidToSettle |
Other | (11,000,000)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationForeignCurrencyTranslation |  | (2,000,000)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationForeignCurrencyTranslation |  | 0 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationForeignCurrencyTranslation |
Balance at end of year | 2,769,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation |  | 2,328,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation |  | 1,146,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation |
Less current portion | (191,000,000)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationCurrent |  | (115,000,000)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationCurrent |  | (55,000,000)us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationCurrent |
Long-term portion | 2,578,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationsNoncurrent |  | 2,213,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationsNoncurrent |  | 1,091,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationsNoncurrent |
Fair Value Assumptions, Inflation Rate |  |  | 2.50%fcx_FairValueAssumptionsInflationRate |  |  |
Financial Assurance Obligations Associated With Closure And Reclamation Costs | 1,000,000,000 fcx_FinancialAssuranceObligationsAssociatedWithClosureAndReclamationCosts |  |  |  |  |
Financial Assurance Obligations Associated With Closure And Reclamation Costs In Form Of Parent Company Guarantees And Financial Capability Demonstrations | 636,000,000 fcx_FinancialAssuranceObligationsAssociatedWithClosureAndReclamationCostsInFormOfParentCompanyGuaranteesAndFinancialCapabilityDemonstrations |  |  |  |  |
Legally Restricted Funds For Asset Retirement Obligations |  |  | 158,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLegallyRestrictedAssetsFairValue |  |  |
Productive Oil Wells, Number of Wells, Gross | 6,500 fcx_AssetRetirementObligationsNumberofWells |  |  |  |  |
Asset Retirement Obligations, Number of Platforms | 180 fcx_AssetRetirementObligationsNumberofPlatforms |  |  |  |  |
New Mexico environmental and reclamation programs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Legally Restricted Funds For Asset Retirement Obligations | 168,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLegallyRestrictedAssetsFairValue / fcx_AssetRetirementObligationsByProgramAxis = fcx_NewMexicoEnvironmentalAndReclamationProgramsMember |  |  |  |  |
Accrued reclamation and closure costs | 450,000,000 us-gaap_MineReclamationAndClosingLiabilityNoncurrent / fcx_AssetRetirementObligationsByProgramAxis = fcx_NewMexicoEnvironmentalAndReclamationProgramsMember |  |  |  |  |
Arizona environmental and reclamation programs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued reclamation and closure costs | 285,000,000 us-gaap_MineReclamationAndClosingLiabilityNoncurrent / fcx_AssetRetirementObligationsByProgramAxis = fcx_ArizonaEnvironmentalAndReclamationProgramsMember |  |  |  |  |
Colorado Environmental And Reclamation Programs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued reclamation and closure costs | 73,000,000 us-gaap_MineReclamationAndClosingLiabilityNoncurrent / fcx_AssetRetirementObligationsByProgramAxis = fcx_ColoradoEnvironmentalAndReclamationProgramsMember |  |  |  |  |
Chile environmental and reclamation programs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued reclamation and closure costs | 67,000,000 us-gaap_MineReclamationAndClosingLiabilityNoncurrent / fcx_AssetRetirementObligationsByProgramAxis = fcx_ChileEnvironmentalAndReclamationProgramsMember |  |  |  |  |
Peru Environmental and Reclamation Programs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued reclamation and closure costs | 78,000,000 us-gaap_MineReclamationAndClosingLiabilityNoncurrent / fcx_AssetRetirementObligationsByProgramAxis = fcx_PeruEnvironmentalAndReclamationProgramsMember |  |  |  |  |
PT Freeport Indonesia environmental and reclamation programs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Liabilities incurred | 403,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred / fcx_AssetRetirementObligationsByProgramAxis = fcx_PtFreeportIndonesiaEnvironmentalAndReclamationProgramsMember |  |  |  |  |
Accrued reclamation and closure costs | 636,000,000 us-gaap_MineReclamationAndClosingLiabilityNoncurrent / fcx_AssetRetirementObligationsByProgramAxis = fcx_PtFreeportIndonesiaEnvironmentalAndReclamationProgramsMember |  |  |  |  |
Estimated years the mining activities are expected to continue (in years) | 25 years |  |  |  |  |
Current cash balance of reclamation fund | 20,000,000 fcx_CashFundHeldForReclamationOfForeignProject / fcx_AssetRetirementObligationsByProgramAxis = fcx_PtFreeportIndonesiaEnvironmentalAndReclamationProgramsMember |  |  |  |  |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate |  |  | 1.30%us-gaap_FairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember |  |  |
Minimum [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia environmental and reclamation programs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Current cash balance of reclamation fund | 100,000,000 fcx_CashFundHeldForReclamationOfForeignProject / fcx_AssetRetirementObligationsByProgramAxis = fcx_PtFreeportIndonesiaEnvironmentalAndReclamationProgramsMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember |  |  |  |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate |  |  | 6.30%us-gaap_FairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember |  |  |
Plains Exploration & Production Company [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Liabilities assumed in the acquisitions of PXP and MMR |  |  | 741,000,000 fcx_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesAssumed / dei_LegalEntityAxis = fcx_PlainsExplorationProductionCompanyMember |  |  |
McMoRan Exploration Co [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Liabilities assumed in the acquisitions of PXP and MMR |  |  | 287,000,000 fcx_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesAssumed / dei_LegalEntityAxis = fcx_McmoranExplorationCoMember |  |  |
Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term portion | $ 1,100,000,000 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationsNoncurrent / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = fcx_FreeportMcMoRanOilGasMember |  |  |  |  |
[1] | The fair value of AROs assumed in the acquisitions of PXP and MMR ($741 million and $287 million, respectively) were estimated based on projected cash flows, an estimated long-term annual inflation rate of 2.5 percent, and discount rates based on FCX's estimated credit-adjusted, risk-free interest rates ranging from 1.3 percent to 6.3 percent.
[2] | Primarily reflects revisions to the closure approach to reclaim an overburden stockpile in Indonesia.

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- Definition Financial assurance obligations associated with the closure and reclamation costs that are in the form of parent obligations and financial capability demonstrations. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Asset Retirement Obligation -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505190 + Details
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- Definition Current portion of the carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 + Details
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- Definition Noncurrent portion of the carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 + Details
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- Definition Amount of a reclamation and mine closing liability that is associated with a legal obligation for the closure and reclamation of a mine including the removal of buildings, equipment, machinery and other physical remnants of mining, closure of tailings impoundments, leach pads and other mine features, and contouring, covering and revegetation of waste rock piles and other disturbed areas. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.Y.Q2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011672&loc=d3e149879-122751 + Details
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