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v2.4.1.9

INCOME TAXES (Reserve for Unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Decreases: |  |
Amount of unrecognized tax benefit that could impact provision for income taxes | $ 97 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate |
Amount of unrecognized tax benefit that could impact provision for income taxes, net of tax benefits | 55 fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRateNetOfTaxBenefits |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Member] |  |
Reserve for unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties, type [Line Items] |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest and Penalties, Beginning Balance | 110 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember | 138 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember
Additions: |  |
Prior year tax positions | 4 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember | 18 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember
Current year tax positions | 11 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember | 14 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember
Acquisition of PXP |  | 5 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromAcquisition / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember
Interest and penalties | 0 fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromInterestAndPenalties / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember | 0 fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromInterestAndPenalties / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember
Decreases: |  |
Prior year tax positions | (12)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember | (37)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember
Current year tax positions | 0 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember | 0 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember
Settlements with tax authorities | (9)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember | 0 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember
Lapse of statute of limitations | 0 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember | (28)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember
Interest and penalties | 0 fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromInterestAndPenalties / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember | 0 fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromInterestAndPenalties / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest and Penalties, Ending Balance | 104 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember | 110 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsMember
Interest [Member] |  |
Reserve for unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties, type [Line Items] |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest and Penalties, Beginning Balance | 21 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_InterestMember | 31 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_InterestMember
Additions: |  |
Interest and penalties | 1 fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromInterestAndPenalties / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_InterestMember | 7 fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromInterestAndPenalties / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_InterestMember
Decreases: |  |
Interest and penalties | (7)fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromInterestAndPenalties / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_InterestMember | (17)fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromInterestAndPenalties / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_InterestMember
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest and Penalties, Ending Balance | 15 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_InterestMember | 21 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_InterestMember
Penalties [Member] |  |
Reserve for unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties, type [Line Items] |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest and Penalties, Beginning Balance | 0 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_PenaltiesMember | 0 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_PenaltiesMember
Additions: |  |
Interest and penalties | 0 fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromInterestAndPenalties / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_PenaltiesMember | 0 fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromInterestAndPenalties / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_PenaltiesMember
Decreases: |  |
Interest and penalties | 0 fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromInterestAndPenalties / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_PenaltiesMember | 0 fcx_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromInterestAndPenalties / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_PenaltiesMember
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest and Penalties, Ending Balance | $ 0 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_PenaltiesMember | $ 0 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits / fcx_IncomeTaxContingencyByTypeAxis = fcx_PenaltiesMember

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- Definition Amount of unrecognized tax benefits pertaining to uncertain tax positions taken in tax returns. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Unrecognized Tax Benefit -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6527854 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
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