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CONTINGENCIES (Tax and Other Matters) (Details) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 36 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) payment | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from Income Tax Refunds |  | $ 247 | $ 334 | $ 257 |  |  |
Income Taxes Receivable, Noncurrent |  | 129 | 261 |  | $ 129 |  |
PT-FI |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 196
Income Taxes Paid, Net |  | 355 |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total |  |  |  |  |  |  | 196
Value Added Tax Receivable |  |  |  | 269 |  |  |
PT-FI | Other Liabilities [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  |  |  |  |  |  | 38
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 38
SUNAT | Cerro Verde |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | (480) |  |  | (480) |  |
Income Taxes Receivable |  | 181 |  |  | 181 |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax Assessment |  | 200 |  |  | 200 |  |
Penalty and Interest Assessment |  | 280 |  |  | 280 |  |
Total |  | $ (480) |  |  | $ (480) |  |
SUNAT | Minimum | Cerro Verde |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Penalty and interest accrual rate, percent |  | 7.00% |  |  | 7.00% |  |
SUNAT | Maximum | Cerro Verde |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Penalty and interest accrual rate, percent |  | 18.00% |  |  | 18.00% |  |
Indonesian Tax Authority | PT-FI |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | $ (799) |  |  | $ (799) |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax Assessment |  | 631 |  |  | 631 |  |
Interest Assessment |  | 168 |  |  | 168 |  |
Total |  | (799) |  |  | (799) |  |
2002 to 2005 | SUNAT | Cerro Verde |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | (67) |  |  | (67) |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax Assessment |  | 16 |  |  | 16 |  |
Penalty and Interest Assessment |  | 51 |  |  | 51 |  |
Total |  | (67) |  |  | (67) |  |
2005 | Indonesian Tax Authority | PT-FI |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | (152) |  |  | (152) |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax Assessment |  | 103 |  |  | 103 |  |
Interest Assessment |  | 49 |  |  | 49 |  |
Total |  | (152) |  |  | (152) |  |
2006 | SUNAT | Cerro Verde |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | (56) |  |  | (56) |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax Assessment |  | 7 |  |  | 7 |  |
Penalty and Interest Assessment |  | 49 |  |  | 49 |  |
Total |  | (56) |  |  | (56) |  |
2006 | Indonesian Tax Authority | PT-FI |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | (32) |  |  | (32) |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax Assessment |  | 22 |  |  | 22 |  |
Interest Assessment |  | 10 |  |  | 10 |  |
Total |  | (32) |  |  | (32) |  |
2007 | SUNAT | Cerro Verde |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | (30) |  |  | (30) |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax Assessment |  | 12 |  |  | 12 |  |
Penalty and Interest Assessment |  | 18 |  |  | 18 |  |
Total |  | (30) |  |  | (30) |  |
2007 | Indonesian Tax Authority | PT-FI |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | (135) |  |  | (135) |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax Assessment |  | 91 |  |  | 91 |  |
Interest Assessment |  | 44 |  |  | 44 |  |
Total |  | (135) |  |  | (135) |  |
2008 | SUNAT | Cerro Verde |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | (34) |  |  | (34) |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax Assessment |  | 21 |  |  | 21 |  |
Penalty and Interest Assessment |  | 13 |  |  | 13 |  |
Total |  | (34) |  |  | (34) |  |
2008 | Indonesian Tax Authority | PT-FI |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | (114) |  |  | (114) |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax Assessment |  | 62 |  |  | 62 |  |
Interest Assessment |  | 52 |  |  | 52 |  |
Total |  | (114) |  |  | (114) |  |
2009 | SUNAT | Cerro Verde |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | (104) |  |  | (104) |  |
Income tax contingency, estimate of possible loss |  | 80 |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax Assessment |  | 56 |  |  | 56 |  |
Penalty and Interest Assessment |  | 48 |  |  | 48 |  |
Total |  | (104) |  |  | (104) |  |
2010 | SUNAT | Cerro Verde |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | (164) |  |  | (164) |  |
Income tax contingency, estimate of possible loss |  | 162 |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax Assessment |  | 66 |  |  | 66 |  |
Penalty and Interest Assessment |  | 98 |  |  | 98 |  |
Total |  | (164) |  |  | (164) |  |
tax year 2011, 2014, 2016 [Member] | SUNAT | Cerro Verde |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | (25) |  |  | (25) |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax Assessment |  | 22 |  |  | 22 |  |
Penalty and Interest Assessment |  | 3 |  |  | 3 |  |
Total |  | (25) |  |  | (25) |  |
2011 | Indonesian Tax Authority | PT-FI |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | (91) |  |  | (91) |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax Assessment |  | 78 |  |  | 78 |  |
Interest Assessment |  | 13 |  |  | 13 |  |
Total |  | (91) |  |  | (91) |  |
2012 | Indonesian Tax Authority | PT-FI |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | (123) |  |  | (123) |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax Assessment |  | 123 |  |  | 123 |  |
Interest Assessment |  | 0 |  |  | 0 |  |
Total |  | (123) |  |  | (123) |  |
2014 | PT-FI |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from Income Tax Refunds | $ 128 |  |  |  |  |  |
Disputed Tax Assessments Receivable |  |  |  |  |  | $ 152 |
Tax Overpayment |  |  |  | $ 284 |  |  |
Assessment By Foreign Government Of Alleged Obligations | $ 156 |  |  |  |  |  |
2014 | Indonesian Tax Authority | PT-FI |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | (152) |  |  | (152) |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax Assessment |  | 152 |  |  | 152 |  |
Interest Assessment |  | 0 |  |  | 0 |  |
Total |  | (152) |  |  | (152) |  |
2015 | PT-FI |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes Receivable |  | 109 |  |  | 109 |  |
Relating to Tax Periods 2006 Through 2013 | SUNAT | Cerro Verde |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Penalty and Interest Assessment |  | 544 |  |  | 544 |  |
Relating to the Period October 2006 through December 2008 | SUNAT | Cerro Verde |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority |  | $ (146) |  |  | (146) |  |
Duration of Deferred Payment under Installment Program |  | 6 months |  |  |  |  |
Number of Installment Payments under Installment Program | payment |  | 66 |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes Paid, Net |  |  |  |  | 96 |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total |  | $ (146) |  |  | (146) |  |
Relating to 2011 through 2015 | Tax Authority, In Papau, Indonesia | PT-FI |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest Assessment |  | 227 |  |  | 227 |  |
Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued |  | 376 |  |  | 376 |  |
Relating to August 2015 through December 2016 [Member] | Tax Authority, In Papau, Indonesia | PT-FI |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued |  | 93 |  |  | 93 |  |
Relating to 2011 through 2016 [Member] | Tax Authority, In Papau, Indonesia | PT-FI |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued |  | 469 |  |  | 469 |  |
PT-FI |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Tax Examination [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes Receivable, Noncurrent |  | $ 331 | $ 209 |  | $ 331 |  |

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