Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests - Ownership (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
Gain from derecognization of assets, liabilities, and non-controlling interest	$ 76	$ 76
Minera Yanacocha S.R.L.
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
Ownership/Economic interest in subsidiaries	51.35%	51.35%
Minera Yanacocha S.R.L. \| Compania de Minas Buenaventura SAA
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners	43.65%	43.65%
Minera Yanacocha S.R.L. \| International Finance Corporation
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners	5.00%	5.00%
PTNNT - Batu Hijau \| Primary Beneficiary
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
Ownership/Economic interest in subsidiaries	48.50%	48.50%
TMAC
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
Ownership interest in subsidiary before subsidiary's IPO (as a percent)	36.96%
Ownership interest in subsidiary after subsidiary's IPO (as a percent)	29.38%
Ownership/Economic interest in subsidiaries	29.38%	29.38%
TMAC \| Other income, net'
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
Gain from derecognization of assets, liabilities, and non-controlling interest	$ 76

The amount of the gain (loss) recognized by the parent and included in its attributable portion of net income for the period due to deconsolidation of a subsidiary or derecognition of a group of assets. The gain (loss) recognized and included in the net income attributable to the parent for the period is generally computed as the difference between: (a) the aggregate of: (1) the fair value of any consideration received; (2) the fair value of any retained noncontrolling investment in the former subsidiary at the date the subsidiary was deconsolidated; and (3) the carrying amount of any noncontrolling interest in the former subsidiary (including any accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest) at the date the subsidiary was deconsolidated and (b) the carrying amount of the former subsidiary's assets and liabilities.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1B

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18733093&loc=SL4582445-111684

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