Financial Instruments (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010
Fair Value Hedging [Member] | FMC's copper futures and swap contracts [Member] | Amounts recorded in Sales [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative financial instruments	$ 5		$ (20)		$ (10)		$ (18)
Hedged item	(5)		20		10		18
Realized gains (losses) from matured derivative financial instruments that qualified for hedge accounting	(6)		(9)		6		1
FMC's copper futures and swap contracts [Member] | Amounts recorded in Sales [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, gain (loss), net	0	[1]	(1)	[1]	0	[1]	(1)	[1]
Atlantic Copper's copper forward commodity contracts [Member] | Amounts recorded in Cost of Sales [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, gain (loss), net	(6)	[2]	1	[2]	(6)	[2]	2	[2]
Embedded derivatives in provisional sales contracts [Member] | Amounts recorded in Sales [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, gain (loss), net	26	[1]	(330)	[1]	(18)	[1]	(199)	[1]
Embedded derivatives in provisional purchase contracts - Copper [Member] | Amounts recorded in Cost of Sales [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, gain (loss), net	$ 0	[2]	$ 1	[2]	$ 0	[2]	$ (1)	[2]

[1] Amounts recorded in revenues.

[2] Amounts recorded in cost of sales as production and delivery costs.