Debt and Equity Transactions (Unaudited)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Debt and Equity Transactions [Abstract]
Debt and Equity Transactions	DEBT AND EQUITY TRANSACTIONS In February 2012, FCX sold $500 million of 1.40% Senior Notes due 2015, $500 million of 2.15% Senior Notes due 2017 and $2.0 billion of 3.55% Senior Notes due 2022 for total net proceeds of $2.97 billion. Interest on the 1.40% Senior Notes is payable semiannually on February 13 and August 13 commencing on August 13, 2012. Interest on the 2.15% Senior Notes and the 3.55% Senior Notes is payable semiannually on March 1 and September 1 commencing on September 1, 2012. The unsecured senior notes rank equally with FCX's other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. On March 14, 2012, FCX redeemed the remaining $3.0 billion of its outstanding 8.375% Senior Notes due 2017 for which holders received 104.553 percent of the principal amount together with the accrued and unpaid interest. As a result of this redemption, FCX recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $168 million ($149 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.16 per diluted share) in first-quarter 2012. During the first quarter of 2011, FCX entered into a new senior unsecured revolving credit facility, which replaced the existing revolving credit facilities that were scheduled to mature on March 19, 2012. FCX recognized a loss on early extinguishment of debt totaling $7 million ($6 million to net income attributable to FCX common shareholders or $0.01 per diluted share) in first-quarter 2011 associated with this transaction. On February 24, 2011, FCX announced its intent to redeem the remaining $1.1 billion of its outstanding 8.25% Senior Notes due 2015. On March 30, 2011, FCX transferred funds totaling $1.2 billion to a restricted cash account to pay the holders of the 8.25% Senior Notes (principal and premium amounts together with accrued and unpaid interest). On April 1, 2011, holders of these senior notes received 104.125 percent of the principal amount together with accrued and unpaid interest. As a result of this redemption, FCX recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt totaling $55 million ($49 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.05 per diluted share) in second-quarter 2011. Consolidated interest expense (excluding capitalized interest) totaled $99 million in first-quarter 2012 and $123 million in first-quarter 2011. Capitalized interest totaled $36 million in first-quarter 2012 and $25 million in first-quarter 2011. On February 7, 2012, the Board of Directors authorized an increase in the cash dividend on FCX's common stock from an annual rate of $1.00 per share to $1.25 per share. On March 28, 2012, FCX's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3125 per share, which was paid on May 1, 2012, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on April 13, 2012.

DEBT AND EQUITY TRANSACTIONS

In February 2012, FCX sold $500 million of 1.40% Senior Notes due 2015, $500 million of 2.15% Senior Notes due 2017 and $2.0 billion of 3.55% Senior Notes due 2022 for total net proceeds of $2.97 billion. Interest on the 1.40% Senior Notes is payable semiannually on February 13 and August 13 commencing on August 13, 2012. Interest on the 2.15% Senior Notes and the 3.55% Senior Notes is payable semiannually on March 1 and September 1 commencing on September 1, 2012. The unsecured senior notes rank equally with FCX's other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.

On March 14, 2012, FCX redeemed the remaining $3.0 billion of its outstanding 8.375% Senior Notes due 2017 for which holders received 104.553 percent of the principal amount together with the accrued and unpaid interest. As a result of this redemption, FCX recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $168 million ($149 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.16 per diluted share) in first-quarter 2012.

During the first quarter of 2011, FCX entered into a new senior unsecured revolving credit facility, which replaced the existing revolving credit facilities that were scheduled to mature on March 19, 2012. FCX recognized a loss on early extinguishment of debt totaling $7 million ($6 million to net income attributable to FCX common shareholders or $0.01 per diluted share) in first-quarter 2011 associated with this transaction.

On February 24, 2011, FCX announced its intent to redeem the remaining $1.1 billion of its outstanding 8.25% Senior Notes due 2015. On March 30, 2011, FCX transferred funds totaling $1.2 billion to a restricted cash account to pay the holders of the 8.25% Senior Notes (principal and premium amounts together with accrued and unpaid interest). On April 1, 2011, holders of these senior notes received 104.125 percent of the principal amount together with accrued and unpaid interest. As a result of this redemption, FCX recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt totaling $55 million ($49 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.05 per diluted share) in second-quarter 2011.

Consolidated interest expense (excluding capitalized interest) totaled $99 million in first-quarter 2012 and $123 million in first-quarter 2011. Capitalized interest totaled $36 million in first-quarter 2012 and $25 million in first-quarter 2011.

On February 7, 2012, the Board of Directors authorized an increase in the cash dividend on FCX's common stock from an annual rate of $1.00 per share to $1.25 per share. On March 28, 2012, FCX's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3125 per share, which was paid on May 1, 2012, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on April 13, 2012.