Financial Instruments (Unaudited) Unsettled Derivatives (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Paid to brokers associated with margin requirements	$ 25		$ 31
Received from customers associated with margin requirements	4		3
Embedded derivatives in provisional sales/purchases contracts [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Net accounts receivable [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset position	53	[1]	72	[1]
Embedded derivatives in provisional sales/purchases contracts [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Net accounts payable [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Liability position	(95)	[1]	(82)	[1]
Freeport McMoRan Corporation [Member] | Commodity contracts [Member] | Derivatives designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset position	4	[2],[3]	3	[2],[3]
Freeport McMoRan Corporation [Member] | Commodity contracts [Member] | Derivatives designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Accounts payable and accrued liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Liability position	(8)	[3],[4]	(13)	[3],[4]
Atlantic Copper [Member] | Forward Contracts [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset position	$ 3	[2]	$ 2	[2]

[1] Amounts recorded either as a net accounts receivable or a net accounts payable.

[2] Amounts recorded in other current assets.

[3] FCX had paid $25 million to brokers as of June 30, 2012, and $31 million as of December 31, 2011, for margin requirements (recorded in other current assets). In addition, FCX held $4 million in margin funding from customers as of June 30, 2012, and $3 million as of December 31, 2011, associated with margin requirements (recorded in accounts payable and accrued liabilities).

[4] Amounts recorded in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.