Debt and Equity Transactions (Unaudited)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 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, which commenced 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, which commenced on September 1, 2012. These 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) for the first nine months of 2012. During the first quarter of 2011, FCX entered into a new senior unsecured revolving credit facility, which replaced the 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) for the first nine months of 2011 associated with this transaction. On April 1, 2011, FCX redeemed its remaining $1.1 billion of outstanding 8.25% Senior Notes due 2015, for which holders 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) for the first nine months of 2011. During the second quarter of 2011, FCX purchased in the open market $35 million of its 9.5% Senior Notes due 2031 for $49 million, which resulted in losses on early extinguishment of debt totaling $6 million ($5 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.01 per diluted share) for the first nine months of 2011. Consolidated interest expense (excluding capitalized interest) totaled $56 million in third-quarter 2012, $105 million in third-quarter 2011, $210 million for the first nine months of 2012 and $325 million for the first nine months of 2011. Capitalized interest totaled $14 million in third-quarter 2012, $27 million in third-quarter 2011, $62 million for the first nine months of 2012 and $75 million for the first nine months of 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 September 26, 2012, FCX's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3125 per share, which was paid on November 1, 2012, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on October 15, 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, which commenced 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, which commenced on September 1, 2012. These 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) for the first nine months of 2012.

During the first quarter of 2011, FCX entered into a new senior unsecured revolving credit facility, which replaced the 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) for the first nine months of 2011 associated with this transaction.

On April 1, 2011, FCX redeemed its remaining $1.1 billion of outstanding 8.25% Senior Notes due 2015, for which holders 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) for the first nine months of 2011.

During the second quarter of 2011, FCX purchased in the open market $35 million of its 9.5% Senior Notes due 2031 for $49 million, which resulted in losses on early extinguishment of debt totaling $6 million ($5 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.01 per diluted share) for the first nine months of 2011.

Consolidated interest expense (excluding capitalized interest) totaled $56 million in third-quarter 2012, $105 million in third-quarter 2011, $210 million for the first nine months of 2012 and $325 million for the first nine months of 2011. Capitalized interest totaled $14 million in third-quarter 2012, $27 million in third-quarter 2011, $62 million for the first nine months of 2012 and $75 million for the first nine months of 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 September 26, 2012, FCX's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3125 per share, which was paid on November 1, 2012, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on October 15, 2012.