8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 15, 2013

FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-11307-01	74-2480931
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

333 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ	85004-2189
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (602) 366-8100

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On August 15, 2013, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) issued a press release announcing with great sadness the death of its co-founder and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, B. M. “Mack” Rankin. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

The Exhibit included as part of this Current Report is listed in the attached Exhibit Index.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

By: /s/ C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.

----------------------------------------

C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.

Vice President and Controller -

Financial Reporting

(authorized signatory and

Principal Accounting Officer)

Date: August 15, 2013

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

Exhibit Index

Exhibit

Number

99.1 Press Release dated August 15, 2013, titled “Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. Mourns the Passing of Co-Founder, B. M. 'Mack' Rankin.”

EX-99.1

333 North Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85004	Financial Contacts:		Media Contact:
	Kathleen L. Quirk (602) 366-8016	David P. Joint (504) 582-4203	Eric E. Kinneberg (602) 366-7994

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

Mourns the Passing of Co-Founder, B. M. “Mack” Rankin

PHOENIX, AZ, August 15, 2013 – Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (NYSE: FCX) announced today with great sadness that co-founder B.M. “Mack” Rankin, Vice Chairman and a member of its Board of Directors, died yesterday at the age of 83 after a courageous battle with cancer. Mr. Rankin co-founded McMoRan Oil & Gas Co. in 1969 with James R. Moffett and W. K. McWilliams (deceased). In 1981, McMoRan merged with Freeport Minerals Company to form one of the world’s leading natural resource companies, Freeport-McMoRan Inc., FCX’s former parent company.

“We lost a brother, a friend and a valued member of our Board of Directors,” said James R. Moffett, Chairman of the Board of FCX. “Mack has been a great partner and advisor for many years. Our Board and organization will miss him greatly and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Ashley, his son Richard and the entire Rankin family during this time.”

Mr. Rankin was highly regarded in the natural resources industry with more than 50 years of experience.

He was a member of the All American Wildcatters. He was a member of the University of Texas McCombs School of Business Hall of Fame. Mr. Rankin previously served as Chairman of the U.S. Oil and Gas Association. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Texas College of Business Administration. Mr. Rankin was also a recipient of the Texas Oil & Gas Association Distinguished Service Award in 2010. A native of Dallas, Mr. Rankin was also an active member and generous benefactor of a number of charitable organizations.

FCX is a premier U.S.-based natural resource company with an industry leading global portfolio of mineral assets, significant oil and gas resources and a growing production profile. FCX is the world’s largest publicly traded copper producer. Additional information about FCX is available on FCX's website atwww.fcx.com.

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Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold1