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SUPPLEMENTARY MINERAL RESERVE INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Supplementary Mineral Reserve Information [Abstract]  
Supplementary Mineral Reserve Information
 SUPPLEMENTARY MINERAL RESERVE INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
Recoverable proven and probable reserves have been calculated as of December 31, 2014, in accordance with Industry Guide 7 as required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. FCX’s proven and probable reserves may not be comparable to similar information regarding mineral reserves disclosed in accordance with the guidance in other countries. Proven and probable reserves were determined by the use of mapping, drilling, sampling, assaying and evaluation methods generally applied in the mining industry, as more fully discussed below. The term “reserve,” as used in the reserve data presented here, means that part of a mineral deposit that can be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. The term “proven reserves” means reserves for which (i) quantity is computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes; (ii) grade and/or quality are computed from the results of detailed sampling; and (iii) the sites for inspection, sampling and measurements are spaced so closely and the geologic character is sufficiently defined that size, shape, depth and mineral content of reserves are well established. The term “probable reserves” means reserves for which quantity and grade are computed from information similar to that used for proven reserves but the sites for sampling are farther apart or are otherwise less adequately spaced. The degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observation.

FCX’s reserve estimates are based on the latest available geological and geotechnical studies. FCX conducts ongoing studies of its ore bodies to optimize economic values and to manage risk. FCX revises its mine plans and estimates of proven and probable mineral reserves as required in accordance with the latest available studies.

Estimated recoverable proven and probable reserves at December 31, 2014, were determined using long-term average prices of $2.00 per pound for copper (consistent with the long-term average copper price used since December 31, 2010), $1,000 per ounce for gold and $10 per pound for molybdenum. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2014, LME spot copper prices averaged $3.35 per pound, London PM gold prices averaged $1,449 per ounce and the weekly average price for molybdenum quoted by Metals Week averaged $11.50 per pound.

The recoverable proven and probable reserves presented in the table below represent the estimated metal quantities from which FCX expects to be paid after application of estimated metallurgical recovery rates and smelter recovery rates, where applicable. Recoverable reserves are that part of a mineral deposit that FCX estimates can be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination.
 
Recoverable Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves

 
Estimated at December 31, 2014
 
Coppera
(billion pounds)
 
Gold
(million ounces)
 
Molybdenum
(billion pounds)
North America
35.6

 
0.3

 
2.42

South America
31.8

 

 
0.69

Indonesia
29.0

 
28.2

 

Africa
7.1

 

 

Consolidatedb
103.5

 
28.5

 
3.11

 
 
 
 
 
 
Net equity interestc
82.8

 
25.9

 
2.79

a.
Consolidated recoverable copper reserves included 3.6 billion pounds in leach stockpiles and 0.9 billion pounds in mill stockpiles.
b.
Consolidated reserves represent estimated metal quantities after reduction for joint venture partner interests at the Morenci mine in North America and the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia. Excluded from the table above were FCX’s estimated recoverable proven and probable reserves of 0.85 billion pounds of cobalt at Tenke and 282.9 million ounces of silver in Indonesia, South America and North America, which were determined using long-term average prices of $10 per pound for cobalt and $15 per ounce for silver.
c.
Net equity interest reserves represent estimated consolidated metal quantities further reduced for noncontrolling interest ownership. Excluded from the table above were FCX’s estimated recoverable proven and probable reserves of 0.47 billion pounds of cobalt at Tenke and 232.4 million ounces of silver in Indonesia, South America and North America.
 
 
Recoverable Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves
 
 
Estimated at December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
Average Ore Grade
Per Metric Tona
 
Recoverable Proven and
Probable Reservesb
 
 
Orea
(million metric tons)
 
Copper (%)
 
Gold (grams)
 
Molybdenum (%)
 
Copper
(billion pounds)
 
Gold
(million ounces)
 
Molybdenum
(billion pounds)
North America
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Developed and producing:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Morenci
 
3,923

 
0.27
 

 
c 
15.1

 

 
0.17

Bagdad
 
1,334

 
0.32
 

c 
0.02
 
7.8

 
0.1

 
0.38

Safford
 
122

 
0.47
 

 
 
1.1

 

 

Sierrita
 
2,464

 
0.23
 

c 
0.02
 
10.8

 
0.1

 
1.01

Miami
 
3

 
0.58
 

 
 
0.1

 

 

Chino
 
301

 
0.39
 
0.02

 
c 
2.2

 
0.1

 
0.01

Tyrone
 
59

 
0.32
 

 
 
0.4

 

 

Henderson
 
90

 
 

 
0.17
 

 

 
0.28

Climax
 
185

 
 

 
0.16
 

 

 
0.59

Undeveloped:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cobre
 
71

 
0.37
 

 
 
0.3

 

 

South America
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Developed and producing:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cerro Verde
 
3,953

 
0.37
 

 
0.01
 
28.9

 

 
0.69

El Abra
 
444

 
0.46
 

 
 
2.9

 

 

Indonesia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Developed and producing:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grasberg open pit
 
179

 
0.96
 
1.06

 
 
3.2

 
4.9

 

Deep Ore Zone
 
146

 
0.54
 
0.69

 
 
1.5

 
2.5

 

Big Gossan
 
54

 
2.26
 
0.99

 
 
2.4

 
1.1

 

Undeveloped:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grasberg Block Cave
 
1,012

 
1.00
 
0.77

 
 
18.9

 
16.3

 

Kucing Liar
 
406

 
1.25
 
1.07

 
 
9.5

 
6.3

 

Deep Mill Level Zone
 
472

 
0.87
 
0.71

 
 
7.9

 
8.6

 

Africa
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Developed and producing:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tenke Fungurume
 
98

 
3.27
 

 
 
7.1

 

 

Total 100% basis
 
15,316

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
120.1

 
40.0

 
3.13

Consolidatedd
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
103.5

 
28.5

 
3.11

FCX’s equity sharee
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
82.8

 
25.9

 
2.79

a.
Excludes material contained in stockpiles.
b.
Includes estimated recoverable metals contained in stockpiles.
c.
Amounts not shown because of rounding.
d.
Consolidated reserves represent estimated metal quantities after reduction for joint venture partner interests at the Morenci mine in North America and the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia.
e.
Net equity interest reserves represent estimated consolidated metal quantities further reduced for noncontrolling interest ownership.