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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 7 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
May 31, 2013
Schedule of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Entity Information, Date to Change Former Legal or Registered Name       Jul. 14, 2014      
Minimum ownership percentage of subsidiary for inclusion in consolidated financial statements 50.00%fcx_MinimumOwnershipPercentageOfSubsidiaryForConsolidation     50.00%fcx_MinimumOwnershipPercentageOfSubsidiaryForConsolidation      
Percentage of ultimate copper recovery from leach stockpiles       90.00%fcx_PercentageCopperRecoveryFromLeachStockpiles      
Threshhold for Determining Accounting Treatment for Oil and Gas Dispositions       25.00%fcx_ThreshholdforDeterminingAccountingTreatmentforOilandGasDispositions      
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate       10.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate      
Impairment of oil and gas properties $ 3,400us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties $ 308us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties $ 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties $ 3,737us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties $ 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties $ 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties  
Amount of Natural Gas Sales Priced Using Industry Pricing Index, Percentage       40.00%fcx_AmountofNaturalGasSalesPricedUsingIndustryPricingIndexPercentage      
Minimum [Member]              
Schedule of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Ownership percentage for investment in unconsolidated companies accounted for using the equity method 20.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
    20.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
     
Maximum [Member]              
Schedule of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Ownership percentage for investments in unconsolidated companies carried at cost 20.00%fcx_CostMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
    20.00%fcx_CostMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
     
Percentage of copper ultimately recoverable from newly placed material on active stockpiles extracted during the first year       80.00%fcx_PercentageCopperRecoveryNewMaterial
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
     
PT Freeport Indonesia [Member]              
Schedule of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Ownership percentage of subsidiary 90.64%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= fcx_PtFreeportIndonesiaMember
    90.64%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= fcx_PtFreeportIndonesiaMember
     
Plains Exploration & Production Company [Member]              
Schedule of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition         May 31, 2013   May 31, 2013
Business Acquisition, Date Results Included in Combined Entity         Jun. 01, 2013    
McMoRan Exploration Co [Member]              
Schedule of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition         Jun. 03, 2013    
Business Acquisition, Date Results Included in Combined Entity         Jun. 04, 2013    
Oil and Gas Operations Segment [Member]              
Schedule of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Interest Costs Capitalized       88us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fcx_OilAndGasOperationsSegmentMember
69us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fcx_OilAndGasOperationsSegmentMember
   
Impairment of oil and gas properties       $ 3,737us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fcx_OilAndGasOperationsSegmentMember