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INCOME TAXES (Tax Credit Carryforward) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Tax credit carryforward [Line Items]    
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards, Foreign 2,306us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsForeign $ 2,144us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsForeign
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards, Alternative Minimum Tax 737us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsAlternativeMinimumTax 603us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsAlternativeMinimumTax
U.S. state net operating loss carryforwards [Member]    
Tax credit carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforward, amount 2,400us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= fcx_UsStateNetOperatingLossCarryforwardsMember		  
Spanish net operating loss carryforwards [Member]    
Tax credit carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforward, amount 623us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= fcx_SpanishNetOperatingLossCarryforwardMember		  
U.S. Federal Net Operating Loss Carryforwards [Member]    
Tax credit carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforward, amount 800us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= fcx_U.S.FederalNetOperatingLossCarryforwardsMember		  
Minimum [Member] | U.S. foreign tax credit carryforwards [Member]    
Tax credit carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforward, expiration dates Jan. 01, 2015  
Minimum [Member] | U.S. state net operating loss carryforwards [Member]    
Tax credit carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforward, expiration dates Jan. 01, 2015  
Minimum [Member] | Spanish net operating loss carryforwards [Member]    
Tax credit carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforward, expiration dates Jan. 01, 2015  
Minimum [Member] | U.S. Federal Net Operating Loss Carryforwards [Member]    
Tax credit carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforward, expiration dates Jan. 01, 2030  
Maximum [Member] | U.S. foreign tax credit carryforwards [Member]    
Tax credit carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforward, expiration dates Dec. 31, 2024  
Maximum [Member] | U.S. state net operating loss carryforwards [Member]    
Tax credit carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforward, expiration dates Dec. 31, 2034  
Maximum [Member] | Spanish net operating loss carryforwards [Member]    
Tax credit carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforward, expiration dates Dec. 31, 2032  
Maximum [Member] | U.S. Federal Net Operating Loss Carryforwards [Member]    
Tax credit carryforward [Line Items]    
Tax credit carryforward, expiration dates Dec. 31, 2034