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CONTINGENCIES (Environmental Obligations) (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies [Roll Forward]      
Balance at beginning of year $ 1,167,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies $ 1,222,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies $ 1,453,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
Accretion Expense 77,000,000us-gaap_AccretionExpense [1] 79,000,000us-gaap_AccretionExpense [1] 80,000,000us-gaap_AccretionExpense [1]
Additions 16,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesProvisionForNewLosses 73,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesProvisionForNewLosses 70,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesProvisionForNewLosses
Reductions (6,000,000)us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesIncreaseDecreaseForRevisionInEstimates [2] (77,000,000)us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesIncreaseDecreaseForRevisionInEstimates [2] (182,000,000)us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesIncreaseDecreaseForRevisionInEstimates [2]
Spending (80,000,000)us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesPayments (130,000,000)us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesPayments (199,000,000)us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesPayments
Balance at end of year 1,174,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies 1,167,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies 1,222,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
Less current portion (105,000,000)us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesCurrent (121,000,000)us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesCurrent (186,000,000)us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesCurrent
Long-term portion 1,069,000,000us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent 1,046,000,000us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent 1,036,000,000us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent
Estimated environmental cash payments (on an undiscounted and unescalated basis) [Abstract]      
2015 105,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesUndiscountedDueWithinOneYear    
2016 151,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesUndiscountedDueInSecondYear    
2017 120,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesUndiscountedDueInThirdYear    
2018 108,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesUndiscountedDueInFourthYear    
2019 79,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesUndiscountedDueInFifthYear    
Thereafter 1,800,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesUndiscountedDueAfterFifthYear    
Estimated Environmental Obligations on a Discounted Fair Value Basis 1,100,000,000fcx_EstimatedDiscountedAtFairValueEnvironmentalObligations    
Estimated Environmental Obligations on an Undiscounted and Unescalated Basis 2,400,000,000fcx_EstimatedUndiscountedAndUnescalatedEnvironmentalObligations    
Recorded environmental obligations for most significant sites 1,000,000,000fcx_RecordedEnvironmentalObligationForMostSignificantLocations    
Minimum [Member]      
Estimated environmental cash payments (on an undiscounted and unescalated basis) [Abstract]      
Estimated Environmental Obligations on an Undiscounted and Unescalated Basis 2,000,000,000fcx_EstimatedUndiscountedAndUnescalatedEnvironmentalObligations
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
   
Maximum [Member]      
Estimated environmental cash payments (on an undiscounted and unescalated basis) [Abstract]      
Estimated Environmental Obligations on an Undiscounted and Unescalated Basis $ 2,600,000,000fcx_EstimatedUndiscountedAndUnescalatedEnvironmentalObligations
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
   
[1] Represents accretion of the fair value of environmental obligations assumed in the 2007 acquisition of FMC, which were determined on a discounted cash flow basis.
[2] Reductions primarily reflect revisions for changes in the anticipated scope and timing of projects and other noncash adjustments.