Amount of assessment by government agencies in connection with alleged obligations.

No definition available.

Name:	fcx_AssessmentByForeignGovernmentOfAllegedObligations
Namespace Prefix:	fcx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of assessment by government agencies in connection with alleged obligations, expressed in foreign currency.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	fcx_AssessmentByForeignGovernmentofAllegedObligationsExpressedinForeignCurrency
Namespace Prefix:	fcx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Supplemental common stock cash dividend declared by an entity during the period. This element includes paid and unpaid dividends declared during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	fcx_SupplementalCommonStockDividend
Namespace Prefix:	fcx_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of paid and unpaid cash dividends declared for classes of stock, for example, but not limited to, common and preferred.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 405

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957935&loc=d3e64057-112817

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DividendsCash
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The designation of funds furnished by a borrower to a lender to assure future payments of the borrower's real estate taxes and insurance obligations with respect to a mortgaged property. Escrow deposits may be made for a variety of other purposes such as earnest money and contingent payments. This element excludes replacement reserves which are an escrow separately provided for within the US GAAP taxonomy.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EscrowDeposit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Contingencies and Commitments (Unaudited) (Details)				1 Months Ended
Contingencies and Commitments (Unaudited) (Details)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] IDR	Aug. 31, 2015 Subsequent Event [Member] USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Escrow Deposit	$ 115,000,000us-gaap_EscrowDeposit
Special Dividend, Cash				115,000,000
Special Dividend, Per Share				$ 0.11
Assessment By Foreign Government Of Alleged Obligations		177,000,000
Assessment By Foreign Government of Alleged Obligations, Expressed in Foreign Currency			2,300,000,000,000