Financial Instruments (Unaudited) Unsettled Derivatives (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset		$ 48	$ 14
Derivative Liability		15	86
Paid to brokers associated with margin requirements		3	10
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset		48	9
Derivative Liability		8	51
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset		0	5
Derivative Liability		7	35
Commodity Contract [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset position		55	20
Liability position		22	92
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Liability		7	6
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Asset		7	6
Derivative Asset		48	14
Derivative Liability		15	86
Commodity Contract [Member] | Copper Derivatives [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset position		6	1
Liability position		4	11
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Liability		4	1
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Asset		4	1
Derivative Asset		2	0
Derivative Liability		0	10
Commodity Contract [Member] | Copper futures and swap contracts [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset position	[1]	4	1
Liability position	[1]	3	11
Commodity Contract [Member] | Copper forward contracts [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset position		2	0
Liability position		1	0
Commodity Contract [Member] | Embedded derivatives in provisional sales/purchases contracts [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset position		49	19
Liability position		18	81
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Liability		3	5
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Asset		3	5
Derivative Asset		46	14
Derivative Liability		$ 15	$ 76

[1] FCX paid $3 million to brokers at June 30, 2016, and $10 million at December 31, 2015, for margin requirements (recorded in other current assets).