BUSINESS SEGMENTS INFORMATION (Product Revenue) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 4,377	$ 3,877	$ 3,334	$ 3,242	$ 3,516	$ 3,382	$ 3,938	$ 3,771	$ 14,830	$ 14,607	$ 20,001
Treatment and refining charges included in copper concentrates revenues									652	485	374
Refined copper products
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									5,888	6,699	8,187
Copper in concentrate
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									4,502	2,869	3,366
Gold
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									1,512	1,538	1,584
Molybdenum
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									651	783	1,207
Oil
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									1,304	1,694	4,233
Other
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									$ 973	$ 1,024	$ 1,424