SUPPLEMENTARY MINERAL RESERVE INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) (Ore Reserves) (Details) oz in Millions, lb in Millions, T in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016 lb oz T g
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	13,723
Copper
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	104,600
Copper | Consolidated Basis [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	86,800
Copper | Net Equity Interest [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	70,500
Gold
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	37.6
Gold | Consolidated Basis [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	26.1
Gold | Net Equity Interest [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	23.7
Molybdenum
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	2,990
Molybdenum | Consolidated Basis [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	2,950
Molybdenum | Net Equity Interest [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	2,650
Morenci | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	3,274
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	0.27%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	0.00
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.00%
Morenci | Copper | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	12,800
Morenci | Gold | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	0.0
Morenci | Molybdenum | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	150
Bagdad [Member] | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	1,244
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	0.32%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	0.00
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.02%
Bagdad [Member] | Copper | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	7,400
Bagdad [Member] | Gold | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	0.1
Bagdad [Member] | Molybdenum | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	360
Safford [Member] | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	75
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	0.31%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	0.00
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.00%
Safford [Member] | Copper | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	600
Safford [Member] | Gold | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	0.0
Safford [Member] | Molybdenum | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	0
Sierrita [Member] | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	2,434
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	0.23%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	0.00
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.02%
Sierrita [Member] | Copper | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	10,400
Sierrita [Member] | Gold | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	0.1
Sierrita [Member] | Molybdenum | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	1,040
Tyrone [Member] | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	6
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	0.51%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	0.00
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.00%
Tyrone [Member] | Copper | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	200
Tyrone [Member] | Gold | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	0.0
Tyrone [Member] | Molybdenum | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	0
Chino [Member] | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	226
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	0.47%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	0.02
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.00%
Chino [Member] | Copper | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	2,100
Chino [Member] | Gold | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	0.1
Chino [Member] | Molybdenum | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	10
Miami [Member] | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	0
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	0.00%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	0.00
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.00%
Miami [Member] | Copper | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	100
Miami [Member] | Gold | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	0.0
Miami [Member] | Molybdenum | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	0
Henderson [Member] | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	77
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	0.00%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	0.00
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.17%
Henderson [Member] | Copper | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	0
Henderson [Member] | Gold | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	0.0
Henderson [Member] | Molybdenum | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	250
Climax [Member] | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	170
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	0.00%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	0.00
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.15%
Climax [Member] | Copper | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	0
Climax [Member] | Gold | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	0.0
Climax [Member] | Molybdenum | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	540
Cobre [Member] | Undeveloped [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	86
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	0.34%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	0.00
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.00%
Cobre [Member] | Copper | Undeveloped [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	400
Cobre [Member] | Gold | Undeveloped [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	0.0
Cobre [Member] | Molybdenum | Undeveloped [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	0
Cerro Verde | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	3,673
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	0.37%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	0.00
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.01%
Cerro Verde | Copper | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	26,700
Cerro Verde | Gold | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	0.0
Cerro Verde | Molybdenum | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	640
El Abra | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	431
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	0.45%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	0.00
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.00%
El Abra | Copper | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	2,800
El Abra | Gold | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	0.0
El Abra | Molybdenum | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	0
Grasberg open pit [Member] | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	56
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	1.26%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	2.11
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.00%
Grasberg open pit [Member] | Copper | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	1,700
Grasberg open pit [Member] | Gold | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	3.4
Grasberg open pit [Member] | Molybdenum | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	0
Deep Ore Zone [Member] | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	100
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	0.51%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	0.70
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.00%
Deep Ore Zone [Member] | Copper | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	1,000
Deep Ore Zone [Member] | Gold | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	1.8
Deep Ore Zone [Member] | Molybdenum | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	0
Big Gossan [Member] | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	60
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	2.19%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	0.97
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.00%
Big Gossan [Member] | Copper | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	2,600
Big Gossan [Member] | Gold | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	1.3
Big Gossan [Member] | Molybdenum | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	0
Grasberg block cave [Member] | Undeveloped [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	964
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	1.03%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	0.78
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.00%
Grasberg block cave [Member] | Copper | Undeveloped [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	18,500
Grasberg block cave [Member] | Gold | Undeveloped [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	15.7
Grasberg block cave [Member] | Molybdenum | Undeveloped [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	0
Kucing Liar [Member] | Undeveloped [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	408
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	1.26%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	1.10
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.00%
Kucing Liar [Member] | Copper | Undeveloped [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	9,700
Kucing Liar [Member] | Gold | Undeveloped [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	6.7
Kucing Liar [Member] | Molybdenum | Undeveloped [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	0
Deep Mill Level Zone [Member] | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Amount of ore reserves (in metric tons of ore) | T	439
Average ore grade of copper per metric ton	0.90%
Average ore grade of gold per metric ton (in grams per metric ton) | g	0.75
Average ore grade of molybdenum per metric ton	0.00%
Deep Mill Level Zone [Member] | Copper | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	7,600
Deep Mill Level Zone [Member] | Gold | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves | oz	8.4
Deep Mill Level Zone [Member] | Molybdenum | Productive Land [Member]
Ore, average ore grades and recoverable proven and probable reserves [Line Items]
Estimated Recoverable Proven And Probable Reserves	0