DISPOSITIONS AND ACQUISITIONS Assets Held for Sale (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	$ (15)	$ (33)	$ (10)	$ (23)	$ 113	$ (13)	$ (749)	$ (81)	$ (649)	$ (39)
Freeport Cobalt
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	56.00%							56.00%
Kisanfu Exploration Project
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	100.00%							100.00%
Freeport Cobalt And Kisanfu Exploration Project
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets									$ 110
Increase (Decrease) in Assets Held-for-sale								$ 13