Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income	$ 817	$ 306
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	451	389
Net gain on sales of assets	(11)	(23)
Share-based Compensation	49	34
Payments for Cerro Verde royalty dispute	10	11
Net charges for environmental and asset retirement obligations, including accretion	53	71
Payments for environmental and asset retirement obligations	38	33
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Expense (Reversal of Expense), Noncash	18	33
Payment for Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits	(24)	(30)
Deferred income taxes	22	20
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations	(11)	32
Decrease (increase) in long term mill and leach stockpiles	22	8
Oil and gas contract settlement payments	0	70
Other, net	30	(59)
Changes in working capital and other tax payments:
Accounts receivable	136	623
Inventories	(142)	(135)
Other current assets	(42)	(13)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(96)	(433)
Accrued income taxes and timing of other tax payments	123	147
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,369	792
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	402	344
Intangible water rights and other, net	(90)	(17)
Net cash used in investing activities	(492)	(361)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt	122	157
Repayments of debt	(1,633)	(815)
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock	0	(1)
Noncontrolling interests	(80)	(15)
Stock-based awards net proceeds (payments)	3	(5)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,588)	(679)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect	(711)	(248)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents in assets held for sale	32	8
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents at beginning of year	3,952	4,163
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents at end of period	3,702
North America Copper Mines Segment [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	92	28
South America Mines Segment [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	67	15
Grasberg Segment [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	203	244
Molybdenum [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	1	1
Other Segments [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	$ 39	$ 56