Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Metals inventory adjustments	$ 57	$ 0
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income	76	817
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	347	451
Net gain on sales of assets	(33)	(11)
Stock-based Compensation	29	49
Net charges for environmental and asset retirement obligations, including accretion	64	53
Payments for environmental and asset retirement obligations	(46)	(38)
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Expense (Reversal of Expense), Noncash	26	18
Payment for Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits	(16)	(24)
Net loss on early extinguishment of debt	(6)	(1)
Deferred income taxes	33	22
(Gain) loss on disposal of discontinued operations	(1)	11
Increase (decrease) in long term mill and leach stockpiles	29	(22)
Other, net	48	19
Changes in working capital and other tax payments:
Accounts receivable	19	136
Inventories	221	(142)
Other current assets	42	(42)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(247)	(96)
Accrued income taxes and timing of other tax payments	(62)	123
Net cash provided by operating activities	534	1,369
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(622)	(402)
Proceeds from Sale of Other Assets, Investing Activities	84	0
Intangible water rights and other, net	(8)	(90)
Net cash used in investing activities	(546)	(492)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt	114	122
Repayments of debt	(1,356)	(1,633)
Cash dividends and distributions paid:
Common stock	(73)	0
Noncontrolling interests	(9)	(80)
Stock-based awards net (payments) proceeds	(7)	3
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,331)	(1,588)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect	(1,343)	(711)
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents at beginning of year	4,455	4,710
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents at end of period	3,112	3,999
North America Copper Mines Segment [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(210)	(92)
South America Mines Segment [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(61)	(67)
Grasberg Segment [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(319)	(203)
Molybdenum [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(4)	(1)
Other Segments [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	$ (28)	$ (39)