Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$ 2	$ 1,852
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	699	893
Metals inventory adjustments	59	2
Net gain on sales of assets	(25)	(56)
Stock-based compensation	40	60
Net charges for environmental and asset retirement obligations, including accretion	109	152
Payments for environmental and asset retirement obligations	(100)	(110)
Net charges for defined pension and postretirement plans	53	38
Pension plan contributions	(33)	(44)
Net loss (gain) on early extinguishment of debt	6	(8)
Deferred income taxes	20	61
(Income) loss on disposal of discontinued operations	(1)	15
(Increase) decrease in long-term mill and leach stockpiles	(33)	38
Other, net	41	15
Changes in working capital and other tax payments:
Accounts receivable	256	309
Inventories	287	(468)
Other current assets	(26)	(20)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	9	114
Accrued income taxes and timing of other tax payments	(245)	(148)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,088	2,678
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,251)	(884)
Proceeds from Sale of Other Assets, Investing Activities	91	0
Intangible water rights and other, net	(7)	(86)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,167)	(970)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt	328	352
Repayments of debt	(1,563)	(2,297)
Cash dividends and distributions paid:
Common stock	(146)	(73)
Noncontrolling interests	(79)	(241)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	100	0
Stock-based awards net (payments) proceeds	(6)	5
Debt financing costs and other, net	(4)	(23)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,370)	(2,277)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect	(1,449)	(569)
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	3,006	4,141
North America Copper Mines Segment [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(417)	(232)
South America Mines Segment [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(108)	(138)
Grasberg Segment [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(658)	(449)
Molybdenum [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(6)	(2)
Other Segments [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(62)	(63)
Surface Water Taxes, Papua, Indonesia
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Cerro Verde royalty dispute	28	0
Cerro Verde Royalty Dispute
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Cerro Verde royalty dispute	28	4
Payments for Cerro Verde royalty dispute	$ (86)	$ (21)