Property, Net Of Accumulated Depreciation (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Interest costs capitalized as part of property, net			$ 74,000,000	$ 46,000,000	$ 20,000,000
Precious metals	2,400,000,000	2,500,000,000	2,400,000,000	2,500,000,000
Depletion expense			20,000,000	21,000,000	22,000,000
Total impairment charges	44,000,000	130,000,000	81,000,000	130,000,000	(324,000,000)
Specialty Materials [Member]
Total impairment charges		130,000,000	44,000,000	130,000,000
Corning Inc. [Member]
Total impairment charges	57,000,000
Buildings [Member]
Total impairment charges				75,000,000
Equipment [Member]
Total impairment charges			$ 44,000,000	$ 55,000,000