SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                               Washington, D.C.  20549


                                      FORM 8-K

                                   CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                           Securities Exchange Act of 1934

    Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  September 4, 1997


                                Freeport-McMoRan Inc.


       Delaware                  1-8124                 13-3051048

  (State or other             (Commission              (IRS Employer   
   jurisdiction of             File Number)             Identification
   incorporation or                                     Number)
   organization)


                                 1615 Poydras Street
                            New Orleans, Louisiana  70112

  Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (504) 582-4000




          Item 5.  Other Events.


          New Orleans,  LA.,  September  4, 1997  --  Freeport-McMoRan  Inc.
          (NYSE:FTX) announced today  that it has  called for redemption  on
          October 3,  1997  all of  the  outstanding  shares of  its  $4.375
          Convertible Exchangeable Preferred  Stock (the Preferred  Stock). 
          FTX will pay $52.1875 per  share of Preferred Stock,  plus $0.3846
          per share representing the amount of accrued  and unpaid dividends
          to the redemption date, for a total payment of  $52.5721 per share
          of Preferred Stock.

               As an  alternative to  redemption and  at the  option of  the
          holder, the Preferred  Stock is convertible  until 5:00 p.m.  (New
          York time) on October 3, 1997 into shares of FTX common stock at a
          conversion rate  equal  to approximately  1.827485  shares of  FTX
          common stock  per  share  of Preferred  Stock.    In lieu  of  any
          fractional share issuance,  an equivalent amount  will be paid  in
          cash by FTX.

               As long as the market price of FTX common stock remains above
          $28.77 per share, holders of the Preferred Stock will receive more
          value upon conversion  of the Preferred  Stock into shares  of FTX
          common stock than they  would otherwise receive upon  redemption. 
          On September 3,  1997 the  closing price  of FTX  common stock  as
          reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape was $35.625
          per share.  If all of the outstanding Preferred Stock is converted
          into FTX  common  shares an  additional  1.83 million  FTX  common
          shares will be issued.  FTX common shares outstanding  on June 30,
          1997 totaled approximately 23.34 million shares.

               Freeport-McMoRan Inc.  owns  a  51.6% interest  in  Freeport-
          McMoRan Resource Partners, which is engaged in  the production and
          sale of phosphate fertilizer  and animal feed ingredients  as well
          as the  mining  and  sale  of phosphate  rock  through  IMC-Agrico
          Company, the mining,  transporting, terminalling and  marketing of
          sulphur, and the  exploration, development  and production of  oil
          and gas reserves.





                                      SIGNATURE



                    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
          Act of 1934,  the registrant has  duly caused this  report to  be
          signed  on  its  behalf   by  the  undersigned,  thereunto   duly
          authorized.

                                        Freeport-McMoRan Inc.


                                        By:   /s/ C. Donald Whitmire
                                             ------------------------------
                                                  C. Donald Whitmire
                                          Controller - Financial Reporting
                                              (authorized signatory and
                                             Principal Accounting Officer)




          Date:  September  4, 1997