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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IGvh9WzOGhjRrTt97B+FMB++fVwuh7Wj6RxX+S8KYs4gCEvOU4NkqR0saKe16sv5
 /mII8QDa5It3wQyQw3jpqA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-001092.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-001092.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105194734
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-001092
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PHELPS DODGE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000078066
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PRIMARY SMELTING & REFINING OF NONFERROUS METALS [3330]
		IRS NUMBER:				131808503
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE NORTH CENTRAL AVE
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85004-3089
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6022348100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85004-3089

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			POST WILLIAM J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001027958
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			AZ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00082
		FILM NUMBER:		04507439

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 NORTH FIFTH STREET
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85004
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6023792500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 NORTH FIFTH STREET
		STREET 2:		.
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85004
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bpx68634_bpx10wjp4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000078066</issuerCik><issuerName>PHELPS DODGE CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>PD</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001027958</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>POST WILLIAM J</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>ONE NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>PHOENIX</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>85004</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeT
ransaction><securityTitle><value>Grant of Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>648.72</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>77.075</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F1" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>648.72</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>37
73.42</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Grant of Phantom Stock Units, pursuant to the Phelps Dodge Corporation Directors' Stock Unit Plan, on the first business day of January and equal in value to the sum of $50,000.  Directors are not eligible to receive these shares until their retirement as a director from the Phelps Dodge Corporation Board of Directors.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName> / s / J. Dale Brunk, Attorney-in-fact for William J. Post</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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