-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MqKgGO/7KKDaNDgSteVT2bfynOVdHwwEHn+G6EcAZ+T2BAShNHq8d5iAjcv2pgJ0
 ryacZsjCWpvnX5+IQlaIOQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-05-006984.txt : 20050204
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-05-006984.hdr.sgml : 20050204
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050204161929
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-05-006984
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050202
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050204
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050204

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SNIDER TIMOTHY R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001192048

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00082
		FILM NUMBER:		05577433

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		511 ARROYO SQ
		CITY:			SOUTH PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91030

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bpx70159_bpx23ts4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-02</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000078066</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PHELPS DODGE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192048</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SNIDER TIMOTHY R</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON SHARES</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2892</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>95.8050</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>65585</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">SHARES WITHHELD TO PAY STATE AND FEDERAL TAXES UPON VESTING OF AN AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK ON FEBRUARY 2, 2000 PURSUANT TO THE PHELPS DODGE 1998 STOCK OPTION AND RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/ s / S. David Colton, Attorney-in-fact for Timothy R. Snider</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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