8-K

                            	UNITED STATES
                 	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) June 23, 2000


                 	Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.
       	(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


	     Delaware		                 1-9916	     		         74-2480931
	(State of incorporation)	 (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
                                                    Identification No.)



          1615 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana        70112
          	(Address of principal executive offices)				    (Zip Code)



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


                                   	N/A
        	(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Item 5.	Other Events.

	On June 23, 2000, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. issued the press
release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.

Item 7.	Financial Statements and Exhibits

	(c)	Exhibits.

	99.	Press release, dated June 23, 2000, issued by Freeport-McMoRan Copper
& Gold Inc.


                                 	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 COPPER & GOLD INC.



						By:/s/ Christopher D. Sammons
         ---------------------------
   							Christopher D. Sammons
			   				Vice President




Date: June 26, 2000

EX-99

                                                    Exhibit 99


                         	NYSE Common Stock Symbols:
                         	Class A shares - FCX.A     Class B shares - FCX


Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.	   Financial Contacts:
P.O. Box 61119	                        Chris D. Sammons	 Paul A Connolly
New Orleans, Louisiana  70161 	        (504) 582-4474	   (504) 582-4204

                                       Media Contact:
                                       Garland Robinette
                                       (504) 582-1627


                   FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.  ANNOUNCES
                        20 MILLION ADDITIONAL SHARES FOR ITS
                            COMMON STOCK PURCHASE PROGRAM

            NEW ORLEANS, LA., June 23, 2000 -- Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold
       Inc. (NYSE: FCX) announced today that its Board of Directors has
       authorized an additional 20 million shares, in total, of its FCX Class
       A and Class B common stock, for its open market share purchase program,
       bringing the total shares authorized under the program to 80 million.
       The 20 million shares recently authorized represent approximately 13
       percent of the 154.4 million common shares currently outstanding.  The
       purchases will occur over time depending upon many factors, including
       the market price of the common shares; the company's operating results,
       cash flow and financial position; and general economic and market
       conditions.

            Since its Board of Directors initially authorized its open market
       share purchase program in 1995, FCX has purchased 60.2 million shares
       of its Class A and Class B common stock for a total of $1.15 billion,
       approximately $19.13 per share, including 5.6 million shares purchased
       since March 31, 2000 for $54.5 million, approximately $9.69 per share.
       The purchases since 1995 represent a 28 percent reduction in the 214.5
       million common shares available for purchase during the period.  As of
       June 22, 2000, FCX had outstanding 60.0 million shares of Class A
       common stock and 94.4 million shares of Class B common stock.

            FCX is engaged in mineral exploration and development, mining and
       milling of copper, gold and silver in Indonesia, and the smelting and
       refining of copper concentrates in Spain and Indonesia.  A copy of this
       press release and additional information about FCX are available on our
       web site at www.fcx.com.