Debt and Equity Transactions (Unaudited)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Debt and Equity Transactions [Abstract]
Debt and Equity Transactions	DEBT AND EQUITY TRANSACTIONS On April 1, 2011, FCX redeemed its remaining $1.1 billion of outstanding 8.25% Senior Notes due 2015, for which holders received 104.125 percent of the principal amount together with accrued and unpaid interest. As a result of this redemption, FCX recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt totaling $55 million ($49 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.05 per diluted share) for the first nine months of 2011. During the second quarter of 2011, FCX purchased in the open market $35 million of its 9.5% Senior Notes due 2031 for $49 million, which resulted in losses on early extinguishment of debt totaling $6 million ($5 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.01 per diluted share) for the first nine months of 2011. FCX entered into a new senior unsecured revolving credit facility on March 30, 2011, which replaced the existing revolving credit facilities that were scheduled to mature on March 19, 2012. FCX recognized a loss on early extinguishment of debt totaling $7 million ($6 million to net income attributable to FCX common shareholders or $0.01 per diluted share) for the first nine months of 2011 associated with this transaction. The new revolving credit facility is available until March 30, 2016, in an aggregate principal amount of $1.5 billion, with $500 million available to PT Freeport Indonesia. At September 30, 2011, FCX had no borrowings and $44 million of letters of credit issued under the revolving credit facility, resulting in availability of approximately $1.5 billion. Interest on the revolving credit facility is generally based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 2 percent, subject to an increase or decrease in the interest rate margin based on the credit ratings assigned to FCX’s senior unsecured debt by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services and Moody’s Investors Service. The obligations of FCX and PT Freeport Indonesia under the revolving credit facility are not guaranteed by any subsidiaries and are unsecured; however, FCX may at any time designate any subsidiary (other than PT Freeport Indonesia) as a subsidiary guarantor. The revolving credit facility and FCX’s senior notes contain certain restrictive covenants that vary among the instruments, but include limitations on the incurrence of debt, liens and certain asset sales. During the first nine months of 2010, FCX purchased in the open market $218 million of its 8.25% Senior Notes for $237 million and $329 million of its 8.375% Senior Notes for $358 million, which resulted in losses on early extinguishment of debt totaling $55 million ($48 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.05 per diluted share). On April 1, 2010, FCX redeemed all of its $1 billion of outstanding Senior Floating Rates Notes due 2015, for which holders received 101 percent of the principal amount together with accrued and unpaid interest. As a result of this redemption, FCX recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt totaling $22 million ($19 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.02 per diluted share) for the first nine months of 2010. Consolidated interest expense (excluding capitalized interest) totaled $105 million in third-quarter 2011, $126 million in third-quarter 2010, $325 million for the first nine months of 2011 and $409 million for the first nine months of 2010. Capitalized interest totaled $27 million in third-quarter 2011, $23 million in third-quarter 2010, $75 million for the first nine months of 2011 and $39 million for the first nine months of 2010. On September 29, 2011, FCX's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, which was paid on November 1, 2011, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on October 15, 2011. On May 1, 2010, the outstanding shares of FCX’s 6¾% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock were automatically converted into shares of FCX common stock (refer to Note 11 in FCX’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion). Total comprehensive income attributable to FCX common stockholders totaled $1.1 billion in third-quarter 2011, $1.2 billion in third-quarter 2010, $3.9 billion for the first nine months of 2011 and $2.8 billion for the first nine months of 2010.

DEBT AND EQUITY TRANSACTIONS

On April 1, 2011, FCX redeemed its remaining $1.1 billion of outstanding 8.25% Senior Notes due 2015, for which holders received 104.125 percent of the principal amount together with accrued and unpaid interest. As a result of this redemption, FCX recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt totaling $55 million ($49 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.05 per diluted share) for the first nine months of 2011.

During the second quarter of 2011, FCX purchased in the open market $35 million of its 9.5% Senior Notes due 2031 for $49 million, which resulted in losses on early extinguishment of debt totaling $6 million ($5 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.01 per diluted share) for the first nine months of 2011.

FCX entered into a new senior unsecured revolving credit facility on March 30, 2011, which replaced the existing revolving credit facilities that were scheduled to mature on March 19, 2012. FCX recognized a loss on early extinguishment of debt totaling $7 million ($6 million to net income attributable to FCX common shareholders or $0.01 per diluted share) for the first nine months of 2011 associated with this transaction. The new revolving credit facility is available until March 30, 2016, in an aggregate principal amount of $1.5 billion, with $500 million available to PT Freeport Indonesia. At September 30, 2011, FCX had no borrowings and $44 million of letters of credit issued under the revolving credit facility, resulting in availability of approximately $1.5 billion.

Interest on the revolving credit facility is generally based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 2 percent, subject to an increase or decrease in the interest rate margin based on the credit ratings assigned to FCX’s senior unsecured debt by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services and Moody’s Investors Service.

The obligations of FCX and PT Freeport Indonesia under the revolving credit facility are not guaranteed by any subsidiaries and are unsecured; however, FCX may at any time designate any subsidiary (other than PT Freeport Indonesia) as a subsidiary guarantor. The revolving credit facility and FCX’s senior notes contain certain restrictive covenants that vary among the instruments, but include limitations on the incurrence of debt, liens and certain asset sales.

During the first nine months of 2010, FCX purchased in the open market $218 million of its 8.25% Senior Notes for $237 million and $329 million of its 8.375% Senior Notes for $358 million, which resulted in losses on early extinguishment of debt totaling $55 million ($48 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.05 per diluted share).

On April 1, 2010, FCX redeemed all of its $1 billion of outstanding Senior Floating Rates Notes due 2015, for which holders received 101 percent of the principal amount together with accrued and unpaid interest. As a result of this redemption, FCX recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt totaling $22 million ($19 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.02 per diluted share) for the first nine months of 2010.

Consolidated interest expense (excluding capitalized interest) totaled $105 million in third-quarter 2011, $126 million in third-quarter 2010, $325 million for the first nine months of 2011 and $409 million for the first nine months of 2010. Capitalized interest totaled $27 million in third-quarter 2011, $23 million in third-quarter 2010, $75 million for the first nine months of 2011 and $39 million for the first nine months of 2010.

On September 29, 2011, FCX's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, which was paid on November 1, 2011, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on October 15, 2011.

On May 1, 2010, the outstanding shares of FCX’s 6¾% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock were automatically converted into shares of FCX common stock (refer to Note 11 in FCX’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion).

Total comprehensive income attributable to FCX common stockholders totaled $1.1 billion in third-quarter 2011, $1.2 billion in third-quarter 2010, $3.9 billion for the first nine months of 2011 and $2.8 billion for the first nine months of 2010.