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SUPPLEMENTARY MINERAL RESERVE INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Supplementary Mineral Reserve Information [Abstract]  
Supplementary Mineral Reserve Information
SUPPLEMENTARY MINERAL RESERVE INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
Recoverable proven and probable reserves have been calculated as of December 31, 2011, in accordance with Industry Guide 7 as required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. FCX’s proven and probable reserves may not be comparable to similar information regarding mineral reserves disclosed in accordance with the guidance in other countries. Proven and probable reserves were determined by the use of mapping, drilling, sampling, assaying and evaluation methods generally applied in the mining industry, as more fully discussed below. The term “reserve,” as used in the reserve data presented here, means that part of a mineral deposit that can be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. The term “proven reserves” means reserves for which (i) quantity is computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes; (ii) grade and/or quality are computed from the results of detailed sampling; and (iii) the sites for inspection, sampling and measurements are spaced so closely and the geologic character is sufficiently defined that size, shape, depth and mineral content of reserves are well established. The term “probable reserves” means reserves for which quantity and grade are computed from information similar to that used for proven reserves but the sites for sampling are farther apart or are otherwise less adequately spaced. The degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observation.

FCX’s reserve estimates are based on the latest available geological and geotechnical studies. FCX conducts ongoing studies of its ore bodies to optimize economic values and to manage risk. FCX revises its mine plans and estimates of proven and probable mineral reserves as required in accordance with the latest available studies.

Estimated recoverable proven and probable reserves at December 31, 2011, were determined using long-term average prices of $2.00 per pound for copper, $750 per ounce for gold, $10 per pound for molybdenum, $15 per ounce for silver and $10 per pound for cobalt, consistent with year-end 2010. For the three year period ended December 31, 2011, LME spot copper prices averaged $3.25 per pound, London PM gold prices averaged $1,245 per ounce and the weekly average price for molybdenum quoted by Metals Week averaged $14.06 per pound. The recoverable proven and probable reserves presented in the table below represent the estimated metal quantities from which FCX expects to be paid after application of estimated metallurgical recovery rates and smelter recovery rates, where applicable. Recoverable reserves are that part of a mineral deposit that FCX estimates can be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination.

 
Recoverable Proven and Probable Reserves

 
December 31, 2011
 
Coppera
(billion pounds)
 
Gold
(million ounces)
 
Molybdenum
(billion pounds)
North America
40.6

 
0.4

 
2.71

South America
39.1

 
1.3

 
0.71

Indonesia
31.6

 
32.2

 

Africa
8.4

 

 

Consolidated basisb
119.7

 
33.9

 
3.42

Net equity interestc
96.1

 
30.6

 
3.09

a.
Consolidated recoverable copper reserves include 3.1 billion pounds in leach stockpiles and 1.3 billion pounds in mill stockpiles.
b.
Consolidated basis reserves represent estimated metal quantities after reduction for joint venture partner interests at the Morenci mine in North America and the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia. Excluded from the table above are FCX’s estimated recoverable proven and probable reserves of 0.86 billion pounds of cobalt at Tenke Fungurume and 330.3 million ounces of silver in Indonesia, South America and North America.
c.
Net equity interest reserves represent estimated consolidated basis metal quantities further reduced for noncontrolling interest ownership. Excluded from the table above are FCX’s estimated recoverable proven and probable reserves of 0.49 billion pounds of cobalt at Tenke Fungurume and 272.1 million ounces of silver in Indonesia, South America and North America.
 

 
 
100% Basis
 
 
 
 
Average Ore Grade
Per Metric Ton
 
Recoverable Proven and
Probable Reservesa
 
 
Ore
(million
 
Copper
 
Gold
 
Molybdenum
 
Copper
(billion
 
Gold
(million
 
Molybdenum
(billion
Year-End
 
metric tons)
 
(%)
 
(grams)
 
(%)
 
pounds)
 
ounces)
 
pounds)
2007
 
12,224

 
0.51
 
0.20

 
0.01
 
110.4

 
54.1

 
2.04

2008
 
14,067

 
0.48
 
0.17

 
0.01
 
118.8

 
53.4

 
2.49

2009
 
13,807

 
0.49
 
0.17

 
0.01
 
120.9

 
49.8

 
2.60

2010
 
18,516

 
0.42
 
0.12

 
0.01
 
137.9

 
47.9

 
3.41

2011
 
17,739

 
0.43
 
0.12

 
0.01
 
136.7

 
46.1

 
3.43

By Area at December 31, 2011:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
North America
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Developed and producing:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Morenci
 
4,250

 
0.27
 

 
b 
15.6

 

 
0.09

Bagdad
 
1,629

 
0.30
 

b 
0.02
 
8.7

 
0.1

 
0.40

Safford
 
206

 
0.43
 

 
 
1.6

 

 

Sierrita
 
2,777

 
0.23
 

b 
0.03
 
12.1

 
0.1

 
1.24

Tyrone
 
148

 
0.29
 

 
 
0.7

 

 

Chino
 
421

 
0.42
 
0.02

 
b 
3.5

 
0.2

 
0.01

Miami
 
60

 
0.47
 

 
 
0.5

 

 

Henderson
 
121

 
 

 
0.17
 

 

 
0.40

Undeveloped:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Climax
 
187

 
 

 
0.16
 

 

 
0.58

Cobre
 
73

 
0.39
 

 
 
0.3

 

 

South America
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Developed and producing:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cerro Verde
 
3,977

 
0.39
 

 
0.01
 
30.2

 

 
0.71

El Abra
 
881

 
0.42
 

 
 
4.3

 

 

Candelaria
 
339

 
0.58
 
0.13

 
 
4.5

 
1.2

 

Ojos del Salado
 
6

 
1.00
 
0.25

 
 
0.1

 
0.1

 

Indonesia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Developed and producing:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grasberg open pit
 
312

 
0.85
 
0.91

 
 
4.9

 
7.3

 

Deep Ore Zone
 
206

 
0.57
 
0.69

 
 
2.2

 
3.5

 

Big Gossan
 
56

 
2.18
 
0.97

 
 
2.4

 
1.2

 

Undeveloped:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grasberg block cave
 
1,019

 
0.98
 
0.77

 
 
18.7

 
16.3

 

Kucing Liar
 
420

 
1.23
 
1.09

 
 
9.7

 
6.8

 

Deep Mill Level Zone
 
510

 
0.85
 
0.72

 
 
8.3

 
9.3

 

Africa
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Developed and producing:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tenke Fungurume
 
141

 
3.00
 

 
 
8.4

 

 

Total 100% basis
 
17,739

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
136.7

 
46.1

 
3.43

Consolidated basisc
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
119.7

 
33.9

 
3.42

FCX’s equity shared
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
96.1

 
30.6

 
3.09

a.
Includes estimated recoverable metals contained in stockpiles.
b.
Amounts not shown because of rounding.
c.
Consolidated basis reserves represent estimated metal quantities after reduction for joint venture partner interests at the Morenci mine in North America and the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia.
d.
Net equity interest reserves represent estimated consolidated basis metal quantities further reduced for noncontrolling interest ownership.