STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Stock Award Plans) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011
Award Detail [Line Items]
Expiration period of stock options and SARs	10 years
Annual vesting percentage of stock options and SARs (in hundredths)	25.00%
Minimum Five Year Return Required For Restricted Stock Units To Vest Over Three Years	6.00%
Percent Reduction In Restrcited Stock Units If Performance Is Below Level Defined In Agreement	20.00%
2003 stock incentive plan [Member]
Award Detail [Line Items]
Number of common shares available for issuance under each of the stock award plans	16,000,000
2006 stock incentive plan [Member]
Award Detail [Line Items]
Number of common shares available for issuance under each of the stock award plans	74,000,000
Shares available for grant under the plan	37,200,000
Phelps dodge acquisition [Member]
Award Detail [Line Items]
Number of stock options under the stock plan of an entity acquired through a business combination converted into the entities common shares	1,613,190
Number of restricted stock awards under the stock award plan of an entity acquired through a business combination converted into the entities restricted stock awards	174,782
Maximum term of the stock options acquired in a business combination	10 years
Number of stock options vested upon close of the business combination (in shares)	1,344,268
Number of stock options vesting ratably over a period of time following the close of the business combination (in shares)	268,922
Vesting period for options acquired through a business combination (in years)	three
Vesting period of restricted stock units acquired through a business combination (in years)	five
Percentage of shares vesting on third and fourth anniversaries (in hundredths)	25.00%
Percentage of shares vesting on fifth anniversary (in hundredths)	50.00%
Executive Officers Performance Based [Member]
Award Detail [Line Items]
Maximum period over which restricted stock units vest (in years)	3
Outside Directors [Member]
Award Detail [Line Items]
Minimum period over which restricted stock units vest (in years)	retirement
Maximum period over which restricted stock units vest (in years)	4
Maximum [Member] | 2003 stock incentive plan [Member]
Award Detail [Line Items]
Shares available for grant under the plan	500