BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Product Revenue) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Product revenue [Line Items]
Treatment and refining charges included in copper concentrates revenues									$ 362		$ 413		$ 429
Revenues	4,162	5,195	5,814	5,709	5,603	5,152	3,864	4,363	20,880	[1]	18,982	[1]	15,040	[1]
Refined Copper Products [Member]
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									10,297		9,203		6,563
Copper in concentrates [Member]
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									5,938	[2]	5,674	[2]	4,763	[2]
Gold [Member]
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									2,429		2,370		2,591
Molybdenum [Member]
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									1,348		1,143		792
Other [Member]
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									$ 868		$ 592		$ 331

[1] Revenues are attributed to countries based on the location of the customer.

[2] Amounts are net of treatment and refining charges totaling $362 million for 2011, $413 million for 2010 and $429 million for 2009.