BUSINESS SEGMENTS INFORMATION (Product Revenue) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 5,041	$ 4,310	$ 3,711	$ 3,341	$ 4,377	$ 3,877	$ 3,334	$ 3,242	$ 16,403	$ 14,830	$ 14,607
Treatment and refining charges included in copper concentrates revenues									536	652	485
Copper in concentrate
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									5,373	4,502	2,927
Rod, and other refined copper products
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									2,272	1,963	2,481
Copper Cathode
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									4,557	3,925	4,159
Gold
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									2,032	1,512	1,540
Molybdenum
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									889	651	783
Oil
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									73	1,304	1,694
Other
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues									$ 1,207	$ 973	$ 1,023