Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,852	$ 641
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	893	839
Net gain on sales of assets	(56)	(33)
Share-based Compensation	60	44
Payments for Cerro Verde royalty dispute	(21)	(21)
Net charges for environmental and asset retirement obligations, including accretion	152	87
Payments for environmental and asset retirement obligations	(110)	(59)
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Expense (Reversal of Expense), Noncash	38	70
Payment for Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits	(44)	(56)
Net (gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt	(8)	3
Deferred income taxes	61	55
Loss (gain) on disposal of discontinued operations	15	(38)
Decrease (increase) in long term mill and leach stockpiles	38	80
OilandGasContractTerminationandOtherAdjustments	0	(33)
Oil and gas contract settlement payments	0	(70)
Other, net	21	(23)
Changes in working capital and other tax payments:
Accounts receivable	309	589
Inventories	(468)	(101)
Other current assets	(20)	(2)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	114	(267)
Accrued income taxes and timing of other tax payments	(148)	124
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,678	1,829
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(884)	(706)
Intangible water rights and other, net	(86)	3
Net cash used in investing activities	(970)	(703)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt	352	606
Repayments of debt	(2,297)	(1,250)
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock	(73)	(2)
Noncontrolling interests	(241)	(39)
Stock-based awards net proceeds (payments)	5	(8)
Debt financing costs and other, net	(23)	(11)
Net cash used in financing activities	(2,277)	(704)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect	(569)	422
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents in assets held for sale	44	7
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents at beginning of year	4,106	4,832
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents at end of period	3,859
North America Copper Mines Segment [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(232)	(67)
South America Mines Segment [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(138)	(45)
Grasberg Segment [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(449)	(457)
Molybdenum [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(2)	(2)
Other Segments [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	$ (63)	$ (135)