General Information (Unaudited)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
General Information [Abstract]
General Information	GENERAL INFORMATION The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all information and disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States (U.S.). Therefore, this information should be read in conjunction with Freeport-McMoRan Inc.’s (FCX) consolidated financial statements and notes contained in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. The information furnished herein reflects all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods reported. With the exception of the accounting for discontinued operations, assets held for sale and the remeasurement of a pension plan in second-quarter 2017, all such adjustments are, in the opinion of management, of a normal recurring nature. Operating results for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018. Assets Held for Sale. FCX continues to market and evaluate the fair value of its effective 56 percent interest in Freeport Cobalt, which includes the large-scale cobalt refinery in Kokkola, Finland, and the related sales and marketing business. During third-quarter 2018, the fair value evaluations resulted in an increase to the estimated fair value less costs to sell of $50 million (included in net gain on sales of assets in the consolidated statements of income). FCX is continuing to assess opportunities for its Kisanfu copper and cobalt exploration project, located in the Democratic of Republic of Congo, including development of the project on its own or a sale of all or a minority stake in the project. In second-quarter 2018, management concluded it no longer believes that it is probable an outright sale will occur in the near term and the related assets and liabilities should no longer be classified as held for sale. In addition, because of this conclusion, revisions to the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017, included a $90 million increase to property, plant, equipment and mine development costs, net, with an offsetting reduction in current assets held for sale, and a $27 million increase to deferred income taxes, with an offsetting reduction in current liabilities held for sale.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all information and disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States (U.S.). Therefore, this information should be read in conjunction with Freeport-McMoRan Inc.’s (FCX) consolidated financial statements and notes contained in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. The information furnished herein reflects all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods reported. With the exception of the accounting for discontinued operations, assets held for sale and the remeasurement of a pension plan in second-quarter 2017, all such adjustments are, in the opinion of management, of a normal recurring nature. Operating results for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018.

Assets Held for Sale. FCX continues to market and evaluate the fair value of its effective 56 percent interest in Freeport Cobalt, which includes the large-scale cobalt refinery in Kokkola, Finland, and the related sales and marketing business. During third-quarter 2018, the fair value evaluations resulted in an increase to the estimated fair value less costs to sell of $50 million (included in net gain on sales of assets in the consolidated statements of income).

FCX is continuing to assess opportunities for its Kisanfu copper and cobalt exploration project, located in the Democratic of Republic of Congo, including development of the project on its own or a sale of all or a minority stake in the project. In second-quarter 2018, management concluded it no longer believes that it is probable an outright sale will occur in the near term and the related assets and liabilities should no longer be classified as held for sale. In addition, because of this conclusion, revisions to the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017, included a $90 million increase to property, plant, equipment and mine development costs, net, with an offsetting reduction in current assets held for sale, and a $27 million increase to deferred income taxes, with an offsetting reduction in current liabilities held for sale.