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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 V7g+Mij7h548TLnEpIQE92xcG8lmQRX0t8ayg/U5pl/dwboNtWQTJpRE9ZegJp65
 Y+cdgemWf0AO0kSoMA1CSQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000906280-03-000315.txt : 20030804
<SEC-HEADER>0000906280-03-000315.hdr.sgml : 20030804
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030804170507
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000906280-03-000315
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030801
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030804

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CLIFFORD R LEIGH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001200689

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11307-01
		FILM NUMBER:		03821311

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1615 POYDRAS STREET
		CITY:			NEW ORLEANS
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70112
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5045824000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FREEPORT MCMORAN COPPER & GOLD INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000831259
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	METAL MINING [1000]
		IRS NUMBER:				742480931
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1615 POYDRAS ST
		CITY:			NEW ORLEANS
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70112
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5045824000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FREEPORT MCMORAN COPPER COMPANY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19910114
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-01</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000831259</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FREEPORT MCMORAN COPPER &amp; GOLD INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FCX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200689</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CLIFFORD R LEIGH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6 ST. JAMES'S SQUARE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>SW1Y4LD</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Options (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>26.975</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-08-01</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-08-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Clas
s B Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>26.975</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6556</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposed
Code><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-08-01</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-08-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6556</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6556</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Options with rights to Option Cancellation Gain Payments</footnote><footnote id="F2">25% exercisable on the date indicated and 25% exercisable on the next three anniversaries thereof</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Margaret F
. Murphy, on behalf of R. Leigh Clifford by power of atty.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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