-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000906280-04-000181.txt : 20040506
<SEC-HEADER>0000906280-04-000181.hdr.sgml : 20040506
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040506170032
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000906280-04-000181
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040505
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040506

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHNSTON J BENNETT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194922

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11307-01
		FILM NUMBER:		04785811

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		JOHNSTON & ASSOCIATES
		STREET 2:		2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW STE 1000
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20006

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>f4100092040506_165901070.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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    <periodOfReport>2004-05-05</periodOfReport>

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    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000831259</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FREEPORT MCMORAN COPPER &amp; GOLD INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FCX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194922</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOHNSTON J BENNETT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1455 PENNSYLVANIA AVE., N.W.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20004</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
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    </reportingOwner>

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            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>43200</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.195</value>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-08-01</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-08-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <value>2008-08-01</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-05</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <value></value>
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                    <value>2500</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <value>2012-08-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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                    <value></value>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options with rights to &quot;Option Cancellation Gain&quot; payments.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">25% exercisable on the date indicated and 25% exercisable on each of the next three anniversaries thereof.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Margaret F. Murphy on behalf of J. Bennett Johnston, pursuant to power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----