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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>Washington, D.C. &nbsp;20549</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>FORM 8-K</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>CURRENT REPORT</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>Securities Exchange Act of 1934</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): &nbsp;April 20, 2004</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER &amp; GOLD INC.</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:36pt; font-family:Arial">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Delaware &nbsp;&nbsp;</P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:216pt; font-family:Arial">&nbsp;&nbsp;1-9916 </P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:288pt; font-family:Arial">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 74-2480931</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:36pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(State or other</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:216pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>(Commission</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:324pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(IRS Employer </P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:216pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;File Number) </P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:324pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Identification</P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:36pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;incorporation or</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:324pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Number)</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>1615 Poydras Street</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>New Orleans, Louisiana &nbsp;70112</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>Registrant's telephone number, including area code: &nbsp;(504) 582-4000</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial">Item 12. <U>Results of Operations and Financial Condition.</U></P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>Freeport-McMoRan Copper &amp; Gold Inc. (FCX) issued a press release dated April 20, 2004, announcing its first-quarter 2004 results (see exhibit 99.1) and presented slides (see exhibit 99.2) on its web site that accompanied its April 20, 2004, earnings conference call.</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>SIGNATURE</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:36pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER &amp; GOLD INC.</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>By: \s\ C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;----------------------------------------</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vice President and Controller - </P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Financial Reporting</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(authorized signatory and</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Principal Accounting Officer)</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>Date: &nbsp;April 20, 2004</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>Freeport-McMoRan Copper &amp; Gold Inc.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>Exhibit Index</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial">Exhibit </P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial"><U>Number</U></P>
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  <font size="2">99.1</font></P>
</TD><TD valign=top width=19.2>&nbsp;</TD><TD valign=top width=595.2><P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial">
  <font size="2">Press release dated April 20, 2004, titled &#147;Freeport-McMoRan Copper &amp; Gold Inc. Reports First-Quarter 2004 Results and Resumption of Mining in Higher-Grade Ore Areas of the Grasberg Open Pit.&#148;</font></P>
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  <font size="2">99.2</font></P>
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  <font size="2">Slides presented in conjunction with April 20, 2004, FCX first-quarter 2004 earnings conference call conducted via the internet.</font></P>
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  April 20, 2004
FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.
Delaware
1-9916
74-2480931
(State or other
(Commission
(IRS Employer
jurisdiction of
File Number)
Identification
incorporation or
Number)
organization)
1615 Poydras Street
New Orleans, Louisiana  70112
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (504) 582-4000
Item 12.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) issued a press release dated April 20, 2004, announcing its first-quarter 2004 results (see exhibit 99.1) and presented slides (see exhibit 99.2) on its web site that accompanied its April 20, 2004, earnings conference call.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.
By: \s\ C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.
----------------------------------------
C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.
Vice President and Controller -
Financial Reporting
(authorized signatory and
Principal Accounting Officer)
Date:  April 20, 2004
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.
Exhibit Index
Exhibit
Number
99.1
Press release dated April 20, 2004, titled "Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. Reports First-Quarter 2004 Results and Resumption of Mining in Higher-Grade Ore Areas of the Grasberg Open Pit."
99.2
Slides presented in conjunction with April 20, 2004, FCX first-quarter 2004 earnings conference call conducted via the internet.