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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>UNITED STATES</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</P>
<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>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The 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;October 19, 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;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)</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; line-height:11pt; font-family:Arial; font-size:9pt">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:11pt; font-family:Arial; font-size:9pt">[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:11pt; font-family:Arial; font-size:9pt">[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:11pt; font-family:Arial; font-size:9pt">[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; line-height:11pt; font-family:Arial; font-size:9pt">[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:72pt; text-indent:-72pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>Item 2.02. &nbsp;<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 October 19, 2004, announcing its third-quarter and nine-month 2004 results (see exhibit 99.1) and presented slides on its web site that accompanied its October 19, 2004, earnings conference call (see exhibit 99.2).</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial">Item 9.01 &nbsp;&nbsp;<U>Financial Statements and Exhibits.</U></P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial">(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exhibits.</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial">The Exhibits included as part of this Current Report are listed in the attached Exhibit Index. &nbsp;&nbsp;</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 hereunto 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;October 19, 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 October 19, 2004, titled &#147;Freeport-McMoRan Copper &amp; Gold Inc. Reports Third-Quarter and Nine-Month 2004 Results.&#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 October 19, 2004, FCX third-quarter 2004 earnings conference call conducted via the internet.</font></P>
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UNITED STATES
UNITED STATES
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):  October 19, 2004
FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.
Delaware
1-9916
74-2480931
(State or other
(Commission
(IRS Employer
jurisdiction of
File Number)
Identification
incorporation)
Number)
1615 Poydras Street
New Orleans, Louisiana  70112
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (504) 582-4000
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 2.02.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) issued a press release dated October 19, 2004, announcing its third-quarter and nine-month 2004 results (see exhibit 99.1) and presented slides on its web site that accompanied its October 19, 2004, earnings conference call (see exhibit 99.2).
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c)        Exhibits.
The Exhibits included as part of this Current Report are listed in the attached Exhibit Index.
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 hereunto duly authorized.
FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.
By: \s\ C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.
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C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.
Vice President and Controller -
Financial Reporting
(authorized signatory and
Principal Accounting Officer)
Date:  October 19, 2004
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.
Exhibit Index
Exhibit
Number
99.1
Press release dated October 19, 2004, titled "Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. Reports Third-Quarter and Nine-Month 2004 Results."
99.2
Slides presented in conjunction with October 19, 2004, FCX third-quarter 2004 earnings conference call conducted via the internet.