<!doctype html public "-//IETF//DTD HTML//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</TITLE>
<META NAME="author" CONTENT="Freeport-McMoRan">
<META NAME="date" CONTENT="02/03/2004">
</HEAD>
<BODY style="line-height:12pt; font-size:10pt; color:#000000">
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>Washington, D.C. &nbsp;20549</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>FORM 8-K</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>CURRENT REPORT</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>Securities Exchange Act of 1934</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): &nbsp;February 3, 2004</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER &amp; GOLD INC.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center><BR></P>
<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>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<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>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:144pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:216pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>(Commission</P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:288pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:324pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(IRS Employer </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;jurisdiction of</P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:144pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:216pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;File Number) </P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:288pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>
<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>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; text-indent:288pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:324pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Number)</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:36pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;organization)</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<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>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>Registrant's telephone number, including area code: &nbsp;(504) 582-4000</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Courier; font-size:12pt"><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Courier" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:72pt; text-indent:-72pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>Item 5. &nbsp;<U>Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.</U></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial"><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial">Freeport-McMoRan Copper &amp; Gold Inc. issued a press release dated February 3, 2004, announcing the private placement of $350 million of 6&#8542;% Senior Notes due 2014 and the early conversion of an additional $45.8 million of 8&#188;% Convertible Senior Notes due 2006 into FCX common stock through privately negotiated transactions (see Exhibit 99).</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial"><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial"><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:108pt; font-family:Arial"><FONT FACE="Courier New">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center>SIGNATURE</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:72pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<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>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER &amp; GOLD INC.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:216pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>By: \s\ C. Donald Whitmire, Jr. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</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;Vice President and Controller - </P>
<P style="margin:0pt; text-indent:252pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>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>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify>Date: &nbsp;February 3, 2004</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Courier; font-size:12pt"><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Courier" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Courier"><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Courier"><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<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>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=center><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial">Exhibit </P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial"><U>Number</U></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial"><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial"><BR></P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:18pt; text-indent:-18pt; font-family:Arial">
99</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:18pt; font-family:Arial">Press release dated February 3, 2004, titled &#8220;Freeport-McMoRan Copper &amp; Gold Inc. Completes Sale of $350 Million of 6&#8542;% Senior Notes Due 2014 And Additional Conversions of 8&#188;% Convertible Senior Notes due 2006.&#148;</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:36pt; text-indent:-36pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Arial" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Courier; font-size:12pt"><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Courier" align=justify><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Courier"><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Courier"><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><BR></P>
</BODY>
</HTML>
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "f2304fcx8k.htm", "secsgml_size_bytes": 10595}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FREEPORT MCMORAN COPPER & GOLD INC", "cik": "0000831259", "assigned-sic": "1000", "irs-number": "742480931", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-11307-01", "film-number": "04563856"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1615 POYDRAS ST", "city": "NEW ORLEANS", "state": "LA", "zip": "70112", "phone": "5045824000"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "FREEPORT MCMORAN COPPER COMPANY INC", "date-changed": "19910114"}}
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):  February 3, 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 5.
Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. issued a press release dated February 3, 2004, announcing the private placement of $350 million of 6⅞% Senior Notes due 2014 and the early conversion of an additional $45.8 million of 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes due 2006 into FCX common stock through privately negotiated transactions (see Exhibit 99).
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:  February 3, 2004
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.
Exhibit Index
Exhibit
Number
99
Press release dated February 3, 2004, titled "Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. Completes Sale of $350 Million of 6⅞% Senior Notes Due 2014 And Additional Conversions of 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes due 2006."