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    <title>
      FCX Form S-8
</title>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">As
      filed
      with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27,
      2006.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;
</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Registration
      No. 333-______</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">
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        <hr style="COLOR: black" align="left" noshade size="3" width="100%">
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>UNITED
      STATES</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>SECURITIES
      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Washington,
      D.C. 20549</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>_______________</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>FORM
      S-8</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>REGISTRATION
      STATEMENT</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>under</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>THE
      SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>_______________</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Freeport-McMoRan
      Copper &amp; Gold Inc.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><em>(Exact
      name of registrant as specified in its charter)</em></font></div>
    <div align="left">
      <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="25%" style="border-bottom: medium none;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Delaware</strong></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="32%" style="border-bottom: medium none;">&#160;</td>
            <td valign="top" width="14%" style="border-bottom: medium none;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>74-2480931</strong></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="25%" style="border-bottom: medium none;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><em>(State
                or other jurisdiction</em></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="32%" style="border-bottom: medium none;">&#160;</td>
            <td valign="top" width="14%" style="border-bottom: medium none;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><em>(I.R.S.
                Employer</em></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="25%" style="border-bottom: medium none;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><em>of
                incorporation or organization)</em></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="32%" style="border-bottom: medium none;">&#160;</td>
            <td valign="top" width="14%" style="border-bottom: medium none;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><em>Identification
                No.)</em></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>1615
      Poydras Street</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>New
      Orleans, Louisiana 70112</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><em>(Address,
      including zip code, or registrant&#8217;s</em></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><em>principal
      executive offices)</em></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Freeport-McMoRan
      Copper &amp; Gold Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><em>(Full
      title of the plan)</em></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>_______________</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Richard
      C. Adkerson</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>President
      and Chief Executive Officer</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Freeport-McMoRan
      Copper &amp; Gold Inc.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>1615
      Poydras Street</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>New
      Orleans, Louisiana 70112</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>(504)
      582-4000</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><em>(Name,
      address, including zip code, and telephone number,</em></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><em>including
      area code, of agent for service)</em></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Copy
      to:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Margaret
      F. Murphy</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Jones,
      Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carr&#232;re &amp; Den&#232;gre, L.L.P.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>201
      St. Charles Avenue</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>New
      Orleans, Louisiana 70170-5100</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>CALCULATION
      OF REGISTRATION FEE</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">
      <hr style="COLOR: black" align="left" noshade size="3" width="100%">
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

          <tr>
            <td valign="bottom" width="23%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Title
                of</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">securities
                to be registered</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="16%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Amount
                to be </font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">registered
                </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><sup>(1)</sup></font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="16%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Proposed
                maximum offering price</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">per
                unit</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="16%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Proposed
                maximum aggregate</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">offering
                price</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="16%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Amount
                of</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">registration
                fee</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="23%" style="border-bottom: black double;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: -9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Class
                B Common Stock (par value $.10 per share)</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Preferred
                Stock Purchase Rights</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="16%" style="border-bottom: black double;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 14.15pt" align="right">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 14.15pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">12,000,000
                Shares</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 14.15pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 14.15pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">12,000,000
                Rights</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="16%" style="border-bottom: black double;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">$51.49</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><sup>(2)</sup></font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt"></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">$
                ---.-- </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><sup>(3)</sup></font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="16%" style="border-bottom: black double;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">$617,880,000
                </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><sup>(2)</sup></font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">$
                ---. -- </font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="16%" style="border-bottom: black double;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">$66,113.16</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><sup>(2)</sup></font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt"></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">$
                ---.-- </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><sup>(3)</sup></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" colspan="5" valign="top" width="87%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
              <td align="left" style="width: 9pt;"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><sup>(1)</sup></font></td>
              <td align="left">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Upon
                  a stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction in the future
                  and
                  during the effectiveness of this Registration Statement involving
                  our
                  Class B</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>&#160;</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Common
                  Stock, the number of shares and rights registered shall be automatically
                  increased to cover the additional shares and rights in accordance
                  with
                  Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of
                  1933.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 18pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
              <td align="left" style="width: 9pt;"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><sup>(2)</sup></font></td>
              <td align="left">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Estimated
                  solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant
                  to
                  Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, based on the average
                  of the
                  high and low price per share of our Class B</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>&#160;</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Common
                  Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on July 26,
                  2006.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
              <td align="left" style="width: 9pt;"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><sup>(3)</sup></font></td>
              <td align="left">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Preferred
                  Stock Purchase Rights (the &#8220;Rights&#8221;) are attached to and trade with the
                  Registrant&#8217;s Class B Common Stock. The value attributable to the Rights,
                  if any, is reflected in the market price of such Class B</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>&#160;</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Common
                  Stock. Because no separate consideration is paid for the Rights,
                  the
                  registration fee for such securities is included in the fee for
                  such Class
                  B</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>&#160;</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Common
                  Stock.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
    </div><br>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
        </div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">&#160;</div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>PART
      I</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>INFORMATION
      REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Documents
      containing the information required by Part I of this Registration Statement
      will be sent or given to participants in Freeport-McMoRan Copper &amp; Gold Inc.
      2006 Stock Incentive Plan in accordance with Rule 428(b)(1) of the General
      Rules
      and Regulations under the Securities Act of 1933. In accordance with the Note
      to
      Part I of Form S-8, such documents are not filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as
      prospectuses or prospectus supplements.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>PART
      II</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>INFORMATION
      REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
      3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
      following documents, which have been filed by Freeport-McMoRan Copper &amp; Gold
      Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;), are
      incorporated herein by reference:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(a)</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Our
      latest Annual Report on Form 10-K;</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(b)</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">All
      other
      reports filed by us pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
      Exchange Act of 1934 since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual
      Report referred to in (a); and</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(c)</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
      description of our Class B</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>&#160;</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Common
      Stock and Preferred Stock Purchase Rights included in our Registration Statement
      on Form 8-A filed May 15, 2002, incorporating by reference Amendment No. 2
      to
      our Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-72760), including
      any amendment thereto or report filed for the purpose of updating such
      description.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">All
      documents filed by us with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
      14
      and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the date of
      this
      Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
      that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters
      all securities then remaining unsold shall, except to the extent otherwise
      provided by Regulation S-K or any other rule promulgated by the Commission,
      be
      deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to
      be
      part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
      4. Description of Securities.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Not
      applicable.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
      5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Not
      applicable.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">II-1</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
      6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Section
      145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware empowers us to indemnify, subject
      to the standards prescribed in that section, any person in connection with
      any
      action, suit or proceeding brought or threatened by reason of the fact that
      the
      person is or was our director, officer, employee or agent. &#160;Article EIGHTH
      of our certificate of incorporation and Article XXVI of our by-laws provide
      that
      each person who was or is made a party to, or is threatened to be made a party
      to, or is otherwise involved in, any action, suit, or proceeding by reason
      of
      the fact that the person is or was our director, officer, employee or agent
      shall be indemnified and held harmless by us to the fullest extent authorized
      by
      the General Corporation Law of Delaware. The indemnification covers all
      expenses, liability and loss reasonably incurred by the person and includes
      attorneys&#8217; fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement. &#160;The
      rights conferred by Article EIGHTH of our certificate of incorporation and
      Article XXVI of our by-laws are contractual rights and include the right to
      be
      paid by us the expenses incurred in defending the action, suit or proceeding
      in
      advance of its final disposition.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Article
      EIGHTH of our certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will
      not
      be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages resulting
      from breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors except (1) for any breach
      of
      the duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not
      in
      good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
      law, (3) under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, which
      makes directors liable for unlawful dividend or unlawful stock repurchases
      or
      redemptions or (4) transactions from which directors derive improper personal
      benefit.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We
      have
      purchased insurance policies insuring our directors and officers against certain
      liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of
      1933.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
      7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Not
      applicable.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
      8. Exhibits.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td style="width: 36pt;">&#160;</td>
            <td style="width: 36pt;">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">5.1</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Opinion
                of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carr&#232;re &amp; Den&#232;gre,
                L.L.P.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td style="width: 36pt;">&#160;</td>
            <td style="width: 36pt;">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">15.1</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Letter
                from Ernst &amp; Young LLP regarding unaudited interim financial
                statements.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td style="width: 36pt;">&#160;</td>
            <td style="width: 36pt;">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">23.1</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Consent
                of Ernst &amp; Young LLP.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td style="width: 36pt;">&#160;</td>
            <td style="width: 36pt;">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">23.2</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Consent
                of Independent Mining Consultants,
                Inc.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td style="width: 36pt;">&#160;</td>
            <td style="width: 36pt;">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">23.3</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Consent
                of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carr&#232;re &amp; Den&#232;gre, L.L.P.
                (included in Exhibit 5).</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td style="width: 36pt;">&#160;</td>
            <td style="width: 36pt;">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">24.1</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Powers
                of Attorney pursuant to which this Registration Statement has been
                signed
                on behalf of certain of our officers and
                directors.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
      9. Undertakings.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
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        </div>
      </div>
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        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">II-2</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
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        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(a)</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
      undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 72pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(1)</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">To
      file,
      during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
      amendment to this registration statement:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 108pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(i)<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;To
      include
      any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of
      1933;</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 108pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(ii)<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;To
      reflect in
      the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this
      registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof)
      which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in
      the
      information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the
      foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
      total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
      registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
      offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC
      pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price
      represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering
      price set forth in the &#8220;Calculation of Registration Fee&#8221; table in the effective
      registration statement;</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 108pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(iii)<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;To
      include
      any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
      disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such
      information in this registration statement; </font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 72pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><em>Provided,
      however</em></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">,
      that
      paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required
      to
      be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained
      in
      periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section
      15(d)
      of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in
      this registration statement.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 72pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(2)</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">That,
      for
      the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
      each
      such post-effective amend-ment shall be deemed to be a new registration
      statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
      securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
      thereof.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 72pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(3)</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">To
      remove
      from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
      being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
      offering.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(b)</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
      undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
      any
      liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant&#8217;s
      annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities
      Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
      plan&#8217;s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
      1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall
      be
      deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
      therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to
      be
      the initial bona fide offering thereof.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(c)</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Insofar
      as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933
      may
      be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant
      pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been
      advised that in the opinion of the </font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
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        </div>
      </div>
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        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">II-3</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
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        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Securities
      and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
      expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In
      the
      event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than
      the
      payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
      or
      controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
      suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
      in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
      in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
      precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether
      such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
      Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
      issue.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
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          </div>
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          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">II-4</font></div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">&#160;</div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>SIGNATURES</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>The
      Registrant.</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">
      Pursuant
      to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies
      that
      it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements
      for
      filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed
      on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
      New
      Orleans, State of Louisiana, on July 27, 2006.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 234pt"></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Freeport-McMoRan
      Copper &amp; Gold Inc.</font><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;
</font>By:
<u>/s/
      Richard C.
      Adkerson</u></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt"><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt"><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt"><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt"><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt"><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt"><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;Richard
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      and Chief Executive Officer</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
      to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement
      has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on July
      27,
      2006.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%" style="border-bottom: medium none;">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><u>Signature</u></font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="30%" style="border-bottom: medium none;">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><u>Title</u></font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">&#160;</td>
              <td valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">*</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Chairman
                  of the Board</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
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                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">James
                  R. Moffett</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">&#160;</td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">*</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Vice
                  Chairman of the Board</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">B.
                  M. Rankin, Jr.</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">&#160;</td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;/s/
                  Richard C. Adkerson</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">President
                  and Chief Executive Officer</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Richard
                  C. Adkerson</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Principal
                  Executive Officer)</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">&#160;</td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">*</font></div>
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              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Senior
                  Vice President, Chief</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
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                  L. Quirk</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Financial
                  Officer and Treasurer</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">&#160;</td>
              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Principal
                  Financial Officer)</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">&#160;</td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
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            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
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                  J. Allison, Jr.</font></div>
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          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">S-1</font></div>
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        <div id="HDR">
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            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">&#160;</td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
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            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">*</font></div>
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                  A. Day</font></div>
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            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">&#160;</td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">*</font></div>
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              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Director</font></div>
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            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Gerald
                  J. Ford</font></div>
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              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">&#160;</td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">*</font></div>
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              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Director</font></div>
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            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">H.
                  Devon Graham, Jr.</font></div>
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              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">&#160;</td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">*</font></div>
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              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Director</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">J.
                  Bennett Johnston</font></div>
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              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">&#160;</td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">*</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Director</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Bobby
                  Lee Lackey</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">&#160;</td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">*</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Director</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Gabrielle
                  K. McDonald</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">&#160;</td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">*</font></div>
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              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Director</font></div>
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            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">J.
                  Stapleton Roy</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">&#160;</td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">*</font></div>
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              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Director</font></div>
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            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">J.
                  Taylor Wharton</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">&#160;</td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;
                  *By: <u>/s/ Richard C. Adkerson</u></font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Richard
                  C. Adkerson</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Attorney-in-Fact</font></div>
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              <td align="left" valign="top" width="30%">&#160;</td>
            </tr>

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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
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        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">S-2</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">&#160;</div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>EXHIBIT
      INDEX</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Exhibit</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong><u>Number</u></strong></font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 243pt">&#160;
</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong><u>Description
      of Exhibits</u></strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td style="width: 36pt;">&#160;</td>
            <td style="width: 36pt;">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="exhibit5_1.htm">5.1</a></font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
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                L.L.P.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td style="width: 36pt;">&#160;</td>
            <td style="width: 36pt;">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="exhibit15_1.htm">15.1</a></font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
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                from Ernst &amp; Young LLP regarding unaudited interim financial
                statements.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td style="width: 36pt;">&#160;</td>
            <td style="width: 36pt;">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="exhibit23_1.htm">23.1</a></font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
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                of Ernst &amp; Young LLP.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td style="width: 36pt;">&#160;</td>
            <td style="width: 36pt;">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="exhibit23_2.htm">23.2</a></font></div>
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            <td>
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                Inc.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td style="width: 36pt;">&#160;</td>
            <td style="width: 36pt;">
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            </td>
            <td>
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                (included in Exhibit 5).</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td style="width: 36pt;">&#160;</td>
            <td style="width: 36pt;">
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            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Powers
                of Attorney pursuant to which this Registration Statement has been
                signed
                on behalf of certain of our officers and
                directors.</font></div>
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[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "fcxforms-8.htm", "description": "FCX FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 95595}]
{"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": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-136084", "film-number": "06985026"}, "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"}}
FCX Form S-8
As
      filed
      with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27,
      2006.
Registration
      No. 333-______
UNITED
      STATES
SECURITIES
      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
      D.C. 20549
_______________
FORM
      S-8
REGISTRATION
      STATEMENT
under
THE
      SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
_______________
Freeport-McMoRan
      Copper & Gold Inc.
(Exact
      name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
74-2480931
(State
                or other jurisdiction
(I.R.S.
                Employer
of
                incorporation or organization)
Identification
                No.)
1615
      Poydras Street
New
      Orleans, Louisiana 70112
(Address,
      including zip code, or registrant's
principal
      executive offices)
Freeport-McMoRan
      Copper & Gold Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan
(Full
      title of the plan)
_______________
Richard
      C. Adkerson
President
      and Chief Executive Officer
Freeport-McMoRan
      Copper & Gold Inc.
1615
      Poydras Street
New
      Orleans, Louisiana 70112
(504)
      582-4000
(Name,
      address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including
      area code, of agent for service)
Copy
      to:
Margaret
      F. Murphy
Jones,
      Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre, L.L.P.
201
      St. Charles Avenue
New
      Orleans, Louisiana 70170-5100
CALCULATION
      OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title
                of
securities
                to be registered
Amount
                to be
registered
(1)
Proposed
                maximum offering price
per
                unit
Proposed
                maximum aggregate
offering
                price
Amount
                of
registration
                fee
Class
                B Common Stock (par value $.10 per share)
Preferred
                Stock Purchase Rights
12,000,000
                Shares
12,000,000
                Rights
$51.49
(2)
$
                ---.--
(3)
$617,880,000
(2)
$
                ---. --
$66,113.16
(2)
$
                ---.--
(3)
(1)
Upon
                  a stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction in the future
                  and
                  during the effectiveness of this Registration Statement involving
                  our
                  Class B
Common
                  Stock, the number of shares and rights registered shall be automatically
                  increased to cover the additional shares and rights in accordance
                  with
                  Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of
                  1933.
(2)
Estimated
                  solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant
                  to
                  Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, based on the average
                  of the
                  high and low price per share of our Class B
Common
                  Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on July 26,
                  2006.
(3)
Preferred
                  Stock Purchase Rights (the "Rights") are attached to and trade with the
                  Registrant's Class B Common Stock. The value attributable to the Rights,
                  if any, is reflected in the market price of such Class B
Common
                  Stock. Because no separate consideration is paid for the Rights,
                  the
                  registration fee for such securities is included in the fee for
                  such Class
                  B
Common
                  Stock.
PART
      I
INFORMATION
      REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Documents
      containing the information required by Part I of this Registration Statement
      will be sent or given to participants in Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.
      2006 Stock Incentive Plan in accordance with Rule 428(b)(1) of the General
      Rules
      and Regulations under the Securities Act of 1933. In accordance with the Note
      to
      Part I of Form S-8, such documents are not filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as
      prospectuses or prospectus supplements.
PART
      II
INFORMATION
      REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item
      3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The
      following documents, which have been filed by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold
      Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), are
      incorporated herein by reference:
(a)
Our
      latest Annual Report on Form 10-K;
(b)
All
      other
      reports filed by us pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
      Exchange Act of 1934 since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual
      Report referred to in (a); and
(c)
The
      description of our Class B
Common
      Stock and Preferred Stock Purchase Rights included in our Registration Statement
      on Form 8-A filed May 15, 2002, incorporating by reference Amendment No. 2
      to
      our Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-72760), including
      any amendment thereto or report filed for the purpose of updating such
      description.
All
      documents filed by us with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
      14
      and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the date of
      this
      Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
      that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters
      all securities then remaining unsold shall, except to the extent otherwise
      provided by Regulation S-K or any other rule promulgated by the Commission,
      be
      deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to
      be
      part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Item
      4. Description of Securities.
Not
      applicable.
Item
      5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not
      applicable.
II-1
Item
      6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section
      145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware empowers us to indemnify, subject
      to the standards prescribed in that section, any person in connection with
      any
      action, suit or proceeding brought or threatened by reason of the fact that
      the
      person is or was our director, officer, employee or agent.  Article EIGHTH
      of our certificate of incorporation and Article XXVI of our by-laws provide
      that
      each person who was or is made a party to, or is threatened to be made a party
      to, or is otherwise involved in, any action, suit, or proceeding by reason
      of
      the fact that the person is or was our director, officer, employee or agent
      shall be indemnified and held harmless by us to the fullest extent authorized
      by
      the General Corporation Law of Delaware. The indemnification covers all
      expenses, liability and loss reasonably incurred by the person and includes
      attorneys' fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement.  The
      rights conferred by Article EIGHTH of our certificate of incorporation and
      Article XXVI of our by-laws are contractual rights and include the right to
      be
      paid by us the expenses incurred in defending the action, suit or proceeding
      in
      advance of its final disposition.
Article
      EIGHTH of our certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will
      not
      be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages resulting
      from breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors except (1) for any breach
      of
      the duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not
      in
      good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
      law, (3) under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, which
      makes directors liable for unlawful dividend or unlawful stock repurchases
      or
      redemptions or (4) transactions from which directors derive improper personal
      benefit.
We
      have
      purchased insurance policies insuring our directors and officers against certain
      liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of
      1933.
Item
      7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not
      applicable.
Item
      8. Exhibits.
5.1
Opinion
                of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre,
                L.L.P.
15.1
Letter
                from Ernst & Young LLP regarding unaudited interim financial
                statements.
23.1
Consent
                of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2
Consent
                of Independent Mining Consultants,
                Inc.
23.3
Consent
                of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre, L.L.P.
                (included in Exhibit 5).
24.1
Powers
                of Attorney pursuant to which this Registration Statement has been
                signed
                on behalf of certain of our officers and
                directors.
Item
      9. Undertakings.
II-2
(a)
The
      undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To
      file,
      during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
      amendment to this registration statement:
(i)
To
      include
      any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of
      1933;
(ii)
To
      reflect in
      the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this
      registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof)
      which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in
      the
      information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the
      foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
      total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
      registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
      offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC
      pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price
      represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering
      price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective
      registration statement;
(iii)
To
      include
      any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
      disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such
      information in this registration statement;
Provided,
      however
,
      that
      paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required
      to
      be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained
      in
      periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section
      15(d)
      of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in
      this registration statement.
(2)
That,
      for
      the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
      each
      such post-effective amend-ment shall be deemed to be a new registration
      statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
      securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
      thereof.
(3)
To
      remove
      from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
      being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
      offering.
(b)
The
      undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
      any
      liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's
      annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities
      Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
      plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
      1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall
      be
      deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
      therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to
      be
      the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)
Insofar
      as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933
      may
      be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant
      pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been
      advised that in the opinion of the
II-3
Securities
      and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
      expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In
      the
      event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than
      the
      payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
      or
      controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
      suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
      in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
      in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
      precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether
      such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
      Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
      issue.
II-4
SIGNATURES
The
      Registrant.
Pursuant
      to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies
      that
      it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements
      for
      filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed
      on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
      New
      Orleans, State of Louisiana, on July 27, 2006.
Freeport-McMoRan
      Copper & Gold Inc.
By:
/s/
      Richard C.
      Adkerson
Richard
      C. Adkerson
President
      and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant
      to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement
      has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on July
      27,
      2006.
Signature
Title
*
Chairman
                  of the Board
James
                  R. Moffett
*
Vice
                  Chairman of the Board
B.
                  M. Rankin, Jr.
/s/
                  Richard C. Adkerson
President
                  and Chief Executive Officer
Richard
                  C. Adkerson
(Principal
                  Executive Officer)
*
Senior
                  Vice President, Chief
Kathleen
                  L. Quirk
Financial
                  Officer and Treasurer
(Principal
                  Financial Officer)
*
Vice
                  President and Controller -
C.
                  Donald Whitmire, Jr.
Financial
                  Reporting
(Principal
                  Accounting Officer)
*
Director
Robert
                  J. Allison, Jr.
S-1
*
Director
Robert
                  A. Day
*
Director
Gerald
                  J. Ford
*
Director
H.
                  Devon Graham, Jr.
*
Director
J.
                  Bennett Johnston
*
Director
Bobby
                  Lee Lackey
*
Director
Gabrielle
                  K. McDonald
*
Director
J.
                  Stapleton Roy
*
Director
J.
                  Taylor Wharton
*By:
/s/ Richard C. Adkerson
Richard
                  C. Adkerson
Attorney-in-Fact
S-2
EXHIBIT
      INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Description
      of Exhibits
5.1
Opinion
                of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre,
                L.L.P.
15.1
Letter
                from Ernst & Young LLP regarding unaudited interim financial
                statements.
23.1
Consent
                of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2
Consent
                of Independent Mining Consultants,
                Inc.
23.3
Consent
                of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre, L.L.P.
                (included in Exhibit 5).
24.1
Powers
                of Attorney pursuant to which this Registration Statement has been
                signed
                on behalf of certain of our officers and
                directors.