SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 31, 1997

PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

   New York            1-82                     13-1808503
 (State of     (Commission File Number)       (IRS Employer
Incorporation)                               Identification No.)

2600 North Central Ave. Phoenix, Arizona 85004-3014
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(602) 234-8100
(Registrant's telephone number)

None
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Page 1 of 49

Item 7. Exhibits. The following documents are filed with reference to the
Registration Statement and Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-44380 and Registration No. 333-36415) of Phelps Dodge Corporation (the "Company"):

1 Underwriting Agreement, dated as of October 31, 1997, between the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.

4.1 Form of 6-3/8% Note due November 1, 2004 of the Company to be issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of September 22, 1997 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, a form of which was filed as Exhibit 4.4 to such Registration Statement.

4.2 Form of 7-1/8% Debenture due November 1, 2027 of the Company to be issued pursuant to the Indenture, a form of which was filed as Exhibit 4.4 to such Registration Statement.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION

Dated: November 3, 1997            By:/s/ Gregory W. Stevens
                                       ----------------------
                                       Gregory W. Stevens
                                       Vice President and
                                       Controller
                                       (Principal Accounting
                                       Officer)

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Exhibit Index

Exhibit                                                       Page
-------                                                       ----

1.    Underwriting Agreement, dated as of October 31,           5
      1997, between the Company and
      Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.

4.1   Form of 6-3/8% Note due November 1, 2004                 34
      of the Company to be issued pursuant to the
      Indenture, dated as of September 22, 1997
      (the "Indenture"), between the Company
      and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee.

4.2   Form of 7-1/8% Debenture due November 1, 2027 of         40
      the Company to be issued pursuant to the
      Indenture.

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Exhibit 1

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

October 31, 1997

Phelps Dodge Corporation
2600 N. Central Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85004-3014

Dear Sirs:

We (the "Manager") are acting on behalf of the underwriter or underwriters (including ourselves) named below (such underwriter or underwriters being herein called the "Underwriters"), and we understand that Phelps Dodge Corporation, a New York corporation (the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell
(i) $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6-3/8% Notes due November 1, 2004 (the "Notes") and (ii) $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 7-1/8% Debentures due November 1, 2027 (the "Debentures" and, together with the Notes, the "Offered Securities"). The Offered Securities will be issued pursuant to the provisions of an Indenture dated as of September 22, 1997 (the "Indenture") between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee (the "Trustee").

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth or incorporated by reference herein, the Company hereby agrees to sell and the Underwriters agree to purchase, severally and not jointly, the respective principal amounts of Offered Securities set forth below opposite their names at a purchase price of
(i) 98.741% of the principal amount of the Notes and (ii) 98.645% of the principal amount of the Debentures, plus, in the case of each clause (i) and
(ii), accrued interest from November 1, 1997 to the date of payment and delivery:


                               Principal Amount of             Principal Amount of
                                 6-3/8% Notes Due                7-1/8% Debentures
      Name                       November 1, 2004             due November 1, 2027
      ----                     -------------------             -------------------
Morgan Stanley & Co.
  Incorporated                    $ 34,000,000                    $ 50,000,000

Chase Securities Inc.               33,000,000                      50,000,000

Citicorp Securities, Inc.           33,000,000                      50,000,000

                 Total            $100,000,000                    $150,000,000

The Underwriters will pay for the Offered Securities by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account designated by the Company upon delivery of the Offered Securities at the office of Davis Polk & Wardwell, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York at 10:00 a.m. (New York time) on November 5, 1997, or at such other time, not later than 3:00 p.m. (New York time) on November 5, 1997, as shall be designated by the Manager. The time and date of such payment and delivery are hereinafter referred to as the Closing Date.

The Offered Securities shall have the terms set forth in the Prospectus dated October 14, 1997, and the Prospectus Supplement dated October 31, 1997, including the following:

(a) Terms of the Notes:

Maturity Date:                               November 1, 2004

Interest Rate:                               6-3/8%

Redemption Provisions:                       None

Interest Payment Dates:                      May 1 and November 1, commencing
                                             May 1, 1998 (Interest accrues from
                                             November 1, 1997)

Form and Denomination:                       Book entry, $1,000 minimum
                                             denomination and integral multiples
                                             thereof

Public Offering Price of the Notes           99.366% plus accrued interest

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Dealer Concession:                          0.375%

Reallowance Concession:                     0.200%

(b) Terms of the Debentures:

Maturity Date:                              November 1, 2027

Interest Rate:                              7-1/8%

Redemption Provisions:                 In whole or in part, at the option of the
                                       Company at any time; redemption price to
                                       be the greater of (i) 100% of the
                                       principal amount or (ii) the sum of the
                                       present values of the remaining scheduled
                                       payments of principal and interest
                                       discounted to the date of redemption on a
                                       semi-annual basis, at the Treasury Yield
                                       (as defined in the Prospectus Supplement)
                                       plus ten (10) basis points, plus in
                                       either case, interest accrued to the date
                                       of redemption

Interest Payment Dates:                May 1 and November 1, commencing on
                                       May 1, 1998 (Interest accrues from
                                       November 1, 1997)

Form and Denomination:                 Book entry, $1,000 minimum
                                       denomination and integral multiples
                                       thereof

Public Offering Price of the
Debentures:                                99.520% plus accrued interest

Dealer Concession:                          0.500%

Reallowance Concession:                     0.250%

All provisions contained in the document entitled Phelps Dodge Corporation Underwriting Agreement Standard Provisions (Debt Securities) dated October 31, 1997, a copy of which is attached hereto, are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein, except that (i) if any term defined

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in such document is otherwise defined herein, the definition set forth herein shall control, (ii) all references in such document to a type of security that is not an Offered Security shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement and (iii) all references in such document to a type of agreement that has not been entered into in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement.

Please confirm your agreement by having an authorized officer sign a copy of this Agreement in the space set forth below.

Very truly yours,

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED

Acting severally on behalf of themselves and the several
Underwriters named herein

By: MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED

By: /s/ Michael Fusco
    ---------------------------------
    Name: Michael Fusco
    Title: Vice President

Accepted:

PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION

By: /s/ T.M. St. Clair
    --------------------
    Name: T.M. St. Clair
    Title: Senior Vice President
            and Chief Financial Officer

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PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

STANDARD PROVISIONS
(DEBT SECURITIES)

October 31, 1997

From time to time, Phelps Dodge Corporation, a New York corporation (the "COMPANY"), may enter into one or more underwriting agreements that provide for the sale of designated securities to the several underwriters named therein. The standard provisions set forth herein may be incorporated by reference in any such underwriting agreement (an "UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT"). The Underwriting Agreement, including the provisions incorporated therein by reference, is herein referred to as this Agreement. Terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as therein defined.

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") a registration statement, including a prospectus, relating to the Debt Securities and has filed with, or transmitted for filing to, or shall promptly hereafter file with or transmit for filing to, the Commission a prospectus supplement (the "PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT") specifically relating to the Offered Securities pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"). The term "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means the registration statement, including the exhibits thereto, as amended to the date of this Agreement. The term "BASIC PROSPECTUS" means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. The term "PROSPECTUS" means the Basic Prospectus together with the Prospectus Supplement. The term "PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS" means a preliminary prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Offered Securities, together with the Basic Prospectus. As used herein, the terms "BASIC PROSPECTUS," "Prospectus" AND "preliminary prospectus" shall include in each case the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein. The terms "SUPPLEMENT" and "AMENDMENT" or "AMEND" as used herein shall include all documents deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus that are filed subsequent to the date of the Basic Prospectus by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT").

The term "CONTRACT SECURITIES" means the Offered Securities to be purchased pursuant to the delayed delivery contracts substantially in the form of Schedule I hereto, with such changes therein as the Company may approve (the "DELAYED

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DELIVERY CONTRACTS"). The term "UNDERWRITERS' SECURITIES" means the Offered Securities other than Contract Securities.

1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to each of the Underwriters that:

(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission.

(b) (i) Each document, if any, filed or to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus complied or will comply when so filed in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) each part of the Registration Statement, when such part became effective, did not contain, and each such part, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, from the date of its effectiveness through and including each Closing Date will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (iii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply, and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, from the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement through and including each Closing Date will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (iv) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, from the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement through and including each Closing Date will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 1(b) do not apply (A) to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Manager expressly for use therein or (B) to that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "TRUST INDENTURE ACT"), of the Trustee.

(c) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to

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transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(d) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(e) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(f) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability.

(g) The Delayed Delivery Contracts have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and are valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability.

(h) The Offered Securities have been duly authorized and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, in the case of the Underwriters' Securities, or by institutional investors in accordance with the terms of the Delayed Delivery Contracts, in the case of the Contract Securities, will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their respective

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terms except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) rights of acceleration, if any, and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability.

(i) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement, the Indenture, the Offered Securities and the Delayed Delivery Contracts will not contravene any provision of applicable law or the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of or qualification with any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture, the Offered Securities and the Delayed Delivery Contracts, except such as have been obtained under the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered Securities.

(j) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Prospectus.

(k) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so described or any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required.

(l) The Company is not an "INVESTMENT COMPANY" or an entity "CONTROLLED" by an "INVESTMENT COMPANY," as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

2. Delayed Delivery Contracts. If the Prospectus provides for sales of Offered Securities pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts, the Company hereby authorizes the Underwriters to solicit offers to purchase Contract Securities on the

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terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts. Delayed Delivery Contracts may be entered into only with institutional investors approved by the Company of the types set forth in the Prospectus. On the Closing Date, the Company will pay to the Manager as compensation for the accounts of the Underwriters the commission set forth in the Underwriting Agreement in respect of the Contract Securities. The Underwriters will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or the performance of any Delayed Delivery Contracts.

If the Company executes and delivers Delayed Delivery Contracts with institutional investors, the aggregate amount of Offered Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters shall be reduced by the aggregate amount of Contract Securities; such reduction shall be applied to the commitment of each Underwriter pro rata in proportion to the amount of Offered Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter's name in the Underwriting Agreement, except to the extent that the Manager determines that such reduction shall be applied in other proportions and so advises the Company; provided, however, that the total amount of Offered Securities to be purchased by all Underwriters shall be the aggregate amount set forth above, less the aggregate amount of Contract Securities.

3. Public Offering. The Company is advised by the Manager that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of the Underwriters' Securities as soon after this Agreement has been entered into as in the Manager's judgment is advisable. The terms of the public offering of the Underwriters' Securities are set forth in the Prospectus.

4. Purchase and Delivery. Except as otherwise provided (i) in this
Section 4, payment for the Underwriters' Securities shall be made in immediately available funds at the time and place set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, upon delivery to the Manager for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Underwriters' Securities, registered in such names and in such denominations as the Manager shall request prior to the date of delivery, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Underwriters' Securities to the Underwriters duly paid.

Delivery on the Closing Date of any Underwriters' Securities that are Debt Securities in bearer form shall be effected by delivery of a single temporary global Debt Security without coupons (the "GLOBAL DEBT SECURITY") evidencing the Offered Securities that are Debt Securities in bearer form to a common depositary for Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels office, as operator of the Euro-clear System ("EURO-CLEAR"), and for Centrale de Livraison de Valeurs Mobilieres S.A. ("CEDEL") for credit to the respective accounts at Euro-clear or CEDEL of each Underwriter or to such other accounts as such Underwriter may direct. Any Global

9

Debt Security shall be delivered to the Manager not later than the Closing Date, against payment of funds to the Company in the net amount due to the Company for such Global Debt Security, by the method and in the form set forth in the Underwriting Agreement. The Company shall cause definitive Debt Securities in bearer form to be prepared and delivered in exchange for such Global Debt Security in such manner and at such time as may be provided in or pursuant to the Indenture; provided, however, that the Global Debt Security shall be exchangeable for definitive Debt Securities in bearer form only on or after the date specified for such purpose in the Prospectus.

5. Conditions to Closing. The several obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the following conditions:

(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement and prior to the Closing Date,

(i) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any official notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the Company's securities by Moody's Investors Service Inc., Standard & Poor's Corporation or Duff & Phelps Inc.; and

(ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations, of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Prospectus, that, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, is material and adverse and that makes it, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, impracticable to market the Offered Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

(b) The Manager shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in clause (a)(i) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied on or before the Closing Date.

The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his knowledge as to proceedings threatened.

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(c) The Manager shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Scott A. Crozier, General Counsel of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in Exhibit A.

(d) The Manager shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Debevoise & Plimpton, counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in Exhibit B.

(e) The Manager shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell, special counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in Exhibit C.

(f) The Manager shall have received on the Closing Date a letter, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager, from the Company's independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "COMFORT LETTERS" to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in or incorporated by reference into the Prospectus.

6. Covenants of the Company. In further consideration of the agreements of the Underwriters contained herein, the Company covenants as follows:

(a) To furnish the Manager, without charge, a signed copy of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and for delivery to each other Underwriter a conformed copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, during the period mentioned in paragraph (c) below, as many copies of the Prospectus, any documents incorporated by reference therein and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as the Manager may reasonably request.

(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or the Prospectus with respect to the Offered Securities, to furnish to the Manager a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Manager reasonably objects.

(c) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Offered Securities as in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the

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circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters, and to the dealers (whose names and addresses the Manager will furnish to the Company) to which Offered Securities may have been sold by the Manager on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as so amended or supplemented, will comply with law.

(d) To endeavor to qualify the Offered Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Manager shall reasonably request and to pay all expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) in connection with such qualification and in connection with (i) the determination of the eligibility of the Offered Securities for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Manager may designate and (ii) any review of the offering of the Offered Securities by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; provided, however, the Company shall not be obligated to qualify as a foreign corporation or file any general consent to service of process under the laws of any such jurisdiction or subject itself to taxation as doing business in any such jurisdiction.

(e) To make generally available to the Company's security holders and to the Manager as soon as practicable an earning statement covering a twelve month period beginning on the first day of the first full fiscal quarter after the date of this Agreement, which earning statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, including Rule 158 thereunder.

(f) During the period beginning on the date of the Underwriting Agreement and continuing to and including the Closing Date, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company or warrants to purchase debt securities of the Company substantially similar to the Offered Securities (other than (i) the Offered Securities, (ii) commercial paper issued in the ordinary course of business and (iii) bank borrowings), without the prior written consent of the Manager.

(g) To pay all document production charges and expenses of Davis Polk & Wardwell, special counsel to the Underwriters (but not including their

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fees for professional services), in connection with the preparation of this Agreement.

7. Covenants of the Underwriters.

Each of the several Underwriters represents and agrees with the Company that:

(a) except to the extent permitted under U.S. Treas. Reg.
Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D) (the "D RULES"), (i) it has not offered or sold, and during the restricted period will not offer or sell, Debt Securities in bearer form (including any Debt Security in global form that is exchangeable for Debt Securities in bearer form) to a person who is within the United States or its possessions or to a United States person and (ii) it has not delivered and will not deliver within the United States or its possessions definitive Debt Securities in bearer form that are sold during the restricted period;

(b) it has, and throughout the restricted period will have, in effect procedures reasonably designed to ensure that its employees or agents who are directly engaged in selling Debt Securities in bearer form are aware that such Debt Securities may not be offered or sold during the restricted period to a person who is within the United States or its possessions or to a United States person, except as permitted by the D Rules;

(c) if it is a United States person, it is acquiring the Debt Securities in bearer form for purposes of resale in connection with their original issuance and if it retains Debt Securities in bearer form for its own account, it will only do so in accordance with the requirements of U.S. Treas. Reg. Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(6);

(d) if it transfers to any affiliate Debt Securities in bearer form for the purpose of offering or selling such Debt Securities during the restricted period, it will either (i) obtain from such affiliate for the benefit of the Company the representations and agreements contained in clauses (a), (b) and (c) or (ii) repeat and confirm the representations and agreements contained in clauses (a), (b) and (c) on such affiliate's behalf and obtain from such affiliate the authority to so obligate it;

(e) it will obtain for the benefit of the Company the representations and agreements contained in clauses (a), (b), (c) and
(d) from any person other than its affiliate with whom it enters into a written contract, as defined in U.S. Treas. Reg. Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(4) for the offer or sale during the restricted period of Debt Securities in bearer form; and

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(f) it will comply with or observe any other restrictions or limitations set forth in the Prospectus on persons to whom, or the jurisdictions in which, or the manner in which, the Debt Securities may be offered, sold, resold or delivered.

All other terms used in the preceding paragraph have the meaning given to them by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (the "CODE") and regulations thereunder, including the D Rules. The restricted period is defined at U.S. Treas. Reg. Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7).

8. Indemnification and Contribution. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any Underwriter or any such controlling person in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Manager expressly for use therein.

Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company by such Underwriter in writing through the Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto.

In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the two preceding paragraphs, such person (the "INDEMNIFIED PARTY") shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be

14

sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Manager, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to the second preceding paragraph, and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to the first preceding paragraph. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.

If the indemnification provided for in the first or second paragraph in this Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder,

15

shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Offered Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of such Offered Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus Supplement, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Offered Securities. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the respective principal amounts of Offered Securities purchased by each of such Underwriters and not joint.

The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Offered Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such

16

fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 8 and the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Company, its directors or officers or any person controlling the Company and
(iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Offered Securities.

9. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination, by notice given by the Manager to the Company, if (a) after the execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York shall have been declared by either Federal or New York State authorities, or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, is material and adverse and (b) in the case of any of the events specified in clauses (a)(i) through (iv), such event, singly or together with any other such event, makes it, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, impracticable to market the Offered Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

10. Defaulting Underwriters. If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Underwriters' Securities that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate amount of Underwriters' Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate amount of the Underwriters' Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the amount of Underwriters' Securities set forth opposite their respective names above bears to the aggregate amount of Underwriters' Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as the Manager may specify, to purchase the Underwriters' Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the amount of Underwriters' Securities that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section

17

10 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such amount of Underwriters' Securities without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Underwriters' Securities and the aggregate amount of Underwriters' Securities with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate amount of Underwriters' Securities to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Manager and the Company for the purchase of such Underwriters' Securities are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company. In any such case either the Manager or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering of the Offered Securities.

11. Miscellaneous. The Underwriting Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

12. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.

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Exhibit A

Opinion of General Counsel
for the Company

The opinion of General Counsel for the Company, to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(c) of the Underwriting Agreement shall be to the effect that:

1. The statements (1) in "ITEM 3 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS" of the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and (2) in "ITEM 1 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS" of Part II of the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, if any, filed since such annual report, in each case insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly present the information called for under the Exchange Act with respect to such legal matters, documents and proceedings.

2. Phelps Dodge Industries, Inc., Phelps Dodge Morenci, Inc., Phelps Dodge Chino, Inc., Columbian Chemicals Company and Accuride Corporation have been duly incorporated, and are validly existing as corporations in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and Phelps Dodge Refining Corporation has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of New York. Each of Phelps Dodge Industries, Inc., Phelps Dodge Morenci, Inc., Phelps Dodge Chino, Inc., Columbian Chemicals Company, Accuride Corporation and Phelps Dodge Refining Corporation are duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the States of Connecticut, Indiana and Texas (in the case of Phelps Dodge Industries, Inc.), the State of Arizona (in the case of Phelps Dodge Morenci, Inc.), the State of New Mexico (in the case of Phelps Dodge Chino, Inc.), the States of Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Kansas and West Virginia (in the case of Columbian Chemicals Company), the State of Kentucky (in the case of Accuride Corporation) and the State of Texas (in the case of Phelps Dodge Refining Corporation).

3. To the best of my knowledge, I do not know of any legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so described or of any contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the

A-1

Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required.

I am delivering this opinion to you pursuant to Section 5(c) of the Underwriting Agreement, and no persons other than the several Underwriters are entitled to rely on this opinion.

The opinions expressed herein are limited to the Federal laws of the United States and the laws of the State of Arizona.

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Exhibit B

Opinion of Debevoise & Plimpton,
Counsel for the Company

The opinion of Debevoise & Plimpton, independent counsel for the Company, to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(d) of the Underwriting Agreement shall be to the effect that:

1. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of New York, with full corporate power and authority under such laws to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the States of Arizona and New Mexico.

2. The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

3. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms except that such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and by general equitable principles.

4. The Delayed Delivery Contracts have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and are valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms except that such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and by general equitable principles.

5. The Offered Securities have been duly authorized and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, in the case of Underwriters' Securities, or by institutional investors in accordance with the terms of the Delayed Delivery Contracts, in the case of the Contract Securities, will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their respective terms except that such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,

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reorganization, moratorium and similar law of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and by general equitable principles.

6. The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture, the Offered Securities and the Delayed Delivery Contracts will not contravene any provision of applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company or, to the best of our knowledge, any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or, to the best of our knowledge, any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company. To the best of our knowledge, no consent, approval, authorization or order of or qualification with any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture, the Offered Securities and the Delayed Delivery Contracts, other than the order of the Securities and Exchange Commission making the Registration Statement effective under the Securities Act and qualifying the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and except such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered Securities.

7. The statements (a) in the Prospectus under the captions "DESCRIPTIONS OF DEBT SECURITIES", "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION" and __________ and (b) in the Registration Statement under Item 15, in each case insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly present the information called for under the Securities Act with respect to such legal matters, documents and proceedings.

8. The Company is not an "INVESTMENT COMPANY" or an entity "CONTROLLED" by an "INVESTMENT COMPANY", as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

9. The Registration Statement and Prospectus (except for the financial statements and other financial and statistical information and schedules included therein or incorporated by reference as to which we express no opinion) appear on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

10. Each document, if any, filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (except for financial statements and other financial and statistical information and schedules included therein or

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incorporated by reference as to which we express no opinion) appear on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

We have not ourselves checked the accuracy and completeness of, or otherwise verified, and are not passing upon and assume no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of, the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus except to the limited extent stated in paragraphs 7 and 9 above. In the course of our review and discussion of the contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus with certain officers and employees of the Company and its independent accountants, but without independent check or verification, no facts have come to our attention which cause us to believe that the Registration Statement (other than the financial statements and other financial and statistical information contained therein or incorporated by reference of the part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Form T-1, as to which we express no belief) at the time it became effective contained, or as of the date hereof contains, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, or as of the date hereof omits, to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus (other than the financial statements and other financial and statistical information contained therein or incorporated by reference as to which we express no belief) contains any untrue statements of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

We are delivering this opinion to you pursuant to section 5(d) of the Underwriting Agreement, and no persons other than the several Underwriters are entitled to rely on this opinion.

The opinions expressed herein are limited to the Federal laws of the United States and the laws of the State of New York.

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Exhibit C

Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell,
Counsel for the Underwriters

The opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell, counsel for the Underwriters, to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(e) of the Underwriting Agreement shall be to the effect that:

(i) the Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

(ii) the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms except as (a) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (b) rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability.

(iii) the Delayed Delivery Contracts have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and are valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms except as (a) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (b) the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability;

(iv) the Offered Securities have been duly authorized and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, in the case of the Underwriters' Securities, or by institutional investors in accordance with the terms of the Delayed Delivery Contracts, in the case of the Contract Securities, will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their respective terms except as (a) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (b) rights of acceleration, if any, and

C-1

the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability;

(v) the statements in the Prospectus under the captions "DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES" and "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION," insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the legal matters or documents referred to therein, fairly present the information called for with respect to such legal matters and documents and fairly summarize the matters referred to therein; and

(vi) such counsel (1) believes that (except for financial statements and other financial and statistical information and schedules as to which such counsel need not express any belief and except for that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Form T-1 heretofore referred to) each part of the Registration Statement, when such part became effective did not, and as of the date such opinion is delivered, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (2) is of the opinion that the Registration Statement and Prospectus (except for financial statements and other financial and statistical information and schedules included therein as to which such counsel need not express any opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (3) believes that (except for financial statements and other financial and statistical information and schedules as to which such counsel need not express any belief) the Prospectus as of the date such opinion is delivered does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(vii) With respect to clause (vi) above, such counsel may state that their opinion and belief are based upon their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto (other than the documents incorporated by reference) and upon review and discussion of the contents thereof (including documents incorporated by reference) but are without independent check or verification, except as specified.

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Schedule I

DELAYED DELIVERY CONTRACT

________, 199_

Dear Sirs:

The undersigned hereby agrees to purchase from Phelps Dodge Corporation, a New York corporation (the "COMPANY"), and the Company agrees to sell to the undersigned the Company's securities described in Schedule A annexed hereto (the "SECURITIES"), offered by the Company's Prospectus dated __________________, 19__ and Prospectus Supplement dated ________________, 19__, receipt of copies of which are hereby acknowledged, at a purchase price stated in Schedule A and on the further terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. The undersigned does not contemplate selling Securities prior to making payment therefor.

The undersigned will purchase from the Company Securities in the principal amount and numbers on the delivery dates set forth in Schedule A. Each such date on which Securities are to be purchased hereunder is hereinafter referred to as a "DELIVERY DATE."

Payment for the Securities which the undersigned has agreed to purchase on each Delivery Date shall be made to the Company or its order by certified or official bank check in New York Clearing House funds at the office of ______________________________, New York, N.Y., at 10:00 a.m. (New York time) on the Delivery Date, upon delivery to the undersigned of the Securities to be purchased by the undersigned on the Delivery Date, in such denominations and registered in such names as the undersigned may designate by written or telegraphic communication addressed to the Company not less than five full business days prior to the Delivery Date.

The obligation of the undersigned to take delivery of and make payment for the Securities on the Delivery Date shall be subject to the conditions that
(1) the purchase of Securities to be made by the undersigned shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the undersigned is subject and (2) the Company shall have sold, and delivery shall have taken place to the underwriters (the "UNDERWRITERS") named in the Prospectus Supplement referred to above of, such part of the Securities as is to be sold to them. Promptly after completion of sale and delivery to the Underwriters, the

C-3

Company will mail or deliver to the undersigned as its address set forth below notice to such effect, accompanied by a copy of the opinion of counsel for the Company delivered to the Underwriters in connection therewith.

Failure to take delivery of and make payment for Securities by any purchaser under any other Delayed Delivery Contract shall not relieve the undersigned of its obligations under this agreement.

This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, but will not be assignable by either party hereto without the written consent of the other.

If this Agreement is acceptable to the Company, it is requested that the Company sign the form of acceptance below and mail or deliver one of the counterparts hereof to the undersigned at its address set forth below. This will become a binding agreement, as of the date first above written, between the Company and the undersigned when such counterpart is so mailed or delivered.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

Yours very truly,


(Purchaser)

By


(Title)



(Address)

Accepted:

PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION

By

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PURCHASER --- PLEASE COMPLETE AT TIME OF SIGNING

The name and telephone and department of the representative of the Purchaser with whom details of delivery on the Delivery Date may be discussed is as follows: (Please print.)

                            Telephone No.
Name                    (Including Area Code)              Department
----                    ---------------------              ----------

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SCHEDULE A

Securities:

Principal Amounts or Numbers to be Purchased:

Purchase Price:

Delivery Dates:

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Exhibit 4.1
[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]
6 3/8% Notes Due November 1, 2004

PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION

If the registered owner of this security is The Depository Trust Company or a nominee thereof, the following legend is applicable: THIS SECURITY IS IN GLOBAL FORM WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN

PART FOR SECURITIES IN CERTIFICATED FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED

EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to Issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC, ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

No. _________ $__________

Phelps Dodge Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (herein called the "Company"), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of _____________ Dollars on November 1, 2004, and to pay interest thereon from November 1, 1997 or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest has


been paid or duly provided for. Interest shall be payable on this Note semiannually on May 1 and November 1 in each year, commencing on May 1, 1998, at the rate of 6 3/8% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment, and at the rate borne by this Note on any overdue principal and (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) on any overdue installment of interest. The interest so payable on any interest payment date which is punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date will, as provided in the Indenture referred to below, be paid to the person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be April 15 or October 15, as the case may be, preceding such interest payment date. Interest payable on this Note which is not punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date shall forthwith cease to be payable to the person in whose name this Note is registered on the relevant Regular Record Date, and such defaulted interest shall instead be payable to the person in whose name this Note is registered on the special record date or other specified date determined in accordance with the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.

Payment of the principal of and interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York (which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company interest on the Notes may be paid (i) by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the register of Holders of the Notes or (ii) by wire transfer to an account maintained by the person entitled thereto as specified in the register of Holders of the Notes.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth below, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to below by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture referred to below or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

2

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION has caused this instrument to be executed in its corporate name by the manual or facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers named below.

Dated:

PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION

By:____________________________
Name:
Title:

By:____________________________
Name:
Title: Vice President and
Treasurer

3

[FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION]

This is one of the Securities of a series described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
as Trustee

By____________________________________
Authorized Signatory

[Corporate Seal]

4

[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of September 22, 1997 (herein called the "Indenture"), from the Company to The Chase Manhattan Bank (herein called the "Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited to $100,000,000 in aggregate principal amount, and is issued pursuant to resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted on September 3, 1997 and actions taken by officers of the Company pursuant to such resolutions.

The Securities of this series shall not be subject to redemption at the option of the Company at any time and the Company shall have no obligation to redeem or purchase the Securities pursuant to any sinking fund.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance and covenant defeasance at any time of the indebtedness on this Security upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein, which provisions apply to this Security.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive certain existing defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the

5

registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, and interest on, this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations as therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable on the Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar duly executed by the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

The Securities of this series are issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes (subject to the provisions hereof with respect to determination of the person to whom interest is payable).

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS

OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

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Exhibit 4.2
[FORM OF FACE OF DEBENTURE]
7 1/8% Debentures Due November 1, 2027

PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION

If the registered owner of this security is The Depository Trust Company or a nominee thereof, the following legend is applicable: THIS SECURITY IS IN GLOBAL FORM WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN CERTIFICATED FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to Issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC, ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

No. _________ $__________

Phelps Dodge Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (herein called the "Company"), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of __________ Dollars on November 1, 2027, and to pay interest thereon from November 1, 1997 or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest has


been paid or duly provided for. Interest shall be payable on this Debenture semiannually on May 1 and November 1 in each year, commencing on May 1, 1998, at the rate of 7 1/8% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment, and at the rate borne by this Debenture on any overdue principal and (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) on any overdue installment of interest. The interest so payable on any interest payment date which is punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date will, as provided in the Indenture referred to below, be paid to the person in whose name this Debenture is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be April 15 or October 15, as the case may be, preceding such interest payment date. Interest payable on this Debenture which is not punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date shall forthwith cease to be payable to the person in whose name this Debenture is registered on the relevant Regular Record Date, and such defaulted interest shall instead be payable to the person in whose name this Debenture is registered on the special record date or other specified date determined in accordance with the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.

Payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York (which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company interest on the Debentures may be paid (i) by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the register of Holders of the Debentures or (ii) by wire transfer to an account maintained by the person entitled thereto as specified in the register of Holders of the Debentures.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Debenture set forth below, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to below by manual signature, this Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture referred to below or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION has caused this instrument to be executed in its corporate name by the manual or facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers named below.

Dated:

PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION

By:___________________________
Name:
Title:

By:___________________________
Name:
Title: Vice President and
Treasurer

3

[FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION]

This is one of the Securities of a series described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
as Trustee

By________________________________
Authorized Signatory

[Corporate Seal]

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[FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBENTURE]

This Debenture is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of September 22, 1997 (herein called the "Indenture"), from the Company to The Chase Manhattan Bank (herein called the "Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited to $150,000,000 in aggregate principal amount, and is issued pursuant to resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted on September 3, 1997 and actions taken by officers of the Company pursuant to such resolutions.

The Securities of this series are subject to redemption prior to the Stated Maturity, at any time upon not less than 30 days' notice by mail, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of such Securities or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the date of redemption on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Yield plus ten (10) basis points, plus, in the case of each clause (i) and (ii), accrued interest to the date of redemption.

"Treasury Yield" means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

"Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Securities.

5

"Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption date,
(i) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third business day preceding such redemption date, as set forth in the daily statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated "Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities" or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published or does not contain such prices on such business day, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations.

"Independent Investment Banker" means an independent investment banking institution of international standing appointed by the Company.

"Reference Treasury Dealer" means any primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City selected by the Independent Investment Banker after consultation with the Company.

"Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by the Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of the Securities to be redeemed.

The Company shall have no obligation to redeem or purchase the Securities pursuant to any sinking fund.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance and covenant defeasance at any time of the indebtedness on this Security upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein, which provisions apply to this Security.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

6

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive certain existing defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, and interest on, this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations as therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable on the Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar duly executed by the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

The Securities of this series are issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

7

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes (subject to the provisions hereof with respect to determination of the person to whom interest is payable).

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

THIS DEBENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE

LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

8