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Directors' and key management remuneration - Additional information (Detail) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Director | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Director | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Director
Disclosure Of Directors And Key Management Remuneration [Line Items] |  |  |
Aggregate remuneration incurred | $ 31,543,000 | $ 44,218,000 | $ 44,231,000
Aggregate pension contribution to defined contribution plans | 415,000 | 3,461,000 | 1,049,000
Other employment costs | $ 2,122,000 | $ 2,295,000 | $ 2,320,000
Defined Benefit Plan |  |  |
Disclosure Of Directors And Key Management Remuneration [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of directors accrued retirement benefits under defined contribution arrangements | Director | 0 | 1 | 1
Defined Contribution Plans |  |  |
Disclosure Of Directors And Key Management Remuneration [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of directors accrued retirement benefits under defined contribution arrangements | Director | 2 | 2 | 1
Rio Tinto plc [member] |  |  |
Disclosure Of Directors And Key Management Remuneration [Line Items] |  |  |
Aggregate remuneration incurred | $ 12,624,000 | $ 10,630,000 | $ 6,385,000
Aggregate pension contribution to defined contribution plans | 135,000 | 69,000 | 52,000
Rio Tinto Limited [member] |  |  |
Disclosure Of Directors And Key Management Remuneration [Line Items] |  |  |
Aggregate pension contribution to defined contribution plans | 0 | 0 | 0
Aggregate remuneration including pension contributions and other retirement benefits | $ 535,000 | $ 1,696,000 | $ 6,375,000

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- Definition The amount of compensation to key management personnel. [Refer: Key management personnel of entity or parent [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 24 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 17 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=24&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_17&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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- Definition The amount of compensation to key management personnel in the form of post-employment benefits. [Refer: Key management personnel of entity or parent [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 24 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=24&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_17_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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- Definition The number of participants in a retirement benefit plan receiving benefits. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 26 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 36 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=26&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_36_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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- Definition The amount of employee expenses that the entity does not separately disclose in the same statement or note. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_5&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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- Definition Key management personnel compensation including pension contributions and other retirement benefits. + References No definition available. + Details
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