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Operating segments - Summary of underlying earnings within the reportable segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying earnings | $ 8,627 | $ 5,100 | $ 4,540
– attributable to owners of Rio Tinto (net earnings/(loss)) | 8,762 | 4,617 | (866)
Items excluded from underlying earnings | 135 | (483) | (5,406)
Reportable segments [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying earnings | 9,642 | 6,064 | 5,515
Reportable segments [Member] | Iron Ore [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying earnings | 6,692 | 4,611 | 3,940
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying earnings | 1,583 | 947 | 1,118
Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying earnings | 263 | (18) | 370
Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying earnings | 1,242 | 612 | 177
Reportable segments [Member] | Other operations [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Underlying earnings | (138) | (88) | (90)
Other items [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
– attributable to owners of Rio Tinto (net earnings/(loss)) | (483) | (241) | (375)
Exploration and evaluation not attributed to product groups [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
– attributable to owners of Rio Tinto (net earnings/(loss)) | (178) | (147) | (211)
Finance costs [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
– attributable to owners of Rio Tinto (net earnings/(loss)) | $ (354) | $ (576) | $ (389)

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- Definition The profit (loss) attributable to owners of the parent. [Refer: Profit (loss)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 81B -Subparagraph a -Clause ii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_81B_a_ii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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- Definition Underlying earnings reflect the following adjustments which are excluded from net earnings/(loss) in each period irrespective of materiality: (1) Net gains/(losses) on disposal and consolidation of interests in businesses. (2) Impairment charges and reversals of cash generating unit. (3) Profit/(loss) after tax from discontinued operations. (4) Certain exchange and derivative gains and losses. This exclusion includes exchange gains/(losses) on US dollar net debt and intragroup balances, gains/(losses) on currency and interest rate derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting and gains/(losses) on commodity derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting. + References No definition available. + Details
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