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Share capital (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
Rio Tinto plc [member] |
Disclosure Of Classes Of Share Capital [Line Items] |
Summary of share capital |
| 2017 US$m | 2016 US$m
Issued and fully paid up share capital of 10p each (a) |  |
At 1 January | 224 | 224
Ordinary shares purchased and cancelled (b) | (4) | -
At 31 December | 220 | 224
(a) | 26,241 new shares (2016: 33,210 new shares) were issued during the year and 147,126 shares (2016: 743,380 shares) were reissued from treasury pursuant to share plans.
(b) | During the year 32,937,109 shares (2016: nil shares) were purchased and immediately cancelled.

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