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Share-based payments - Summary of options outstanding and exercisable (Detail) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Option | Dec. 31, 2017 GBP (£) Option | Dec. 31, 2016 Option
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Disclosure Of Terms And Conditions Of Sharebased Payment Arrangement [Line Items] |  |  |
Options outstanding, number | Option | 188,766 | 188,766 | 567,598
Aggregate intrinsic value | $ | $ 3 |  |
Rio Tinto plc [member] | Exercise price GBP16 - GBP43 [member] | Share Option Plan [member] |  |  |
Disclosure Of Terms And Conditions Of Sharebased Payment Arrangement [Line Items] |  |  |
Options outstanding, number | Option | 164,119 | 164,119 |
Weighted average exercise price per option | £ |  | £ 32 |
Weighted average remaining contractual life Years | 2.56 | 2.56 |
Aggregate intrinsic value | $ | $ 2 |  |
Rio Tinto Limited [member] | Exercise price A$33 [member] | Share Option Plan [member] |  |  |
Disclosure Of Terms And Conditions Of Sharebased Payment Arrangement [Line Items] |  |  |
Options outstanding, number | Option | 24,647 | 24,647 |
Weighted average exercise price per option | £ |  | £ 33 |
Weighted average remaining contractual life Years | 1.21 | 1.21 |
Aggregate intrinsic value | $ | $ 1 |  |

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- Definition The intrinsic value of liabilities arising from share-based transactions for which the counterparty's right to cash or other assets had vested by the end of the period (for example, vested share appreciation rights). The intrinsic value is the difference between the fair value of the shares to which the counterparty has the (conditional or unconditional) right to subscribe, or which it has the right to receive, and the price (if any) that the counterparty is (or will be) required to pay for those shares. Share-based payment transactions are transactions in which the entity: (a) receives goods or services from the supplier of those goods or services (including an employee) in a share-based payment arrangement; or (b) incurs an obligation to settle the transaction with the supplier in a share-based payment arrangement when another group entity receives those goods or services, for which the counterparty's right to cash or other assets had vested by the end of the period (for example, vested share appreciation rights). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 2 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 51 -Subparagraph b -Clause ii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=2&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_51_b_ii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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- Definition The number of share options outstanding in a share-based payment arrangement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 2 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph d -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=2&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_45_d&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 2 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph b -Clause i -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=2&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_45_b_i&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 2 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph b -Clause vi -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=2&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_45_b_vi&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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- Definition The weighted average exercise price of share options outstanding in a share-based payment arrangement. [Refer: Weighted average [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 2 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph b -Clause i -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=2&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_45_b_i&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 2 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph b -Clause vi -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=2&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_45_b_vi&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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