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Principal subsidiaries - Summary of principal in subsidiaries (Detail) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
Argyle Diamonds Limited [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%
Argyle Diamonds Limited [member] | Ordinary shares [Member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Australia
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Argyle Diamonds Limited
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Mining and processing of diamonds
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%
Dampier Salt Limited [member] | Ordinary shares [Member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Australia
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Dampier Salt Limited
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Salt and gypsum
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 68.36%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 68.36%
Non-controlling interest (%), Subsidiary | 31.64%
Energy Resources of Australia Limited [Member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 68.40%
Energy Resources of Australia Limited [Member] | Ordinary shares [Member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Australia
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Energy Resources of Australia Limited
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Uranium mining
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 68.39%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 68.39%
Non-controlling interest (%), Subsidiary | 31.61%
Hamersley Iron Pty Limited [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%
Hamersley Iron Pty Limited [member] | Ordinary shares [Member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Australia
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Hamersley Iron Pty Limited
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Iron ore mining
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%
North Mining Limited [member] | Ordinary shares [Member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Australia
Company of operation, Subsidiary | North Mining Limited
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Iron ore mining
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%
Queensland Coal Pty Limited [member] | Ordinary shares [Member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Australia
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Queensland Coal Pty Limited
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Coal mining
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%
Rio Tinto Aluminium (Holdings) Limited [member] | Ordinary shares [Member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Australia
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Rio Tinto Aluminium (Holdings) Limited
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Bauxite mining; alumina production; primary aluminium smelting
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%
Robe River Mining Co Pty Ltd [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Australia
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Robe River Mining Co Pty Ltd
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Iron ore mining
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 60.00%
Non-controlling interest (%), Subsidiary | 40.00%
Robe River Mining Co Pty Ltd [member] | Class A shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 40.00%
Robe River Mining Co Pty Ltd [member] | Class B shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 76.36%
Alcan Alumina Ltda. [member] | Quota shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Brazil
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Alcan Alumina Ltda.
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Alumina production and bauxite mining
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%
Iron Ore Company of Canada [member] | Common shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Canada
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Iron Ore Company of Canada
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Iron ore mining; iron ore pellets
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 58.72%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 58.72%
Non-controlling interest (%), Subsidiary | 41.28%
Rio Tinto Fer et Titane Inc. [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%
Rio Tinto Fer et Titane Inc. [member] | Common shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Canada
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Rio Tinto Fer et Titane Inc.
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Titanium dioxide feedstock; high purity iron and steel
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%
Rio Tinto Fer et Titane Inc. [member] | Class B preference shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Canada
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Rio Tinto Fer et Titane Inc.
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Titanium dioxide feedstock; high purity iron and steel
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%
Rio Tinto Fer et Titane Inc. [member] | Preferred shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Canada
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Rio Tinto Fer et Titane Inc.
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Titanium dioxide feedstock; high purity iron and steel
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%
Diavik Diamond Mines (2012) Inc. [member] | Common shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Canada
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Diavik Diamond Mines (2012) Inc.
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Diamond mining and processing
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%
Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. [member] | Common shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Canada
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Rio Tinto Alcan Inc.
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Bauxite mining; alumina refining; aluminium smelting
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%
Simfer Jersey Limited [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 53.00%
Simfer Jersey Limited [member] | Ordinary shares [Member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Guinea
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Simfer Jersey Limited
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Iron ore project
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 53.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 53.00%
Non-controlling interest (%), Subsidiary | 47.00%
Simfer Jersey Limited [member] | Common shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 53.00%
QIT Madagascar Minerals SA [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 80.00%
QIT Madagascar Minerals SA [member] | Common shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Madagascar
Company of operation, Subsidiary | QIT Madagascar Minerals SA
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Ilmenite mining
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 80.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 80.00%
QIT Madagascar Minerals SA [member] | Common Shares and Investment Certificates [Member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Non-controlling interest (%), Subsidiary | 15.00%
QIT Madagascar Minerals SA [member] | Investment certificates [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Madagascar
Company of operation, Subsidiary | QIT Madagascar Minerals SA
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Ilmenite mining
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%
QIT Madagascar Minerals SA [member] | Voting certificates [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Madagascar
Company of operation, Subsidiary | QIT Madagascar Minerals SA
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Ilmenite mining
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 80.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 80.00%
Non-controlling interest (%), Subsidiary | 20.00%
Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd (including Oyu Tolgoi LLC) [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 51.00%
Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd (including Oyu Tolgoi LLC) [member] | Common shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Mongolia
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd (including Oyu Tolgoi LLC)
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Copper and gold mining
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 50.79%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 50.79%
Non-controlling interest (%), Subsidiary | 49.21%
Rossing Uranium Limited [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 68.60%
Rossing Uranium Limited [member] | B class of shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Namibia
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Rössing Uranium Limited
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Uranium mining
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 71.22%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 68.62%
Non-controlling interest (%), Subsidiary | 31.38%
Rossing Uranium Limited [member] | C class of shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Namibia
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Rössing Uranium Limited
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Uranium mining
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 70.59%
Rossing Uranium Limited [member] | Class B and Class C of Shares [Member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 68.62%
Richards Bay Titanium (Proprietary) Limited [member] | B ordinary shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | South Africa
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Richards Bay Titanium (Proprietary) Limited
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Titanium dioxide/high purity iron production
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Richards Bay Titanium (Proprietary) Limited [member] | B preference shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | South Africa
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Richards Bay Titanium (Proprietary) Limited
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Titanium dioxide/high purity iron production
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Richards Bay Titanium (Proprietary) Limited [member] | Parent preference shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | South Africa
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Richards Bay Titanium (Proprietary) Limited
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Titanium dioxide/high purity iron production
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Richards Bay Titanium (Proprietary) Limited [member] | B Ordinary, B Preference and Parent Preference Shares [Member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 74.00%
Non-controlling interest (%), Subsidiary | 26.00%
Richards Bay Mining (Proprietary) Limited [member] | B ordinary shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | South Africa
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Richards Bay Mining (Proprietary) Limited
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Ilmenite, rutile and zircon mining
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Richards Bay Mining (Proprietary) Limited [member] | B preference shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | South Africa
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Richards Bay Mining (Proprietary) Limited
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Ilmenite, rutile and zircon mining
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Richards Bay Mining (Proprietary) Limited [member] | Parent preference shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | South Africa
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Richards Bay Mining (Proprietary) Limited
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Ilmenite, rutile and zircon mining
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Richards Bay Mining (Proprietary) Limited [member] | B Ordinary, B Preference and Parent Preference Shares [Member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 74.00%
Non-controlling interest (%), Subsidiary | 26.00%
Kennecott Holdings Corporation (including Kennecott Utah Copper, Kennecott Land and Kennecott Exploration) [member] | Common shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | United States of America
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Kennecott Holdings Corporation (including Kennecott Utah Copper, Kennecott Land and Kennecott Exploration)
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Copper and gold mining, smelting and refining, land development and exploration activities
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%
U.S. Borax Inc. [member] | Common shares [member] |
Disclosure Of Significant Investments In Subsidiaries [Line Items] |
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | United States of America
Company of operation, Subsidiary | U.S. Borax Inc.
Principal activities, Subsidiary | Mining, refining and marketing of borates
Proportion of class held (%), Subsidiary | 100.00%
Ownership percentage in subsidiary | 100.00%

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