XML 240 R233.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Principal associates - Summary of principal associates (Parenthetical) (Detail) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017
Mineracao Rio do Norte S.A. [member] |
Disclosure of associates [Line Items] |
Group interest (%), Associate | 12.00%
Halco (Mining) Inc [member] | Compagnie des Bauxites de Guine [member] |
Disclosure of associates [Line Items] |
Indirect interest in associate | 51.00%
Company of operation, Subsidiary | Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée
Country of incorporation, Subsidiary | Guinea

X
- Definition The country in which a subsidiary of the entity is incorporated. [Refer: Subsidiaries [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 27 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph b -Clause ii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=27&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_16_b_ii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 27 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph b -Clause ii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=27&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_17_b_ii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=12&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_12_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 19B -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=12&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_19B_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CountryOfIncorporationOrResidenceOfSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes of the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfSignificantInvestmentsInAssociatesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The name of a subsidiary. [Refer: Subsidiaries [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 27 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph b -Clause i -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=27&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_17_b_i&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 27 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph b -Clause i -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=27&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_16_b_i&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=12&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_12_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 19B -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=12&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_19B_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_NameOfSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The proportion of ownership interest in an associate attributable to the entity. [Refer: Associates [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 27 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph b -Clause iii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=27&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_17_b_iii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 27 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph b -Clause iii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=27&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_16_b_iii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph a -Clause iv -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=12&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_21_a_iv&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ProportionOfOwnershipInterestInAssociate
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The percentage of indirect ownership or interest in an associate. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_IndirectInterestInAssociate
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInAssociatesAxis=rio_MineracaoRioDoNorteSaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInAssociatesAxis=rio_HalcoMiningIncMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesAxis=rio_CompagnieDesBauxitesDeGuineMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |