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Share capital - Rio Tinto Limited - Summary of share capital (Detail) $ in Millions, $ in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Nov. 30, 2017 shares | Apr. 30, 2015 shares | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2017 AUD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2016 AUD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) shares
Disclosure Of Classes Of Share Capital [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjustment on currency translation | $ |  |  | $ 908 |  |  |  |
Rio Tinto Limited [member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Classes Of Share Capital [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issued and fully paid up share capital at beginning balance |  |  | 3,915 | $ 4,004 | $ 3,950 |  | $ 4,535
Adjustment on currency translation | $ |  |  | 310 |  | (35) |  | (503)
Ordinary shares purchased and cancelled | $ |  |  | (85) |  |  |  | (82)
Issued and fully paid up share capital at ending balance |  |  | $ 4,140 | $ 3,893 | $ 3,915 | $ 4,004 | $ 3,950
Number of issued and fully paid up share capital at beginning balance | shares |  |  | 424,190,000 | 424,190,000 | 424,190,000 | 424,190,000 | 435,760,000
Ordinary shares purchased and cancelled | shares | (11,778,064) | (11,566,308) | (11,780,000) | (11,780,000) |  |  | (11,570,000)
Number of issued and fully paid up share capital at ending balance | shares |  |  | 412,410,000 | 412,410,000 | 424,190,000 | 424,190,000 | 424,190,000
Rio Tinto Limited [member] | Special voting share [member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Classes Of Share Capital [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other share classes |  |  | 1 only | 1 only | 1 only | 1 only | 1 only
Rio Tinto Limited [member] | DLC dividend share [member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Of Classes Of Share Capital [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other share classes |  |  | 1 only | 1 only | 1 only | 1 only | 1 only

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