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Operating segments - Summary of depreciation and amortisation within the reportable segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | $ 4,375 | $ 4,794 | $ 4,645
Reportable segments [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 4,980 | 5,269 | 5,039
Reportable segments [Member] | Iron Ore [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 1,645 | 1,645 | 1,744
Reportable segments [Member] | Aluminium [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 1,199 | 1,250 | 1,172
Reportable segments [Member] | Copper & Diamonds [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 1,452 | 1,601 | 1,261
Reportable segments [Member] | Energy & Minerals [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 652 | 739 | 830
Reportable segments [Member] | Other operations [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 32 | 34 | 32
Other items [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | 42 | 51 | 68
Depreciation and amortisation of equity accounted units [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of operating segments [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation and amortisation expense proportionately consolidated | $ (647) | $ (526) | $ (462)

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- Definition The amount of depreciation and amortisation expense. Depreciation and amortisation are the systematic allocations of depreciable amounts of assets over their useful lives. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 8 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 23 -Subparagraph e -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=8&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_23_e&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 8 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph e -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=8&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_28_e&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph B13 -Subparagraph d -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=12&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_B13_d&doctype=Appendix&seq=2 -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 102 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_102&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 99 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_99&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 104 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_104&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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