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Dividends - Summary of dividends per share (Parenthetical) (Detail) - Rio Tinto Limited [member]	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Dividends [Line Items]
Franked final dividend percentage	30.00%	30.00%	30.00%
Franked Interim dividend percentage	30.00%	30.00%	30.00%

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- Definition

Disclosure of Dividends [Line Items]

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In this arrangement the shareholder is able to reduce the tax paid on the final dividend by an amount equal to the tax imputation credits.

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In this arrangement the shareholder is able to reduce the tax paid on the interim dividend by an amount equal to the tax imputation credits.

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