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Directors' and key management remuneration - Additional information (Detail) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) Director | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Director | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Director
Disclosure Of Directors And Key Management Remuneration [Line Items] |  |  |
Aggregate remuneration incurred | $ 39,592,000 | $ 31,543,000 | $ 44,218,000
Aggregate pension contribution to defined contribution plans | 629,000 | 415,000 | 3,461,000
Other employment costs | $ 2,360,000 | $ 2,122,000 | $ 2,295,000
Defined Benefit Plan |  |  |
Disclosure Of Directors And Key Management Remuneration [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of directors accrued retirement benefits under defined contribution arrangements | Director | 0 |  | 1
Defined Contribution Plans |  |  |
Disclosure Of Directors And Key Management Remuneration [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of directors accrued retirement benefits under defined contribution arrangements | Director | 3 | 2 | 2
Rio Tinto plc [member] |  |  |
Disclosure Of Directors And Key Management Remuneration [Line Items] |  |  |
Aggregate remuneration incurred | $ 11,465,000 | $ 12,624,000 | $ 10,630,000
Aggregate pension contribution to defined contribution plans | 80,000 | 135,000 | 69,000
Rio Tinto Limited [member] |  |  |
Disclosure Of Directors And Key Management Remuneration [Line Items] |  |  |
Aggregate pension contribution to defined contribution plans | 0 | 0 | 0
Aggregate remuneration including pension contributions and other retirement benefits | $ 607,000 | $ 535,000 | $ 1,696,000

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- Definition The amount of compensation to key management personnel. [Refer: Key management personnel of entity or parent [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 24 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 17 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=24&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_17&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The amount of compensation to key management personnel in the form of post-employment benefits. [Refer: Key management personnel of entity or parent [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 24 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=24&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_17_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The number of participants in a retirement benefit plan receiving benefits. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 26 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 36 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=26&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_36_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The amount of employee expenses that the entity does not separately disclose in the same statement or note. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_5&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition Key management personnel compensation including pension contributions and other retirement benefits. + References No definition available. + Details
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