XML 340 R137.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.10.0.1

Goodwill - Summary of Allocated goodwill (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 912	$ 1,037	$ 951
Richards Bay Minerals [member]
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	474	552
Pilbara [member]
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	351	389
Dampier Salt [member]
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 87	$ 96

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_DisclosureOfReconciliationOfChangesInGoodwillLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of assets representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognised. [Refer: Business combinations [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 3
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph B67
-Subparagraph d
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=3&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_B67_d&doctype=Appendix&seq=2
-URIDate 2017-03-09

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 36
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph 134
-Subparagraph a
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=36&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_134_a&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2017-03-09

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 36
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph 135
-Subparagraph a
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=36&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_135_a&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2017-03-09

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph 54
-Subparagraph c
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_54_c&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2017-03-09

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_IndividualAssetsOrCashgeneratingUnitsAxis=rio_RichardsBayMineralsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_IndividualAssetsOrCashgeneratingUnitsAxis=rio_PilbaraMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_IndividualAssetsOrCashgeneratingUnitsAxis=rio_DampierSaltMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: