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Intangible assets - Summary of exploration and evaluation expenditure (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Exploration And Evaluation Expenditure [Abstract] |  |  |
Net expenditure in the year (net of cash proceeds of US$10 million (2018: US$233 million; 2017: US$3 million) on disposal of undeveloped projects) | $ (671) | $ (345) | $ (493)
Non-cash movements and non-cash proceeds on disposal of undeveloped projects | 0 | 45 | (24)
Amount capitalised during the year | 57 | 90 | 57
Net charge for the year | (614) | (210) | (460)
Reconciliation to income statement |  |  |
Exploration and evaluation costs | (624) | (488) | (445)
Profit/(loss) relating to interests in undeveloped projects | 10 | 278 | (15)
Net charge for the year | $ (614) | $ (210) | $ (460)

X
- Definition The amount of expense arising from the search for mineral resources, including minerals, oil, natural gas and similar non-regenerative resources after the entity has obtained legal rights to explore in a specific area, as well as the determination of the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting the mineral resource. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 6 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 24 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=6&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_24_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The amount of liabilities arising from the search for mineral resources, including minerals, oil, natural gas and similar non-regenerative resources after the entity has obtained legal rights to explore in a specific area, as well as the determination of the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting the mineral resource. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 6 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 24 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=6&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_24_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition The net outflow (cash and non-cash) for the purchase of exploration and evaluation assets. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_ExplorationAndEvaluationCharge
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The net cash outflow for the purchase of exploration and evaluation assets. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_ExplorationAndEvaluationExpenditure
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Exploration and evaluation expenditure [abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_ExplorationAndEvaluationExpenditureAbstract
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Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
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- Definition Non-cash movements and non-cash proceeds on disposal of undeveloped projects. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_NoncashMovementsAndProceedsOnDisposalOfUndevelopedProjects
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of Profit/(loss) relating to interests in undeveloped projects. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_ProfitLossRelatingToInterestsInUndevelopedProjects
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Reconciliation to income statement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_ReconciliationToIncomeStatementAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration