XML 355 R158.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.19.3.a.u2

Assets and liabilities held for sale - Additional information (Detail) - Assets and liabilities classified as held for sale [Member] $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Rossing Uranium Limited [Member]
Disclosure Of Assets And Liabilities Held For Sale [Line Items]
Ownership interest in subsidiary	$ 106
ISAL Smelter [Member]
Disclosure Of Assets And Liabilities Held For Sale [Line Items]
Ownership interest in subsidiary	$ 334

X

- Definition

Disclosure Of Assets And Liabilities Held For Sale [Line Items]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rio_DisclosureOfAssetsAndLiabilitiesHeldForSaleLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	rio_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Net assets of assets held for sale.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rio_NetAssetsOfAssetsHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix:	rio_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_AssetsAndLiabilitiesClassifiedAsHeldForSaleAxis=ifrs-full_AssetsAndLiabilitiesClassifiedAsHeldForSaleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_CategoriesOfRelatedPartiesAxis=rio_RossingUraniumLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_CategoriesOfRelatedPartiesAxis=rio_ISALSmelterMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: