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Principal joint ventures - Reconciliation of financial information for joint ventures by carrying value (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Disclosure of joint ventures [line items]
Net assets/(liabilities)	$ 51,903	$ 45,242
Minera Escondida Limitada
Disclosure of joint ventures [line items]
Net assets/(liabilities)	8,567	8,203
Group's ownership interest	2,570	2,461
Carrying value of Group's interest	2,570	2,461
Sohar
Disclosure of joint ventures [line items]
Net assets/(liabilities)	1,245	2,285
Group's ownership interest	249	457
Carrying value of Group's interest	$ 249	$ 457

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- 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.

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- Definition

The amount of investments in joint ventures in an entity's separate financial statements. [Refer: Joint ventures [member]]

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- Definition

The amount of investments in joint ventures accounted for using the equity method. [Refer: Joint ventures [member]; Investments accounted for using equity method]

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The amount of assets less the amount of liabilities.

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