OTHER ASSETS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Other Assets [Abstract]

Schedule of Other Assets

The components of other assets follow:

	December 31,
	2017		2016
Disputed tax assessments:a
PT-FI	$	417	$	331
Cerro Verde	185		277
Long-term receivable for taxesb	445		129
Intangible assetsc	306		305
Investments:
Assurance bondd	123		120
PT Smeltinge	61		83
Available-for-sale securities	30		50
Other	48		50
Contingent consideration associated with sales of assetsf	234		196
Legally restricted fundsg	189		182
Rio Tinto’s share of ARO	68		71
Long-term employee receivables	20		32
Other	144		130
Total other assets	$	2,270	$	1,956

a. Refer to Note 12 for further discussion.

b. Includes tax overpayments and refunds not expected to be realized within the next 12 months (primarily in the U.S. associated with U.S. tax reform, refer to Note 11).

c. Indefinite-lived intangible assets totaled $215 million at December 31, 2017, and $217 million at December 31, 2016. Definite-lived intangible assets were net of accumulated amortization totaling $46 million at December 31, 2017, and $37 million at December 31, 2016.

d. Relates to PT-FI’s commitment for smelter development in Indonesia (refer to Note 13 for further discussion).

e. PT-FI’s 25 percent ownership in PT Smelting (smelter and refinery in Gresik, Indonesia) is recorded using the equity method. Amounts were reduced by unrecognized profits on sales from PT-FI to PT Smelting totaling $68 million at December 31, 2017, and $39 million at December 31, 2016. Trade accounts receivable from PT Smelting totaled $308 million at December 31, 2017, and $283 million at December 31, 2016.

f. Refer to Note 2 for further discussion.

g. Includes $180 million at December 31, 2017, and $173 million at December 31, 2016, held in trusts for AROs related to properties in New Mexico (refer to Note 12 for further discussion).