OTHER ASSETS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Other Assets [Abstract]

Schedule of Other Assets

The components of other assets follow:

	December 31,
	2018		2017
Disputed tax assessments:a
PT-FI	$	493	$	417
Cerro Verde	183		185
Long-term receivable for taxesb	260		445
Intangible assetsc	398		307
Investments:
Assurance bondd	126		123
PT Smeltinge	125		61
Fixed income and equity securities	29		30
Other	36		48
Contingent consideration associated with sales of assetsf	189		234
Legally restricted fundsg	181		189
Rio Tinto’s share of ARO	—		68
Long-term employee receivables	20		20
Other	132		146
Total other assets	$	2,172	$	2,273

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 associated with U.S. tax reform, refer to Note 11).

c. Indefinite-lived intangible assets totaled $215 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017. Accumulated amortization of definite-lived intangible assets totaled $51 million at December 31, 2018, and $46 million at December 31, 2017.

d. Relates to PT-FI’s commitment for the development of a new smelter 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 $11 million at December 31, 2018, and $68 million at December 31, 2017. Trade accounts receivable from PT Smelting totaled $176 million at December 31, 2018, and $308 million at December 31, 2017.

f. Refer to Note 2 for further discussion.

g. Includes $180 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, held in trusts for AROs related to properties in New Mexico (refer to Note 12 for further discussion).