2.2.0.7 false Basis of presentation 0203 - Disclosure - Basis of presentation true false false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 Basis of presentation [Abstract] 0 vale_BasisOfPresentationAbstract vale false na duration Basis of presentation. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Basis of presentation. false 3 Basis of presentation 1 vale_BasisOfPresentationTextBlock vale false na duration Basis of Presentation [Text Block]. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div align="left" style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="1%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>3</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td><b>Basis of presentation</b></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="1%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Our condensed consolidated financial statements for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2010, June 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009 and for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”), are unaudited. However, in our opinion, such condensed consolidated financial statements includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for periods. The results of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010, are not necessarily indicative of the actual results expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2010.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="1%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>This condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2009, prepared in accordance with US GAAP.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="1%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>In preparing the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, we are required to use estimates to account for certain assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Our condensed consolidated financial statements therefore include various estimates concerning the selection of useful lives of property, plant and equipment, impairment, provisions necessary for contingent liabilities, fair values assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, income tax uncertainties, employee post-retirement benefits and other similar evaluations. Actual results may vary from our estimates.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="1%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Since December 2007, significant modifications have been made to the accounting practices adopted in Brazil (“Brazilian GAAP”) as part of a convergence project with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The convergence project is expected to be completed by the end of 2010 and therefore our annual consolidated financial statements for 2010 prepared under Brazilian GAAP will be IFRS compliant. The Company does not expect to discontinue the US GAAP reporting during 2010.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="1%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>The Brazilian real is the parent Company’s functional currency. We have selected the US dollar as our reporting currency.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="1%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>All assets and liabilities have been translated to US dollars at the closing exchange rate at each balance sheet date (or, if unavailable, the first available exchange rate). All statement of income accounts have been translated to US dollars at the average exchange rates prevailing during the respective periods. Capital accounts are recorded at historical exchange rates. Translation gains and losses are recorded in the Cumulative Translation Adjustments account (“CTA”) in stockholders’ equity.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="1%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>The results of operations and financial position of our entities that have a functional currency other than the US dollar, have been translated into US dollars and adjustments to translate those statements into US dollars are recorded in the CTA in stockholders’ equity.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="1%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>The exchange rates used to translate the assets and liabilities of the Brazilian operations at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, were R$1.6942 and R$1.7412, respectively.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="1%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>The Company has assessed subsequent events through to October 27, 2010 which is the date the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements was issued.</td> </tr> </table> </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Basis of Presentation [Text Block]. No authoritative reference available. false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true