Inventories (Details) (USD $) In Millions	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Inventories
Coal	$ 61	$ 74
Spare parts and maintenance supplies	1,144	1,544
Inventory net	4,810	4,298
Inventories (Textuals)
Adjustment to reduce inventories to market value	0	0
Nickel (co-products and by-products) [Member]
Inventories
Finished products	2,161	1,310
Iron ore and pellets [Member]
Inventories
Finished products	794	825
Manganese and ferroalloys [Member]
Inventories
Finished products	204	203
Fertilizer [Member]
Inventories
Finished products	237	171
Copper concentrate [Member]
Inventories
Finished products	93	28
Others [Member]
Inventories
Finished products	$ 116	$ 143

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of coal, which is a combustible rock or minerals which are extracted from the ground and used as fuel.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph a
-Article 5

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Certain changes made in the current period to the value and amount of inventory reported.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 43
-Chapter 3
-Section A
-Paragraph 9

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph b
-Article 5

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- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of merchandise or goods held by the company that are readily available for sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph a
-Article 5

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- Definition

Carrying amount (lower of cost or market) as of the balance sheet date of inventories less all valuation and other allowances. Excludes noncurrent inventory balances (expected to remain on hand past one year or one operating cycle, if longer).

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- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of components of assembled products that can be sold directly or indirectly through sales of assembled products.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 6
-Article 5

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- Definition

Inventories.

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