2.2.0.25falsefalse0501 - Disclosure - The Company and its operations (Tables)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Jan-01-2010_Dec-31-2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000917851duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0vale_CompanyAndItsOperationsTablesAbstractvalefalsenadurationThe Company and its operations.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse| 1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse | Otherxbrli:stringItemTypestringThe Company and its operations.falsefalse
3false0vale_PrincipalConsolidatedOperatingSubsidiariesTextBlockvalefalsenadurationPrincipal consolidated operating subsidiaries.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel| 1falsefalsefalse00<!--DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd" -->
<!-- Begin Block Tagged Note Table: VALE-20101231_note1_table1 - vale:PrincipalConsolidatedOperatingSubsidiariesTextBlock-->
<div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica">
<div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt"> 
</div>
<table border="0" width="100%" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent; text-align: left">
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<tr style="font-size: 9pt" valign="bottom" align="center">
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom">
 
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
 
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
<b>% voting<br />
</b>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
 
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom" align="center">
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="left" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">
<b><font style="font-size: 9pt">Subsidiary</font></b>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">
<b><font style="font-size: 9pt">% ownership</font></b>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">
<b><font style="font-size: 9pt">capital</font></b>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">
<b><font style="font-size: 9pt">Location</font></b>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">
<b><font style="font-size: 9pt">Principal activity</font></b>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="line-height: 3pt; font-size: 1pt">
<td> 
</td>
</tr>
<!-- TableOutputBody -->
<tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Alumina do Norte do Brasil S.A. - Alunorte(*)
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
57.03
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
59.02
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Brazil
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Alumina
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Alumínio Brasileiro S.A. - Albras(*)
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
51.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
51.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Brazil
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Aluminum
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Compañia Minera Misky Mayo S.A.C.
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
40.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
51.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Peru
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Fertilizer
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica S.A.
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
99.99
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
99.99
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Brazil
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Logistics
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Ferrovia Norte Sul S.A. 
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Brazil
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Logistics
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Mineração Corumbá Reunidas S.A. 
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Brazil
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Iron ore
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
PT International Nickel Indonesia Tbk
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
59.14
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
59.14
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Indonesia
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Nickel
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Sociedad Contractual Minera Tres Valles
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
90.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
90.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Chile
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Copper
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Urucum Mineração S.A. 
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Brazil
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td align="center" valign="bottom">
Iron Ore and Manganese
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Vale Australia Pty Ltd. 
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Australia
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Coal
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Vale Austria Holdings GMBH
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Austria
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td align="center" valign="bottom">
Holding and Exploration
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Vale Canada Limited
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Canada
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Nickel
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Vale Colombia Ltd. 
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Colombia
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Coal
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Vale Fertilizantes S.A
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
78.92
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
99.83
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Brazil
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Fertilizer
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Vale Fosfatados S.A
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Brazil
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Fertilizer
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Vale International S.A
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Switzerland
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Trading
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Vale Manganês S.A. 
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
100.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Brazil
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td align="center" valign="bottom">
Manganese and Ferroalloys
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="bottom">
<td align="left" valign="bottom">
<div style="text-indent: -9pt; margin-left: 9pt">
Vale Nouvelle Caledonie SAS
</div>
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
74.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="bottom">
74.00
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
New Caledonia
</td>
<td>
 
</td>
<td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="bottom">
Nickel
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent">
</div>
<div style="margin-top: 3pt; font-size: 1pt"> 
</div>
<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: transparent; text-align: left">
<tr>
<td width="1%"></td>
<td width="1%"></td>
<td width="98%"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<font style="font-size: 8pt">(*)
</font></td>
<td></td>
<td valign="bottom">
<font style="font-size: 8pt">Classified as current assets held
for sale.
</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
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<!-- Begin Block Tagged Notefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse | Otherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringPrincipal consolidated operating subsidiaries.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse
12The Company and its operations (Tables)UnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue