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commitment.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20truefalsefalse660000000660000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerKilometers to renovate in the Joint Venture commitment.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseKilometers to renovate in the Joint Venture commitment12false0vale_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationSaleConsiderationvalefalsecreditdurationDisposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Sale Consideration.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9truefalsefalse385000000385000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22truefalsefalse275000000275000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryDisposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Sale Consideration.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseAmount of total capital sold on acquisition13false0vale_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfCapitalInvestmentvalefalsenainstantBusiness Acquisition Percentage Of Capital Investment.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24truetruefalse0.400.40falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureBusiness Acquisition Percentage Of Capital Investment.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseBusiness acquisition percentage of total capital14false0us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquiredus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse62520000006252000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse19520000001952000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12truefalsefalse57950000005795000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16truefalsefalse802000000802000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19truefalsefalse850000000850000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe cash outflow associated with the acquisition of a business, net of the cash acquired from the purchase.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 15, 17 falsefalsePayment made for business acquisition15false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePriceus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse9200000092000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14truefalsefalse10000000001000000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20truefalsefalse500000000500000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse21truefalsefalse2100000021000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 51 -Subparagraph d falsefalsePayment made for business acquisition16false0vale_CapitalInvestmentAmountvalefalsecreditdurationCapital Investment Amount.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23truefalsefalse550000000550000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCapital Investment Amount.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseCapital amount invested on acquisition17false0vale_GainLossOnCapitalInvestmentAmountvalefalsecreditdurationGain Loss On Capital Investment Amount.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22truefalsefalse321000000321000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryGain Loss On Capital Investment Amount.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseDifference between fair value and carrying value18false0vale_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfCapitalAcquiredAdditionalvalefalsenadurationBusiness Acquisition Percentage Of Capital Acquired Additional.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8truetruefalse0.2450.245falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14truetruefalse0.20270.2027falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureBusiness Acquisition Percentage Of Capital Acquired Additional.No authoritative reference available.falsefalsePercent business acquired from stock options excersized19false0vale_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationPercentVotingInterestAgreementToSalevalefalsenadurationDisposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Percent Voting Interest Agreement To Sale.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6truetruefalse0.300.30falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureDisposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Percent Voting Interest Agreement To Sale.No authoritative reference available.falsefalsePercentage stake acquired of Oman Oil Company S.A.O.C20false0vale_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationAgreementToSaleAmountvalefalsecreditdurationDisposal group including discontinued operation agreement to sale amount.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5truefalsefalse125000000125000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryDisposal group including discontinued operation agreement to sale amount.No authoritative reference available.falsefalsePayment made for business acquisition21false0vale_PercentIncreaseInCapitalParticipationvalefalsenadurationPercent increase in Capital Participation.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse0051.0% to 75.5%51.0% to 75.5%falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringPercent increase in Capital Participation.No authoritative reference available.falsefalsePercentage Increase in participation in Belvedere Coal Project22false0us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15truefalsefalse273000000273000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe cash inflow associated with the sale of equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 15 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph b falsefalseProceed from sale of common shares23false0us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15truefalsefalse153000000153000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe difference between the book value and the sale price of investments in joint ventures and entities in which the reporting entity has an equity ownership interest, generally of 20 to 50 percent, and exercises significant influence. This element refers to the non cash gain (loss).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 28 falsefalseGain on sale of common shares24false0us-gaap_BusinessCombinationProFormaInformationEarningsOrLossOfAcquireeSinceAcquisitionDateActualus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse15070000001507000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of earnings or loss of the acquiree since the acquisition date included in the consolidated income statement for the reporting period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 68 -Subparagraph r(1) falsefalseAcquired business contributed revenues25false0us-gaap_BusinessCombinationProFormaInformationRevenueOfAcquireeSinceAcquisitionDateActualus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1000000010000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of revenue of the acquiree since the acquisition date included in the consolidated income statement for the reporting period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 68 -Subparagraph r(1) falsefalseAcquired business contributed net profit26false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaRevenueus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse770000000770000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the periodReference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 68 -Subparagraph r(2, 3) Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 54 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 55 falsefalseAcquired business, Pro Forma revenues27false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaNetIncomeLossus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1200000012000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe pro forma net income (loss) for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a periodReference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 68 -Subparagraph r(2, 3) Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 54 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 55 falsefalseAcquired business, Pro Forma net profit28false0us-gaap_BusinessCombinationStepAcquisitionEquityInterestInAcquireePercentageus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse0.26870.2687falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:pureItemTypepureIn a business combination achieved in stages, this element represents the acquisition-date percentage of equity in the acquiree held by the acquirer immediately before the acquisition date.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseIncreased stake in ThyssenKrupp CSA Siderurgica do Atlantico Ltda, upto percentage29false0us-gaap_BusinessCombinationStepAcquisitionEquityInterestInAcquireeFairValueus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse14240000001424000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryIn a business combination achieved in stages, this element represents the acquisition-date fair value of the equity interest in the acquiree held by the acquirer immediately before the acquisition date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 68 -Subparagraph q(1) falsefalseCapital subscription of ThyssenKrupp CSA Siderurgica do Atlantico Ltda30false0vale_PercentageStakeAcquiredInJointVenturevalefalsenadurationPercentage stake acquired in joint 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stake acquired in joint venture.No authoritative reference available.falsefalsePercentage stake acquired in joint venture with African Rainbow Minerals Limited31false0us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInterestInJointVentureus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse6000000060000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse20falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse22falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse23falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse24falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe cash outflow associated with the investment in or advances to an entity in which the reporting entity shares control of the entity with another party or group.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph b falsefalsePayments made to acquired interest in joint venture with African Rainbow Minerals Limited2430Major Acquisitions and Disposals (Details Textual) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue