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available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse002012-12-01falsefalsetruefalsefalseOtherxbrli:dateItemTypedateThe date the derivative matures.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseMaturity dates16false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://vale.com/role/derivativefinancialinstrumentsdetails21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsetruefalse{vale_TypeOfDerivativesAxis} : Copper [Member] 12/31/2010 BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_Copper_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000917851instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCopper [Member]vale_TypeOfDerivativesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldivale_CopperMembervale_TypeOfDerivativesAxisexplicitMemberOthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseCopper [Member]17true0vale_FinalMaturityDatesAbstractvalefalsenadurationFinal Maturity Dates 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[Member]vale_TypeOfDerivativesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldivale_CoalMembervale_TypeOfDerivativesAxisexplicitMemberOthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseCoal [Member]20true0vale_FinalMaturityDatesAbstractvalefalsenadurationFinal Maturity Dates Abstract.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringFinal Maturity Dates Abstract.falsefalseFinal Maturity Dates21false0us-gaap_DerivativeMaturityDateus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse002010-12-01falsefalsetruefalsefalseOtherxbrli:dateItemTypedateThe date the derivative matures.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseMaturity dates121Derivative financial instruments (Details 2)UnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue