Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Segment Reporting (Narrative) (Details)

v2.4.0.6
Segment Reporting (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Billions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Percentage Of Revenue Attributable To Major Customers 10.00% 10.00% 10.00%
Total revenue from three customers which individually account for more than 10 percent of our consolidated product revenue $ 1.4 $ 1.8 $ 0.8
Eastern Canadian Iron Ore [Member]
     
Number of mines 2    
U.S. Iron Ore [Member]
     
Number of mines 5    
Metallurgical Coal Mines [Member]
     
Number of mines 5    
Thermal Coal Mines [Member]
     
Number of mines 1    
Amapa [Member]
     
Percent ownership interest 30.00%    
Amapa [Member] | Latin American Iron Ore [Member]
     
Percent ownership interest 30.00%    
Sonoma [Member] | Asia Pacific Coal [Member]
     
Percent ownership interest 45.00%