4Q Production Report-Part 2

Rio Tinto PLC
23 January 2002

PART 2

COAL (Continued)
                                                           FULL    FULL
                   4Q      1Q       2Q      3Q      4Q     YEAR    YEAR
                   2000    2001     2001    2001    2001   2000    2001
Pacific Coal
Total production and sales from the Blair Athol Coal mine (Rio Tinto 71.2%),
the Kestrel Coal mine (Rio Tinto 80%) and the Tarong Coal mine (Rio Tinto
100%) all in Queensland, Australia.

(100% basis)

Blair Athol Coal mine
Thermal coal:
Production
('000 tonnes)      3,378   3,032    2,887   2,808   1,865  11,040  10,592
Sales
('000 tonnes)      3,045   2,926    3,151   2,419   1,814  10,964  10,310
Kestrel Coal mine
Thermal coal:
Production
('000 tonnes)      283     224      312     435     231    1,130   1,202
Sales
('000 tonnes)      146     212      105     104     225    685     645
Coking coal:
Production
('000 tonnes)      476     409      585     715     359    2,167   2,068
Sales
('000 tonnes)      494     314      535     483     312    2,151   1,644
Semi-hard coking
coal: (a)
Sales
('000 tonnes)      192     162      238     378     457    840     1,235
Tarong Coal mine
Thermal coal:
Production
('000 tonnes)      1,273   1,293    1,396   1,253   1,333  4,847   5,276
Sales
('000 tonnes)      1,273   1,310    1,300   1,236   1,474  4,847   5,321
Total Pacific Coal
Total coal
production
('000 tonnes)      5,410   4,958    5,181   5,211   3,788  19,183  19,138

(a) Semi-hard coking coal is a mixture of thermal coal and coking coal. The
product mix is customer dependent.

Blair Athol production and sales were lower in 2001 than 2000 due to train
derailments, which occurred in the third quarter of 2001, combined with
port and rail capacity restrictions in the fourth quarter of 2001.
Production for the fourth quarter 2001 at Kestrel was lower compared with
the second and third quarters due to lower yield in the new panel and to
conveyor belt problems.

Tarong production and sales were higher in the fourth quarter of 2001 due
to greater electricity demand and unit shutdowns at other power stations.

COPPER & GOLD

Alumbrera

Total production and sales at the Bajo de la Alumbrera mine (Rio Tinto 25%
(a)) in Argentina.

(100% basis)

Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      7,102   7,041    7,483   7,515   7,142   10,839  29,181
Average ore grades:
Copper (%)         0.64    0.71     0.74    0.71    0.74    0.62    0.72
Gold (g/t)         0.7     0.8      1.0     1.0     1.1     0.8     1.0
Concentrate produced
('000 tonnes)      148.1   160.4    177.3   174.5   178.3   220.3   690.5
Copper in concentrates:
Production
('000 tonnes)      41.1    44.7     49.6    48.1    49.2    61.1    191.6
Sales
('000 tonnes)      33.4    37.9     57.0    39.3    53.6    50.9    187.8
Production of gold
in concentrates
('000 ounces)      125     127      166     166     178     196     637
Production of gold
in dore
('000 ounces)      8       7        9       9       10      12      36
Total gold sales
('000 ounces)      115     118      193     146     200     180     657

(a)  Rio Tinto acquired its interest in Alumbrera as part of the purchase of
North Limited. Production data are shown from 11 August 2000, the effective
date of the acquisition.

Escondida

Total production at the Escondida mine (Rio Tinto 30%) in Chile.

(100% basis)

Sulphide ore treated
('000 tonnes)      11,535  11,128   10,650  11,204  10,060 46,905   43,042
Average copper
grade (%)          1.94    1.95     1.82    1.75    1.72   1.90     1.81
Mill production (metals in concentrates):
Contained copper
('000 tonnes)      190.7   177.1    160.6   161.0   144.4  776.4    643.1
Contained gold 
('000 ounces)      31      24       24      25      28     129      101
Contained silver
('000 ounces)      769     849      887     757     705    3,282    3,198
Oxide ore treated
('000 tonnes)      4,223   3,360    2,494   3,162   3,225  12,572   12,241
Average copper
grade (%)          1.16    1.09     1.03    1.15    1.01   1.08     1.07
Contained copper in
leachate/mined material
('000 tonnes)      49      37       26      36      33     135      132
Refined production:
Oxide plant
production
('000 tonnes)      35.6    36.5     38.3    38.1    38.1   140.3    151.0

Contained copper for the fourth quarter of 2001 was down on the
corresponding period in 2000 due to lower head grades. Fourth quarter and
full year production figures were adversely impacted by Escondida's
announcement on 8 November 2001 of reduced production due to market
conditions. Oxide plant copper production for 2001 increased 8% compared
with 2000.

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold
Total production and sales at the Grasberg mine (Rio Tinto 14.3% (a)) in
Papua, Indonesia, and the Atlantic Copper smelter (Rio Tinto 16.6%) in Spain.

(100% basis)

Grasberg mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      20,468  20,665   21,842  22,500  21,780 81,803  86,787
Average mill head grades:
Copper (%)         1.33    1.13     1.04    0.96    0.89   1.07    1.00
Gold (g/t)         1.64    1.68     1.57    1.36    1.03   1.10    1.41
Silver (g/t)       3.70    3.45     3.33    3.03    2.99   2.97    3.20

Production of metals in concentrates:
Copper in
concentrates
('000 tonnes)      246.3   204.4    193.9   183.3   167.8  769.3   749.4
Gold in
concentrates
('000 ounces)      920     975      1,013   915     693    2,436   3,596
Silver in
concentrates
('000 ounces)      1,701   1,570    1,478   1,313   1,184  4,985   5,545
Sales of payable metals
in concentrates: (b)
Copper in
concentrates
('000 tonnes)      244.8   174.6    203.1   181.8   166.6  745.5   726.1
Gold in
concentrates
('000 ounces)      911     833      1,062   904     700    2,387   3,499
Silver in concentrates
('000 ounces)      1,347   1,078    1,238   1,030   934    3,848   4,280

(a) See note (i) on page 6 for details of Rio Tinto's 14.3% interest in
    Grasberg and 40% interest in the expansion.
(b) Net of smelter deductions.

In the fourth quarter of 2001, ore treated and average mill head grades
declined compared with the third quarter of 2001 resulting in lower
production and sales.  Production and sales of copper and gold in the fourth
quarter of 2001 decreased significantly compared with the corresponding
period of 2001 because of lower ore grades.

Atlantic Copper smelter
Concentrate smelted
('000 tonnes)      187.9   205.5    195.3   240.1   250.2  916.3   891.1
Copper anodes
produced
('000 tonnes) (c)  58.4    65.3     60.9    77.0    76.8   289.9   280.0
Copper cathodes
produced
('000 tonnes)      60.0    60.8     47.2    63.0    64.3   257.6   235.3
Copper cathode
sales
('000 tonnes) (d)  61.2    61.5     58.6    62.6    66.7   255.1   249.4

(c)  New metal excluding recycled material.
(d)  Refers to copper cathode and wire rod sales.

Kelian Equatorial Mining
Total production and sales from the Kelian gold mine (Rio Tinto 90%) in East
Kalimantan, Indonesia.

(100% basis)

Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      1,823   1,710    1,610   1,789   1,894  6,212   7,003
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t)         2.33    2.60     2.49    2.95    2.71   2.41    2.69
Silver (g/t)       6.76    5.93     6.03    5.80    5.42   6.92    5.78
Production:
Gold
('000 ounces)      98      105      96      130     123    338     453
Silver
('000 ounces)      95      86       80      86      86     326     338
Sales:
Gold
('000 ounces)      84      112      98      122     134    316     466
Silver
('000 ounces)      99      122      68      -       -      279     190

During the fourth quarter of 2001, dry weather provided full access to the
mining area and mill availability was above average; gold grade was down 7%
on the previous quarter. Full year gold production in 2001 was 34% higher
than in 2000. Silver sales were suspended until Indonesian taxation issues
are resolved.

Kennecott Minerals Company
Total production at the mines of Kennecott Minerals Company in the US;
Cortez/Pipeline (Rio Tinto 40%) in Nevada; Greens Creek (Rio Tinto 70%) in
Alaska and Rawhide (Rio Tinto 51%) in Nevada.

(100% basis)

Cortez/Pipeline mine
Ore treated
Milled
('000 tonnes)      867     744      842     784     829     3,337   3,199
Leached
('000 tonnes)      2,584   2,186    4,896   4,675   3,797   7,385   15,554
Sold for roasting
('000 tonnes)      102     77       99      113     101     141     390
Average ore grade:
Gold
Milled (g/t)       8.58    9.43     8.21    8.41    9.23    9.22    8.81
Leached (g/t)      1.43    1.23     1.20    1.01    1.00    1.01    1.10
Sold for roasting
(g/t)              17.14   16.42    12.15   6.84    7.84    17.43   10.34
Gold produced
('000 ounces)      295     295      304     294     295     1,010   1,188

Ore treatment rates and grades varied according to areas being mined and
ore type. Heap leach pad area and solution treatment capacity have been
expanded to increase gold production from leaching. During the fourth
quarter of 2001, mill tonnes increased and leach tonnes placed declined as
a result of transitioning from mining Phase 3 to 4. A change in roast ore
customers during the fourth quarter of 2001 resulted in a temporary
reduction of roast ore sales.

Greens Creek mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      139     147      139     154     157    563     597
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t)         7.10    7.23     6.74    6.31    6.36   7.13    6.65
Silver (g/t)       687     899      735     684     673    688     746
Zinc (%)           13.1    12.4     12.4    12.0    11.7   13.6    12.1
Lead (%)           5.3     5.1      4.7     4.7     4.6    5.3     4.8
Metals produced in concentrates:
Gold
('000 ounces)      21      23       21      22      22     83      88
Silver
('000 ounces)      2,229   3,252    2,555   2,582   2,575  9,237   10,964
Zinc
('000 tonnes)      14.4    14.2     13.8    15.1    14.9   60.7    58.0
Lead
('000 tonnes)      4.9     5.1      4.8     5.2     5.2    20.2    20.3

Mill throughput continued to increase through optimization efforts. Metal
grades varied with the mining sequence, with more ore sourced from the
West Ore Zone to increase tonnage productivity and reduce production
costs.

Rawhide mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      1,435   1,362    1,510   1,418   1,433  5,929   5,723
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t)         0.87    0.99     0.99    0.99    0.86   0.89    0.96
Silver (g/t)       11.0    15.9     14.8    19.0    15.9   12.5    16.4

Metals produced in dore:
Gold
('000 ounces)      23      25       27      25      24     104     101
Silver
('000 ounces)      158     177      201     177     175    814     730

Mill throughput rates varied due to changing ore hardness, maintenance
requirements and haulage distance as ore mining proceeded within the lower
benches of the mine.  Silver grade fluctuated as a result of mining
sequence. Gold and silver production reflected delays in recovery from the
leach pads due to higher stacking.

Kennecott Utah Copper
Total production at Kennecott's Barneys Canyon mine (Rio Tinto 100%) and
Bingham Canyon mine, smelter and refinery (Rio Tinto 100%) both in Utah, US.

Barneys Canyon Mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      541     380      549     639     432    2,250    2,000
Average ore grade:
Gold (g/t)         3.12    2.64     3.52    3.71    3.15   3.03     3.33
Gold produced in
dore and concentrates
('000 ounces)      48      37       30      32      41     153      140

Gold production in the fourth quarter of 2001 was lower than in the fourth
quarter of 2000 and higher than in the third quarter of 2001 principally
due to timing of flows from the heap leach pads.

Bingham Canyon Mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      15,102  14,408   12,792  11,163  10,203 58,662  48,566
Average ore grade:
Copper (%)         0.63    0.63     0.82    0.74    0.73   0.57    0.73
Gold (g/t)         0.36    0.46     0.61    0.58    0.55   0.42    0.54
Silver (g/t)       2.71    2.91     4.07    3.91    3.99   2.77    3.67
Molybdenum
(%)                0.040   0.049    0.048   0.037   0.035  0.042   0.042
Copper concen-
trates produced
('000 tonnes)      326     296      312     261     239    1,137   1,108
Average concentrate
grade (% Cu)       24.9    26.9     29.6    28.0    28.0   25.9    28.1
Production of metals in copper concentrates:
Copper ('000 tonnes)
(a)                81.4    80.0     92.4    73.1    67.2   295.7   312.7
Gold
('000 ounces)      121     151      179     142     120    529     592
Silver
('000 ounces)      1,005   1,029    1,328   1,076   1,042  3,939   4,475
Molybdenum concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes):     4.2     5.1      3.8     2.8     2.8    18.4    14.5
Molybdenum in
concentrates
('000 tonnes)      2.3     2.8      2.2     1.5     1.6    10.1    8.1

Kennecott smelter & refinery
Copper concentrates
smelted
('000 tonnes)      296     212      236     256     271    1,072   975
Copper anodes produced
('000 tonnes)
(b)                73.9    61.0     65.1    42.1    76.0   268.8   244.2
Production of refined metal:
Copper
('000 tonnes)      71.9    67.0     56.3    43.7    67.3   268.7   234.3
Gold
('000 ounces) (c)  121     102      87      88      112    413     389
Silver
('000 ounces) (c)  821     657      834     626     765    3,218   2,882

(a)  Includes a small amount of copper in precipitates.
(b)  New metal excluding recycled material.
(c)  Includes gold and silver in intermediate products.

Fourth quarter mine production of copper was lower than in the comparable
quarter of 2000 due to the closure of the North Concentrator, which produced
approximately 60,000 tonnes per annum of copper in concentrate, in June 2001. 
Mine production was further impacted in the fourth quarter by the processing
of hard ore through the Copperton Concentrator.

Smelter performance improved in the fourth quarter of 2001 following
completion of the Flash Converting Furnace rebuild in the third quarter.
Anode production increased as semi-processed matte inventory built up during
the furnace rebuild was processed into final product.

Lihir Gold
Total production at the Lihir gold mine (Rio Tinto 16.3%(a)) in Papua New
Guinea.

(100% basis)

Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      943     962      864     966     827    3,413   3,619
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t)         6.63    6.64     6.59    6.00    5.43   6.01    6.18
Gold produced
('000 ounces)(b)   191     187      160     178     123    606     648

 (a)  Effective 14 February 2000, Rio Tinto's interest in Lihir decreased
      from 17.15% to 16.3% following a merger under a scheme of arrangement with
      Niugini Mining.
 (b)  Gold production represents quantity of gold poured.

Fourth quarter 2001 production was below previous quarters due to a planned
process plant shut down and lower ore grade.

Northparkes Joint Venture

Total production and sales at the Northparkes mine (Rio Tinto 80% (a)) in
New South Wales, Australia.

(100% basis)

Sulphide ore treated
('000 tonnes)      1,297   1,315    1,295   1,371   1,444   1,989   5,425
Average ore grade:
Copper (%)         1.10    1.18     1.17    1.18    1.11    1.09    1.16
Gold (g/t)         0.16    0.29     0.39    0.28    0.32    0.16    0.32
Copper concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes)      32.1    35.5     35.2    37.3    36.2    48.9    144.2
Contained copper in
concentrates:
Saleable production
('000 tonnes)      12.5    13.7     13.4    14.3    13.8    19.0    55.1
Sales
('000 tonnes)(b)   7.9     9.3      14.5    10.4    10.5    14.5    44.7
Contained gold in
concentrates:
Saleable production
('000 ounces)      4.8     9.3      12.7    8.7     10.8    7.6     41.5
Sales
('000 ounces) (b)  2.7     5.4      12.0    6.1     8.2     5.5     31.6

(a)  Rio Tinto acquired its interest in Northparkes as part of the purchase
     of North Limited.  Production data are shown from 11 August 2000, the
     effective date of the acquisition.
(b)  Rio Tinto's 80% share of material from the Joint Venture.

Record mill throughput was achieved for the year at 5.4 million tonnes.
The strong throughput result for the fourth quarter of 2001 offset lower
copper grades resulting from a higher quantity of open cut material and,
as the Lift 1 block cave nears completion, an increasing level of fines
and clay in underground material.

Palabora
Total production at the Palabora mine, smelter and refinery (Rio Tinto
49.3%(a)) in South Africa.

(100% basis)

Palabora mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      6,514   4,167    2,745   4,056   3,555  25,737  14,522
Average ore grade
copper (%)         0.59    0.60     0.59    0.70    0.72   0.59    0.66
Copper concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes)      80.9    51.9     42.6    72.8    66.3   358.7   233.5
Average concentrate
grade
copper (%)         32.8    32.6     31.0    35.0    34.3   32.6    33.6
Copper in concentrates
('000 tonnes)      26.5    16.9     13.2    25.5    22.8   117.0   78.4
Palabora smelter/refinery
New concentrate
smelted on site
('000 tonnes)      83.9    75.5     77.3    86.9    70.7   281.9   310.4
New copper anodes
produced
('000 tonnes)(b)   30.3    25.8     19.7    22.9    16.7   90.2    85.0
Refined new copper
produced
('000 tonnes)      29.2    25.6     18.9    20.1    22.2   87.7    86.9
By-products:
Magnetite concentrate
('000 tonnes)      49      44       43      55      59     239     201
Uranium oxide
(tonnes)           28      13       10      8       -      95      31
Baddeleyite (several grades)
('000 tonnes)      2.2     1.7      1.3     1.0     -      7.9     4.0
Refined nickel sulphate
(tonnes)           82      74       59      38      74     263     245
Vermiculite Plant
Vermiculite produced
('000 tonnes)      64.1    36.1     34.9    47.2    42.1   208.4   160.3

(a)  Rio Tinto increased its holding in Palabora from 46.5% to 48.6% during
     the fourth quarter of 2000; it acquired a further 0.7% in July 2001.
(b)  Contained copper in anodes; anode production includes a small amount
     produced from purchased material.

Copper production was dictated by the supply of ore and smelter performance
in the fourth quarter of 2001. Ex-pit ore from the strategic stockpile
supplemented the concentrator feed when mining operations were interrupted
by rain and power failures. Low underground production and throughput of
slag, for grind and refloating, restricted concentrate production. However,
the copper recovery and concentrate grades were favourable. The failure of
ancillary equipment and low availability of converters had a major
influence on anode copper production. Refinery operations were stable with
a lack of anodes from the smelter restricting production. The 2001 cathode
production exceeded the anode production as a result of anode stock carried
over from 2000.

Magnetite production was increased in the fourth quarter of 2001. The
precious metal and nickel sulphate production were in line with tankhouse
utilisation.

Uranium and baddeleyite production ceased during the quarter, following
closure of the heavy minerals plant in August. Vermiculite production was
hampered throughout 2001 by wet in-pit conditions and by low availability
of plant and heavy equipment.

Peak Gold Mine
Total production and sales from the Peak Gold mine (Rio Tinto 100%) in New
South Wales, Australia.

Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      144     148      149     144     153    589     594
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t)         5.98    4.55     6.60    6.82    5.57   7.23    5.88
Silver (g/t)       4.92    5.30     4.36    24.63   5.94   5.38    9.91
Copper (%)         0.46    0.38     0.50    0.38    0.47   0.40    0.43
Lead (%)           0.89    0.96     0.76    1.01    0.50   0.82    0.80
Zinc (%)           1.09    1.75     1.18    2.08    0.77   0.90    1.44

Bullion produced
('000 ounces)      28      22       32      41      25     139     120
Containing:
Gold
('000 ounces)      24      19       26      25      23     121     92
Silver
('000 ounces)      3       3        6       14      1      16      24
Gold recovered in
concentrates
('000 ounces)      2       1        3       3       2      9       9
Total gold production
('000 ounces)      26      20       29      28      25     130     101
Bullion sales
(fine gold)
('000 ounces)      25      22       22      25      23     120     91
Copper in concentrate ('000 tonnes):
Production         -       0.2      0.4     0.1     0.2    1.0     0.9
Sales              -       -        -       -       1.1    1.1     1.1
Lead/zinc in concentrate ('000 tonnes):
Production         1.6     1.7      1.6     1.1     0.2    4.9     4.6
Sales              1.1     2.3      1.8     0.6     1.4    2.6     6.1

Production of lead/zinc blend concentrate concluded during the quarter as
mining of the Peak orebody nears conclusion. The final stages of mining
within the Peak orebody and the initial moves into the subsequent
orebodies also affected grade variability.

Rio Tinto Brasil Limitada
Total production at the Morro do Ouro gold mine (Rio Tinto 51%) in Minas
Gerais, Brazil.
(100% basis)

Morro do Ouro Mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      4,785   3,938    3,868   4,115   4,567  19,745  16,488
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t)         0.48    0.47     0.47    0.43    0.42   0.48    0.45
Refined gold
produced
('000 ounces)      57      48       46      46      47     229     187

Production was lower in 2001 than 2000 due to lower ore grades and major
maintenance on the primary mills.

Rio Tinto Zimbabwe
Total production at Rio Tinto Zimbabwe's gold operations (Rio Tinto 56%) in
Zimbabwe.
(100% basis)

Cam Dump Reprocessing
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      262     238      261     -       -      930     499
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t)         1.19    1.29     1.49    -       -      1.14    1.39
Total gold produced
('000 ounces)      3       3        2       -       -      8       5

Patchway mine (a)
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      27      24       24      25      24     104     98
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t)         4.99    4.09     4.35    4.88    4.62   5.05    4.49
Total gold produced
('000 ounces)      4       3        3       4       3      15      12

Renco mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      63      64       63      67      69     287     263
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t)         6.01    7.45     7.02    6.84    5.95   5.91    6.80
Total gold produced
('000 ounces)      11      14       12      13      11     46      50

Total Rio Tinto Zimbabwe
Total gold produced
('000 ounces)      17      19       17      17      14     70      67

(a) Includes low grade material.

Production ceased at Cam Dump in June 2001.

Somincor
Total production at the Neves Corvo mine (Rio Tinto 49%) in Portugal.
(100% basis)

Neves Corvo mine
Total ore treated
('000
tonnes)(a)         250     581      551     406     484    1,689   2,021
Of which, treated to
extract tin
('000 tonnes)      40      57       59      49      25     248     190
Average ore grades:
Copper (%)         5.42    4.68     4.61    4.95    5.07   5.19    4.81
Tin (%)            0.81    1.46     1.65    1.80    1.21   1.45    1.58
Copper production:
Copper concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes)      48.0    94.5     89.7    72.1    88.1   319.2   344.3
Copper concentrate
grade:
copper (%)         24.1    24.1     24.1    23.9    24.2   23.9    24.1
Copper in concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes)      11.6    22.8     21.6    17.2    21.3   76.3    82.9
Tin production:
Tin concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes)      0.1     0.4      0.8     0.7     0.2    2.3     2.1
Tin concentrate
Grade: tin (%)     51.1    55.7     55.9    58.7    61.0   52.7    57.4
Tin in concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes)      0.1     0.2      0.4     0.4     0.1    1.2     1.2

(a)  Total ore treated for both copper and tin production.

COPPER & GOLD (continued)
                                                           FULL    FULL
                   4Q      1Q       2Q      3Q      4Q     YEAR    YEAR
                   2000    2001     2001    2001    2001   2000    2001
DIAMONDS

Argyle Diamonds
Total production from mining operations at Argyle Diamonds (Rio Tinto
99.8%(a)) in Western Australia.

(100% basis)

Ore processed
('000 tonnes):
AK1 ore            2,466   2,697    2,423   2,669   2,524  10,419  10,313
Alluvial ore       1,048   1,007    1,204   999     980    4,908   4,190

Total ore
processed          3,514   3,704    3,627   3,668  3,504   15,326  14,503

Diamonds recovered ('000 carats):
AK1                5,354   4,918    4,759   7,808   7,739  25,423  25,225
Alluvial           166     164      263     239     206    1,052   873
Total
recovered          5,520   5,082    5,022   8,048   7,945  26,475  26,097

(a)  During the second half of 2000, Rio Tinto increased its interest in
Argyle from 59.7% to 99.8% by virtue of its acquisition of Ashton Mining.

AK1 and alluvial ore processed in the fourth quarter of 2001 were in line
with previous quarters.
AK1 carat production reflected the continuation of ore production from
higher grade areas, in accordance with pit development plans. Alluvial
carat production reflected the mining of lower grade blocks.

Ashton Mining

Rio Tinto share of production from the Ashton Mining (Rio Tinto 100% (a))
diamond interests apart from Argyle.

(Rio Tinto share)
Ore processed
('000 tonnes)      95      95       61      141     135     95      431
Diamonds recovered
('000 carats)      37      15       7       13      20      37      55

(a)  Production data are shown from 10 November 2000, the effective date of
     acquisition of Ashton Mining.

Ore throughput and carat production at the Merlin mine were below
expectations, due to process plant constraints associated with processing
of harder ore.

IRON ORE                                                   FULL    FULL
                   4Q      1Q       2Q      3Q      4Q     YEAR    YEAR
                   2000    2001     2001    2001    2001   2000    2001
Hamersley Iron
Total production and shipments are for all the mines operated by Hamersley
Iron (Rio Tinto 100%).  These mines are Paraburdoo, Mount Tom Price,
Marandoo, Yandicoogina, Brockman (all Rio Tinto 100%) and Channar (Rio Tinto
60%) all in Western Australia.
(100% basis)

Saleable iron ore produced
('000 tonnes):
Paraburdoo, Mount Tom Price,
Marandoo, Brockman and
Yandicoogina       14,857  13,579   14,352  15,748  15,149 55,095  58,828
Channar            2,811   2,453    2,716   2,704   3,215  10,602  11,088
Total
production         17,668  16,032   17,068  18,452  18,364 65,697  69,916
Total shipments
('000 tonnes)      17,722  15,312   16,504  16,710  16,831 67,055  65,357

Hamersley achieved record fourth quarter production, exceeding the previous
record set in 2000 by 3.9%. A new record for full year production was also
set, exceeding production in 2000 by 6.4%. The increase in production was
in response to strong demand for Hamersley's products and allowed Hamersley
to rebuild port stockpiles, which were at their lowest-ever levels.
Shipments were the second-highest level on record driven by strong demand
from China, which was the single largest market for Hamersley's shipments.

Iron Ore Company of Canada

Total production and shipments from the Carol Lake operations (Rio Tinto
56.1% (a)) in Labrador, Canada.

(100% basis)

Carol Lake operations
Saleable production:
Concentrates
('000 tonnes)      868     638      1,019   630     717     1,435  3,004
Pellets
('000 tonnes)      3,092   2,702    3,306   2,986   2,564   4,701  11,558

Shipments:
Concentrate
('000 tonnes)      1,124   652      1,098   727     938     1,842  3,415
Pellets
('000 tonnes)      2,517   1,987    2,824   2,207   2,704   4,298  9,722

(a)  Rio Tinto acquired its interest in Iron Ore Company of Canada as part
of the purchase of North Limited. Production data are shown from 11 August
2000, the effective date of the acquisition.

The operating performance by IOC in the fourth quarter of 2001 suffered
from difficulties associated with the commissioning of the first of three
lines of the Concentrator Upgrade Project. Depressed conditions in IOC's
major markets continued in the quarter, with low utilisation rates at steel
mills in North America and Europe.

Rio Tinto Brasil Limitada
Total production at the Corumba mine (Rio Tinto 100%) in Corumba, Mato
Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Corumba mine
Total iron ore production
('000 tonnes) (a)  178     156      116     206     164     778     642

(a)  Production includes by-product fines.

Production was lower in 2001 than in 2000 due to the Argentinian crisis
resulting in lower sales to a major customer.

Robe River Iron Associates

Total production and shipments from the Pannawonica mine (Rio Tinto 53% (a))
in Western Australia.
(100% basis)

Pannawonica mine
Saleable production
('000 tonnes)      7,954   6,781    6,970   8,692   8,263   12,785 30,706
Shipments
('000 tonnes)      7,295   7,308    7,136   9,087   7,582   12,895 31,113

(a)  Rio Tinto acquired its interest in Robe River as part of the purchase
     of North Limited. Production data are shown from 11 August 2000, the
     effective date of the acquisition.

Production for the fourth quarter of 2001 was 5% less than in the previous
quarter and 4% more than in the corresponding quarter in 2000.
Shipments for the fourth quarter of 2001 decreased by 20% compared with the
high previous quarter due to a number of shipments deferred to January, but
increased by 4% compared with the corresponding period of 2000.

NICKEL

Rio Tinto Brasil Limitada
Total nickel in matte production at the Fortaleza mine (Rio Tinto 100%) in
Brazil

Fortaleza mine
Production
(tonnes)       2,674       2,710    2,487   2,989   1,984   8,738   10,170

Production was higher in 2001 than in 2000 due to mining and metallurgy
performance improvements and to a month's production stoppage in 2000
during the transition from open pit to underground mining.

Rio Tinto Zimbabwe

Total refined metal production at the Empress Nickel refinery (Rio Tinto
56%) in Zimbabwe.

(100% basis)

Empress Nickel refinery
Production
(tonnes)       1,654       1,623    1,651   1,770   1,591  6,935  6,635

SALT

Dampier Salt

Total production of salt from Dampier, Lake MacLeod and Port Hedland (a)(Rio
Tinto 64.9%) in Western Australia.

(100% basis)

Salt production
('000 tonnes)      1,095   1,385    1,571   1,550   2,035  4,599  6,541

(a)  Production data from the newly acquired Port Hedland operation (Dampier
Salt 100%) are included with effect from 17 August 2001.

TALC

The Luzenac Group
Total talc production from Luzenac Group operations in Europe (Rio Tinto
99.9%), North America (Rio Tinto 100%) and Australia (Rio Tinto 100%)

(100% basis)

Talc
production
('000 tonnes)      302     323      319     312     316    1,262  1,268

TITANIUM DIOXIDE FEEDSTOCK

Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium
Rio Tinto share of titanium dioxide feedstock production in Canada and South
Africa.

(Rio Tinto share)
Titanium dioxide
feedstock
production
('000 tonnes)      368     356      371     359     341    1,368   1,427

URANIUM

Energy Resources of Australia Ltd
Total production at the Ranger mine (68.4% Rio Tinto (a)) in the Northern
Territory, Australia.

(100% basis)

Ranger mine
Production
(tonnes U3O8)      1,216   1,320    947     789     1,155  1,764   4,211

(a)  Rio Tinto acquired its interest in ERA as part of the purchase of North
Limited.  Production data are shown from 11 August 2000, the effective date of
the acquisition.

Rossing Uranium Ltd
Total uranium production at the Rossing Uranium mine (Rio Tinto 68.58%) in
Namibia.

(100% basis)

Production
(tonnes U3O8)      836     724      449     793     674    3,201   2,640

2001 production was reduced compared with 2000 as a result of mining
limitations in the pit, given the need to make allowances for future
flexibility, and the matching of production to market conditions in order
to rationalise inventory levels.

ZINC

Norzink AS
Total refined zinc production at the Norzink smelter (Rio Tinto 50% (a)) in
Norway.
(100% basis)

Production
('000 tonnes)      35      36       5       -       -      138     41

(a)  Rio Tinto completed the sale of its interest in Norzink on 17 April
     2001.

Zinkgruvan Mining AB

Total production at the Zinkgruvan mine (Rio Tinto 100% (a)) in Sweden.

Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      179     201       203    195     208     306    807
Average ore grades:
Zinc (%)           11.1    8.2      8.0     8.5     8.7     10.7   8.4
Lead (%)           4.3     3.3      3.9     3.5     3.7     4.1    3.6
Silver (g/t)       112     75       87      83      91      110    84
Production of zinc
concentrate
('000 tonnes)      33.9    28.0     26.6    27.8    30.2    56.6   112.6
Production of lead
concentrate
('000 tonnes)      9.1     7.9      9.6     8.6     8.9     14.6   35.0

Production of
metal in
concentrates:
Zinc
('000 tonnes)      18.7    15.3     14.8    15.1    16.6    31.5   61.8
Lead
('000 tonnes)      6.6     5.7      6.9     5.8     6.1     10.5   24.5
Silver
('000 ounces)      431     347      396     326     427     702    1,496

(a)  Rio Tinto acquired its interest in Zinkgruvan as part of the purchase
     of North Limited.  Production data are shown from 11 August 2000, the
     effective date of the acquisition.

Mill throughput exceeded 800,000 tonnes for the first time in 2001.


Exploration

Expenditure

Total pre-tax exploration expenditure charged to the profit and loss
account for the quarter ending 31 December 2001 was US$42 million compared
with US$50 million in the comparable quarter of 2000. Total expenditure
for the twelve months of 2001 was US$130 million, compared with US$136
million in 2000.

Ongoing Programmes


Country      Commodity        Programme Summary
                                 
Indonesia    Copper and gold  In  Freeport  Block A, exploration  drilling
                              has  extended  the Ertsberg  Stockwork  Zone
                              resource toward the Deep Ore Zone mine.

Turkey       Copper and gold  Exploration   drilling  continued   on   the
                              Copler  porphyry  gold-copper  prospect   in
                              eastern Turkey.

Ecuador      Copper           Exploration  drilling commenced  on  the  El
                              Filon porphyry copper project in Ecuador.

Peru         Copper           Encouragement was obtained from  exploration
                              drilling  on the Marcona iron-oxide  copper-
                              gold prospect in southern Peru.

USA          Copper           Encouragement was obtained from  exploration
                              drilling of deep high-grade porphyry  copper
                              mineralisation at the Resolution project  in
                              Arizona.

Canada       Diamonds         Assay results for drill core samples of  the
                              Anuri  East  kimberlite pipe in the  Nunavut
                              region   show   that  it  is   significantly
                              diamondiferous.
                              Fieldwork   commenced   on   the    Band-Ore
                              property  in  Ontario where prospecting  has
                              identified diamondiferous outcrops.

Iran         Gold             Exploration   drilling  continued   on   the
                              Dashkasan porphyry gold prospect in Iran.

Guinea       Iron Ore         Drilling  continued  at  the  Simandou  lump
                              haematite prospect in southeastern Guinea.


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            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange