Increases to Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves

RNS Number : 9099Q

Rio Tinto PLC

03 March 2016

 

Increases to Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves

3 March 2016

On 3 March 2016 Rio Tinto announced to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) increases in Ore Reserves in West Australian iron ore deposits and increases in Rio Tinto Coal Australia's Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves in New South Wales and Queensland. 

These announcements were made in compliance with Chapter 5 of the ASX Listing Rules and the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, 2012 (JORC Code).

Copies of the announcements are available on Rio Tinto's website at: www.riotinto.com/mediareleases 

As at the end of 2015, the estimated iron ore Ore Reserves increased by 309 million tonnes (Mt) after depletion from mining.  The increases in iron ore Ore Reserves have been delivered as part of the ongoing resource development drilling program designed to maintain Ore Reserves coverage ahead of mining depletion rates. Increases in Ore Reserves are reported for:

·      Yandicoogina (Pisolite Ore) which has increased from 247 Mt to 642 Mt following the completion of feasibility-level studies within the Oxbow portion of the channel and prefeasibility-level studies for the Billiard South portion of the channel.

·      Brockman 2 (Brockman ore) which has increased from 62 Mt to 93 Mt due to additional drilling, modelling and mine planning studies within the existing operations.

·      West Angelas (Marra Mamba ore) which has increased from 185 Mt to 209 Mt due to the first time reporting of the Deposit F deposit, following the completion of a prefeasibility-level study.

As at the end of 2015, total coal Ore Reserves for all deposits increased from 2,106 Mt to 2,504 Mt.   Increases in Ore Reserves are reported for:

·      Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) Ore Reserves which has increased from 581 Mt to 890 Mt.

·      Hail Creek Ore Reserves which has increased from 126 Mt to 253 Mt.

Total coal Mineral Resources exclusive of Ore Reserves have increased from 5,429 Mt to 6,805 Mt. Increases to Mineral Resources are reported for:

·      HVO Mineral Resources which has increased from 1,373 Mt to 1,831 Mt.

·      Warkworth Mineral Resources which has increased from 475 Mt to 613 Mt.

·      Hail Creek Mineral Resources which has increased from 172 Mt to 591 Mt.

·      Kestrel and Kestrel West Mineral Resources which has increased from 142 Mt to 306 Mt.

·      Winchester South Mineral Resources which has increased from 192 Mt to 356 Mt.

Mt Robert contains a maiden coal Mineral Resource estimate of 31 Mt.

The coal upgrades have resulted from a programme of orebody knowledge and strategic mine planning optimisation undertaken at Rio Tinto Coal Australia.

Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves are quoted on a 100% basis.

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