Rio Tinto 3QPR 2002- Part 2

Rio Tinto PLC
23 October 2002


Part 2

OPERATIONAL DATA
                   3Q      4Q       1Q      2Q      3Q     9 MTHS   9 MTHS
                   2001    2001     2002    2002    2002   2001     2002

ALUMINIUM
Anglesey Aluminium
Total production at Anglesey Aluminium (Rio Tinto 51%) in the UK.
(100% basis)

Aluminium hot metal production
('000 tonnes)      34.0    34.2     35.7    33.7    34.4     105.1  103.8

Comalco
Total production at Weipa (Rio Tinto 100%) in Australia; Boke (Rio Tinto
4%) in Guinea; Eurallumina (Rio Tinto 56.2%) in Italy; Queensland Alumina
(Rio Tinto 38.6% (a)) in Australia; Bell Bay (Rio Tinto 100%) in
Australia; Boyne Island (Rio Tinto 59.4% (b)) in Australia and Tiwai Point
(Rio Tinto 79.4%) in New Zealand.

(100% basis)
Weipa mine, Queensland
Beneficiated bauxite
production
('000 tonnes)      2,680   2,913    2,759   2,738   2,863    8,413  8,359
Metal grade bauxite
shipments
('000 tonnes)      2,678   2,831    2,730   2,783   2,737    8,177  8,250
Calcined bauxite
production
('000 tonnes)      49      23       49      41      22       123    112
Boke mine
Bauxite production
('000 tonnes)      3,046   2,790    2,857   2,884   3,084    9,197  8,825
Eurallumina,
Sardinia
Alumina production
('000 tonnes)      226     269      251     248     259      724    757
Queensland Alumina,
Queensland
Alumina production
('000 tonnes)      930     953      911     906     884      2,671  2,701
Bell Bay, Tasmania
Primary aluminium production
('000 tonnes)      41.3    40.4     40.3    39.9    41.6     120.4  121.8
Boyne Island, Queensland (b)
Primary aluminium production
('000 tonnes)      129.7   131.5    125.1   130.2   133.1    377.4  388.4
Tiwai Point
Primary aluminium production
('000 tonnes)      78.7    81.2     82.4    82.5    84.3     241.1  249.2

Sales of aluminium
attributable to Comalco
('000 tonnes)      185.8   165.4    177.4   178.9   174.4    524.5  530.7

(a)  Comalco increased its shareholding in Queensland Alumina Limited from
30.3% to 38.6% with effect from September 2001.
(b)  Comalco acquired an approximately 5% additional interest in
production from the Boyne Island smelter with effect from August 2002.

Weipa production in the third quarter of 2002 increased compared with  the
third  quarter  of  2001  due  to  improved  equipment  availability   and
utilisation. Total production for the first nine months of 2002,  however,
reflects reduced traded market demand.

Total  alumina  production in the first nine months of  2002  is  slightly
above the equivalent period of 2001 with both refineries returning to more
normal   levels   of  production.  Queensland  Alumina  experienced   some
production  and  maintenance problems, mainly due to an unexpected  boiler
outage in the third quarter of 2002, which are not ongoing.

Boyne  Island production in the third quarter of 2002 continued to improve
compared with the previous two quarters due to improved current efficiency
and cell availability. Production at the Tiwai Point and Bell Bay smelters
also  increased  slightly  in  the third quarter  of  2002.  Tiwai  Point,
however, remains power constrained.

Third  quarter  2002  aluminium sales which include  an  additional  5,000
tonnes  resulting from the acquisition of an additional  interest  in  the
Boyne  Island  smelter in the third quarter of 2002, were  lower  compared
with the previous quarters due to an increase in consignment stock in  the
US  to cover shipping schedule delays and higher stock in transit, due  to
changed contractual arrangements for some sales into Asia.

BORATES

Rio Tinto Borax
Total production at the Boron mine (Rio Tinto 100%) in California, US and
at the Tincalayu, Sijes, Porvenir and Maggie mines (Rio Tinto 100%) in
Argentina.

(100% basis)

Borates
('000 tonnes) (a)  142     134      130     130     132      430    393

(a)  Production is expressed as B2O3 content.

Production for the first nine months of 2002 has returned to normal levels
following inventory management during the equivalent period of 2001.

                   3Q      4Q       1Q      2Q      3Q     9 MTHS   9 MTHS
                   2001    2001     2002    2002    2002   2001     2002

COAL

Coal & Allied Industries Limited (a)
Total production and sales from the Bengalla mine (Rio Tinto 30%); Hunter
Valley Operations (Rio Tinto 76%); the Mount Thorley Operations (Rio Tinto
61%); the Narama mine (Rio Tinto 0%); the Ravensworth East mine (Rio Tinto
0%) and the Warkworth mine (Rio Tinto 42%), all in New South Wales, and
the Moura mine (Rio Tinto 0%) in Queensland, Australia.

(100% basis)
Bengalla mine (b)
Thermal coal production
('000 tonnes)      1,073   1,454    944     1,696   1,228    3,440    3,868
Hunter Valley Operations
Thermal coal
production
('000 tonnes)      2,632   2,659    1,951   2,518   2,448    5,550    6,917
Semi-soft coking
coal production
('000 tonnes)      945     871      1,055   907     636      3,163    2,598
Mount Thorley Operations
Thermal coal
production
('000 tonnes)      643     648      623     584     621      1,728    1,828
Semi-soft coking
coal production
('000 tonnes)      694     540      562     508     392      1,631    1,462
Moura mine (b)(c)
Thermal coal
production
('000 tonnes)      521     459      670     348     -        1,716    1,018
Semi-soft coking
coal production
('000 tonnes)      472     438      577     377     -        1,837    954
Coking coal
production
('000 tonnes)      234     179      230     197     -        259      427

Narama mine (b)(c)
Thermal coal
production
('000 tonnes)      564     445      370     -       -        1,732    370
Ravensworth East mine (b)(c)
Thermal coal
production
('000 tonnes)      386     457      387     -       -        1,054    387
Warkworth mine (b)
Thermal coal
production
('000 tonnes)      1,446   1,145    1,602   1,411   1,430    3,996    4,443
Semi-soft coking
coal production
('000 tonnes)      51      140      178     186     162      410      526

Total Coal & Allied
Total coal
production
('000 tonnes)      9,661   9,435    9,149   8,732   6,915    26,516   24,796
Total sales
('000 tonnes) (d)  9,009   9,503    8,786   8,425   6,851    26,210   24,062

(a)  Rio Tinto increased its stake in Coal & Allied from 70.9% to 72.7% during
March 2001 and to 75.7% on 17 September 2002.
(b)  Coal & Allied purchased the Australian coal businesses (see note (c))
of the Peabody Group effective 29 January 2001. Effective on the same date
Coal & Allied acquired an additional 11.8% interest in the Warkworth mine.
(c)  The sale of Coal & Allied's share of Narama and Ravensworth was
completed on 14 March 2002. Coal & Allied sold its interest in the Moura
coal mine with effect from 24 May 2002.
(d)  Sales relate only to coal mined by the operations and exclude traded
coal.

Coal  production for the third quarter of 2002 was down from the  previous
quarter  and  the third quarter of 2001 due to the sale of the Ravensworth
East,  Narama and Moura mines. Production at the remaining mines decreased
in  the  third quarter of 2002, when compared with the second  quarter  of
2002,  due  to the reduction of production at Hunter Valley Operations  to
bring  output  into line with expected market demand. Bengalla  production
was affected by the mining sequence.

Kaltim Prima Coal

Total production and shipments from Kaltim Prima Coal (Rio Tinto 50%) in
Indonesia, including the share of production attributed to the Indonesian
Government (see footnote (e) on page 6).

(100% basis)
Thermal coal:
Production
('000 tonnes)  4,526       4,110    3,877   4,256   5,080   11,501   13,213
Shipments
('000 tonnes)  4,205       4,505    3,859   3,546   4,871   11,136   12,276

Production  at Kaltim Prima Coal in the third quarter of 2002  was  strong
with the truck fleet achieving productivity improvements, assisted by  dry
weather. Contract miners also contributed to the improved production.

                   3Q      4Q       1Q      2Q      3Q      9 MTHS   9 MTHS
                   2001    2001     2002    2002    2002    2001     2002
COAL (continued)


Kennecott Energy and Coal Company
Total production from the mines operated by Kennecott Energy and Coal
Company in the US: Antelope (Rio Tinto 100%) in Wyoming; Cordero Rojo (Rio
Tinto 100%) in Wyoming; Jacobs Ranch (Rio Tinto 100%) in Wyoming; Spring
Creek (Rio Tinto 100%) in Montana; Decker (Rio Tinto 50%) in Montana and
Colowyo in Colorado, where Kennecott Energy has a partnership interest and
full management responsibility (see footnote (f) on page 6).

(100% basis)
Antelope mine
Thermal coal production
('000 tonnes)      5,525   6,038    5,335   6,075   6,452    16,306   17,862
Colowyo mine
Thermal coal production
('000 tonnes)      1,350   1,271    1,177   1,309   1,229    3,960    3,715
Cordero Rojo mine
Thermal coal production
('000 tonnes)      9,676   10,453   9,100   8,990   7,474    28,999   25,564
Decker mine
Thermal coal production
('000 tonnes)      1,985   2,266    2,143   2,092   2,391    6,244    6,626
Jacobs Ranch mine
Thermal coal production
('000 tonnes)      5,404   7,067    6,869   6,593   7,315    19,545   20,777
Spring Creek mine
Thermal coal production
('000 tonnes)      2,185   2,375    2,300   2,007   1,719    6,392    6,026

Total Kennecott Energy
Total coal
production
('000 tonnes)      26,125  29,470   26,924  27,066  26,580   81,446   80,570

Production for the first nine months of 2002, which was 1% lower than  for
the same period of 2001, was in line with demand. Prices for coal remained
soft  due to the effect on demand of an unusually mild winter and  spring,
coupled  with the US economic slowdown. Cordero Rojo's third quarter  2002
production  due  to unusually heavy rainfall that flooded the  pits  being
mined and combined with highwall instability issues.


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)      2,808   1,865    2,990   2,591   3,379    8,727   8,960
Sales
('000 tonnes)      2,419   1,814    3,549   2,429   3,413    8,496   9,391
Kestrel Coal mine
Thermal coal:
Production
('000 tonnes)      435     231      323     403     342      971     1,068
Sales
('000 tonnes)      104     225      100     169     101      421     370
Coking coal:
Production
('000 tonnes)      715     359      631     626     479      1,709   1,736
Sales
('000 tonnes)      483     312      298     456     330      1,332   1,084
Semi-hard coking
coal: (a)
Sales
('000 tonnes)      378     457      196     485     567      778     1,248
Tarong Coal mine
Thermal coal:
Production
('000 tonnes)      1,253   1,333    1,314   1,422   1,254    3,942   3,990
Sales
('000 tonnes)      1,236   1,474    1,242   1,273   1,404    3,846   3,919

Total Pacific Coal
Total coal
production
('000 tonnes)      5,211   3,788    5,258   5,042   5,453    15,349  15,753

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

Sales  at Blair Athol were higher for the first nine months of 2002,  when
compared  with the first nine months of 2001, due to the third quarter  of
2001 being affected by port and rail capacity restrictions.

Kestrel  production for the first nine months of 2002 compared  favourably
with  the  first nine months of 2001, with longwall equipment  reliability
issues  resolved  and  improved mining conditions in the  second  quarter.
Production  in  the  third  quarter of 2002 was  affected  by  a  longwall
changeover and associated commissioning.

Tarong sales were higher for the first nine months of 2002, compared  with
the  first  nine months of 2001, due to high winter demand  in  the  third
quarter of 2002.


                   3Q      4Q       1Q      2Q      3Q       9 MTHS  9 MTHS
                   2001    2001     2002    2002    2002     2001    2002

COPPER & GOLD

Alumbrera

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

(100% basis)
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      7,515   7,142    7,145   7,676   8,033    22,039  22,854
Average ore grades:
Copper (%)         0.71    0.74     0.76    0.75    0.62     0.72    0.70
Gold (g/t)         0.97    1.05     1.11    1.02    0.78     0.92    0.96

Concentrates produced
('000 tonnes)      174.5   178.3    183.4   187.4   168.0    512.2   538.8
Copper in concentrates:
Production
('000 tonnes)      48.1    49.2     51.0    51.2    45.9     142.3   148.1
Sales
('000 tonnes)      39.3    53.6     50.9    49.0    41.1     134.2   141.0

Production of gold
in concentrates
('000 ounces)      166     178      188     183     148      459     518
Production of gold
in dore
('000 ounces)      9       10       15      15      13       25      43
Total gold sales
('000 ounces)      146     200      202     191     148      457     542


Escondida

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

(100% basis)
Sulphide ore treated
('000 tonnes)      11,204  10,060   10,452  11,312  10,141   32,982  31,905
Average copper
grade (%)          1.75    1.72     1.53    1.74    1.45     1.84    1.58
Mill production (metals in concentrates):
Contained copper
('000 tonnes)      161.0   144.4    134.9   170.3   125.6    498.7   430.8
Contained gold
('000 ounces)      25      28       27      41      23       73      91
Contained silver
('000 ounces)      757     705      698     813     606      2,493   2,117

Oxide ore treated
('000 tonnes)      3,162   3,225    3,054   3,240   3,316    9,016   9,610
Average copper
grade (%)          1.15    1.01     0.91    1.02    1.03     1.10    0.99
Contained copper in
leachate/mined material
('000 tonnes)      36      33       28      33      34       99      95

Refined production:
Oxide plant
production
('000 tonnes)      38.1    38.1     36.8    37.5    31.1     112.9   105.4

Escondida  mill production (metals in concentrates) for the third  quarter
of  2002 reflected lower ore grades and mill throughput. This was in  line
with  the previously announced plan to reduce copper production by 160,000
tonnes over a fourteen month period ending in December 2002.

                   3Q      4Q       1Q      2Q      3Q      9 MTHS   9 MTHS
                   2001    2001     2002    2002    2002    2001     2002

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold
Total production and sales at the Grasberg mine (Rio Tinto 15.0% (a)) in
Papua, Indonesia, and the Atlantic Copper smelter (Rio Tinto 16.5%) in
Spain.

(100% basis)

Grasberg mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      22,500  21,780   21,979  21,806  20,220   65,007  64,005
Average mill head grades:
Copper (%)         0.96    0.89     0.90    1.14    1.31     1.04    1.11
Gold (g/t)         1.36    1.03     0.73    0.98    1.85     1.53    1.17
Silver (g/t)       3.03    2.99     2.76    3.63    4.01     3.26    3.45

Production of metals in concentrates:
Copper in
concentrates
('000 tonnes)      183.3   167.8    167.9   215.1   239.8    581.6   622.8
Gold in
concentrates
('000 ounces)      915     693      432     599     1,086    2,903   2,117
Silver in
concentrates
('000 ounces)      1,313   1,184    1,120   1,532   1,822    4,361   4,474

Sales of payable metals
in concentrates: (b)
Copper in
concentrates
('000 tonnes)      181.8   166.6    161.7   194.2   242.6    559.5   598.5
Gold in
concentrates
('000 ounces)      904     700      420     516     1,096    2,799   2,032
Silver in concentrates
('000 ounces)      1,030   934      863     1,090   1,476    3,346   3,429

(a) See note (g) on page 6 for details of Rio Tinto's 15.0% interest in
   Grasberg and 40% interest in the expansion.
(b) Net of smelter deductions.

In the third quarter of 2002, the lower level of ore treated was more than
offset  by improved average mill head grades when compared with the second
quarter  of  2002  and  the  third quarter of 2001,  resulting  in  higher
production and sales.

Atlantic Copper smelter
Concentrate smelted
('000 tonnes)      240.1   250.2    258.3   242.5   258.2    640.9   759.0
Copper anodes
produced
('000 tonnes) (c)  77.0    76.8     77.2    69.0    74.6     203.2   220.8
Copper cathodes
produced
('000 tonnes)      63.0    64.3     61.8    63.6    61.5     171.0   186.9
Copper cathode
sales
('000 tonnes) (d)  62.6    66.7     61.6    63.7    62.2     182.7   187.5

(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)      1,789   1,893    1,716   1,857   1,787    5,109  5,360
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t)         2.95    2.71     2.62    2.71    3.83     2.69   3.05
Silver (g/t)       5.80    5.42     4.92    5.09    5.92     5.92   5.31

Production:
Gold
('000 ounces)      130     123      114     128     176      331    417
Silver
('000 ounces)      87      85       88      89      96       253    273
Sales:
Gold
('000 ounces)      121     134      109     125     154      332    388
Silver
('000 ounces)      -       -        -       256     129      190    385

Ore  treated  in the third quarter of 2002 was lower than in the  previous
quarter  primarily due to lower plant availability resulting from a  delay
of  ball  mill maintenance, from June to August, to coincide with tailings
line  repair and replacement. Gold grade and production was higher due  to
an  increase in the percentage of higher grade ore direct from the pit and
a reduction of lower grade stockpile ore treated.

                   3Q      4Q       1Q      2Q      3Q      9 MTHS  9 MTHS
                   2001    2001     2002    2002    2002    2001    2002

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)      784     829      825     837     873      2,370  2,535
Leached
('000 tonnes)      4,675   3,797    3,804   2,339   1,770    11,757 7,913
Sold for roasting
('000 tonnes)      113     101      102     96      13       289    211
Average ore grade:
Gold
Milled (g/t)       8.41    9.23     8.29    8.19    7.17     8.66   7.87
Leached (g/t)      1.01    1.00     1.10    0.99    0.98     1.13   1.04
Sold for roasting
(g/t)              6.84    7.84     8.50    8.77    7.96     11.21  8.59
Gold produced
('000 ounces)      294     295      278     296     252      893    826

Ore  treatment rates and grades varied according to areas being mined  and
ore type. Roast ore sales were suspended in July 2002 pending a review  of
alternative  process options. The new 1.6 million square metre  leach  pad
and carbon plant began operations during the third quarter.

Greens Creek mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      154     157      160     167     168      440    495
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t)         6.31    6.36     6.51    7.57    6.93     6.75   7.01
Silver (g/t)       684     673      722     688     701      772    703
Zinc (%)           12.0    11.7     12.5    13.3    11.8     12.3   12.5
Lead (%)           4.7     4.6      4.7     5.3     4.4      4.8    4.8
Metals produced in concentrates:
Gold
('000 ounces)      22      22       24      29      25       66     78
Silver
('000 ounces)      2,582   2,575    2,789   2,887   2,782    8,389  8,458
Zinc
('000 tonnes)      15.1    14.9     16.2    17.6    15.8     43.1   49.6
Lead
('000 tonnes)      5.2     5.2      5.3     6.6     5.0      15.1   16.9

Mill  throughput  continued  to  increase  through  optimization  efforts.
Capacity  testing  of  the  SAG  mill  is  underway  along  with  recovery
enhancement  evaluations  at  increased  mill  throughput  levels.   Paste
backfill  and  longhole stoping, commissioned during the  second  quarter,
provided increased productivity at reduced production costs. Metal  grades
varied  with  the mining sequence and ore zone sourcing. Zinc grades  were
lower  early  in  the  quarter, but improved later  in  the  quarter  with
additional longhole stoping in the West Ore Zone.

Rawhide mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      1,418   1,433    1,407   1,313   1,330    4,290  4,050
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t)         0.99    0.86     1.03    1.11    1.01     0.99   1.05
Silver (g/t)       19.0    15.9     14.2    14.8    14.4     16.5   14.5
Metals produced in dore:
Gold
('000 ounces)      25      24       23      22      18       77     63
Silver
('000 ounces)      177     175      193     212     149      555    554

Ore processing rates varied due to ore extraction constraints in the final
benches  of  the mine, changing ore hardness and maintenance requirements.
Gold and silver grades fluctuated with the area mined and blending of more
lean ore stockpile material as the end of mine life nears. Lower gold  and
silver  production  was  principally the result of pipeline  breaks  which
disrupted  solution flows on the leach pile. Additionally,  gold  recovery
from  the  leach  pads was delayed due to higher stacking  and  lower  pad
permeability.

                   3Q      4Q       1Q      2Q      3Q      9 MTHS  9 MTHS
                   2001    2001     2002    2002    2002    2001    2002

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)      639     432      102     -       -        1,568  102
Average ore grade:
Gold (g/t)         3.71    3.15     1.17    -       -        3.38   1.17
Gold produced in
dore and concentrates
('000 ounces)      32      41       27      22      16       99     65

Gold production in the third quarter of 2002 was lower than in the second
quarter of 2002 and the third quarter of 2001 principally due to timing of
flows from the heap leach pads. Mining operations ceased in December 2001.
Crushing operations have ceased as inventory has been liquidated.

Bingham Canyon mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      11,163  10,203   9,999   9,840   10,256   38,363 30,095
Average ore grade:
Copper (%)         0.74    0.73     0.69    0.70    0.67     0.72   0.69
Gold (g/t)         0.58    0.55     0.57    0.41    0.43     0.54   0.47
Silver (g/t)       3.91    3.99     3.93    3.50    3.22     3.59   3.55
Molybdenum
(%)                0.037   0.035    0.039   0.034   0.037    0.044  0.036
Copper concen-
trates produced
('000 tonnes)      261     239      219     251     243      869    713
Average concentrate
grade (% Cu)       28.0    28.0     28.5    25.5    26.5     28.2   26.8

Production of metals in copper concentrates:
Copper ('000 tonnes)
(a)                73.1    67.2     62.5    64.3    64.4     245.5  191.2
Gold
('000 ounces)      142     120      125     95      103      472    323
Silver
('000 ounces)      1,076   1,042    1,032   924     866      3,433  2,822
Molybdenum concentrates
produced:
('000 tonnes)      2.8     2.8      3.0     2.5     3.1      11.7   8.6
Molybdenum in
concentrates
('000 tonnes)      1.5     1.6      1.7     1.3     1.7      6.5    4.7

Kennecott smelter & refinery
Copper concentrates
smelted
('000 tonnes)      256     271      258     279     259      705    796
Copper anodes produced
('000 tonnes) (b)  42.1    76.0     76.7    74.6    63.4    168.2   214.7
Production of refined metal:
Copper
('000 tonnes)      43.7    67.3     74.9    76.1    68.1     167.0  219.1
Gold
('000 ounces) (c)  88      112      127     133     123      277    383
Silver
('000 ounces) (c)  626     765      790     1,104   1,178    2,117  3,072

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

Third quarter 2002 mine production of all products (except molybdenum) was
lower  than  in the third quarter of 2001, mainly due to lower ore  grades
and  reduced  throughput caused by the processing of hard ore.  Molybdenum
output  was higher principally due to higher recovery. Compared  with  the
second  quarter  of  2002, gold and molybdenum output was  higher  due  to
better grades and higher throughput; silver production was slightly  lower
due to lower ore grade. Mine production of all products for the first nine
months of 2002 was less than for the first nine months of 2001 principally
due  to  the  June 2001 closure of the North Concentrator  and  lower  ore
grades in 2002.

Smelter  and refinery performance improved in the third quarter and  first
nine months of 2002 compared with the same periods in 2001 largely due  to
higher  plant  availability. Compared with the  second  quarter  of  2002,
output was lower largely due to a short maintenance shutdown in August.

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

(100% basis)

Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      966     827      905     968     891      2,792 2,765
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t)         6.00    5.43     5.50    5.64    5.25     6.40  5.47
Gold produced
('000 ounces)(a)   178     123      148     154     138      525   439

 (a)  Gold production represents quantity of gold poured.

Production for the third quarter of 2002 was affected by a planned
shutdown and commissioning of the pebble crusher.

                   3Q      4Q       1Q      2Q      3Q      9 MTHS  9 MTHS
                   2001    2001     2002    2002    2002    2001    2002

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

(100% basis)

Sulphide ore treated
('000 tonnes)      1,371   1,444    1,397   1,399   1,237    3,981  4,033
Average ore grade:
Copper (%)         1.18    1.12     1.00    0.91    0.81     1.18   0.91
Gold (g/t)         0.28    0.32     0.34    0.34    0.41     0.32   0.36

Copper concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes)      37.3    36.2     30.2    29.9    23.0     108.0  83.1

Contained copper in
concentrates:
Saleable production
('000 tonnes)      14.3    13.8     11.9    10.5    8.4      41.4   30.7
Sales
('000 tonnes)(a)   10.4    10.5     10.4    8.9     5.9      34.2   25.2
Contained gold in
concentrates:
Saleable production
('000 ounces)      8.7     10.8     11.3    10.1    11.0     30.7   32.4
Sales
('000 ounces) (a)  6.1     8.2      10.4    7.7     6.6      23.5   24.7

(a)  Rio Tinto's 80% share of material from the Joint Venture.

Production  for the third quarter of 2002 was affected when  a  skip  door
failed to close and latch as it left the head frame causing material to be
discharged  into  the shaft. A 16-day delay to underground  production  was
incurred  as a result, though mill feed was supplemented from lower  grade
open  cut stockpiles. Further drawpoints in the block cave were closed  as
the  overall  grade  profile  continues to decline.  Production  from  the
current cave is expected to be completed in early 2003.

Palabora
Total production at the Palabora mine, smelter and refinery (Rio Tinto
49.2%(a)) in South Africa.

(100% basis)

Palabora mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      4,056   3,555    2,558   2,005   2,722    10,967 7,285
Average ore grade:
copper (%)         0.70    0.72     0.77    0.66    0.54     0.63   0.65
Copper concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes)      72.8    66.3     55.8    35.9    40.5     167.2  132.3
Average concentrate
grade:
copper (%)         35.0    34.3     31.4    31.2    29.9     33.2   30.9
Copper in
concentrates
('000 tonnes)      25.5    22.8     17.5    11.2    12.1     55.6   40.9

Palabora smelter/refinery
New concentrate
smelted on site
('000 tonnes)      86.9    70.7     65.7    64.5    68.7     239.7  198.8
New copper anodes
produced
('000 tonnes)(b)   22.9    16.7     17.8    23.1    22.5     68.3   63.4
Refined new copper
produced
('000 tonnes)      20.1    22.2     16.2    22.0    23.0     64.7   61.2

By-products:
Magnetite concentrate
('000 tonnes)      55      59       51      49      31       142    132
Uranium oxide
(tonnes)           8       -        -       -       -        31     -
Baddeleyite (several grades)
('000 tonnes)      1.0     -        -       -       -        4.0    -
Refined nickel sulphate
(tonnes)           38      74       73      88      67       171    228

Vermiculite Plant
Vermiculite produced
('000 tonnes)      47.2    42.1     44.0    57.1    62.5     118.1  163.6

(a)  Rio Tinto increased its holding in Palabora from 48.6% to 49.2% in
     July 2001.
(b)  Contained copper in anodes; anode production includes a small amount
     produced from purchased material.

New copper in concentrate production rose during the quarter on account of
increased ore production from the underground mine and higher processing
rates of slag, reverts and low grade stockpiled copper concentrate.  This
was partially offset by reduced availability of ore from the open pit
following its closure at the end of April although a ramp scavenging
exercise in the Open Pit is progressing well.  Anode copper production
remained steady despite a further reduction in concentrate grade caused by
increased reliance upon low grade stockpiles, slag and marginal ore dumps.

Magnetite production met customer demand. Vermiculite production was
higher than in the equivalent quarter of 2001, due to higher availability
of plant and heavy equipment. Uranium and baddeleyite production ceased
with the closure of the heavy minerals plant in August 2001.

                   3Q      4Q       1Q      2Q      3Q      9 MTHS  9 MTHS
                   2001    2001     2002    2002    2002    2001    2002

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     153      157     151     159      440    466
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t)         6.82    5.57     5.81    4.74    6.33     5.98   5.64
Silver (g/t)       24.63   5.94     3.16    3.16    2.79     11.29  3.03
Copper (%)         0.38    0.47     0.44    0.28    0.21     0.42   0.31
Lead (%)           1.01    0.50     0.29    0.21    0.22     0.91   0.24
Zinc (%)           2.08    0.77     0.42    0.19    0.35     1.66   0.32

Bullion produced
('000 ounces)      41      25       27      23      32       95     82
Containing:
Gold
('000 ounces)      25      23       25      18      29       69     72
Silver
('000 ounces)      14      1        2       3       5        23     9
Gold recovered in
concentrates
('000 ounces)      3       2        2       2       1        7      5
Total gold production
('000 ounces)      28      25       27      20      30       76     77

Bullion sales
(fine gold)
('000 ounces)      25      23       27      18      26       68     71

Copper in concentrate ('000 tonnes):
Production         0.1     0.2      0.2     0.1     0.0      0.7    0.4
Sales              -       1.1      -       -       0.8      -      0.8

Lead/zinc in concentrate ('000 tonnes):
Production         1.1     0.2      -       -       -        4.4    -
Sales              0.6     1.4      0.9     -       -        4.7    0.9

A ramp up in production from the New Occidental development improved gold
grades and allowed additional mill throughput with an improved feed
consistency.

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)      4,115   4,567    4,692   4,722   4,406    11,921 13,820
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t)         0.43    0.42     0.48    0.49    0.55     0.46   0.51
Refined gold
produced
('000 ounces)      46      47       55      59      59       140    173

Production increased from 2001 levels due to increased plant availability
and improved head grades.

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)      -       -        -       -       -        499    -
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t)         -       -        -       -       -        1.39   -
Total gold produced
('000 ounces)      -       -        -       -       -        5      -

Patchway mine (a)
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      25      24       23      21      24       73     68
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t)         4.88    4.62     4.41    3.47    2.53     4.45   3.46
Total gold produced
('000 ounces)      4       3        3       2       2        9      7

Renco mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      67      69       61      65      63       194    189
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t)         6.84    5.95     5.03    4.68    3.95     7.10   4.55
Total gold produced
('000 ounces)      13      11       8       9       7        39     24

Total Rio Tinto Zimbabwe
Total gold produced
('000 ounces)      17      14       11      11      9        53     31

(a) Includes low grade material.

Production ceased at Cam Dump in June 2001.

                   3Q      4Q       1Q      2Q      3Q      9 MTHS  9 MTHS
                   2001    2001     2002    2002    2002    2001    2002

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

Neves Corvo mine
Total ore treated
('000 tonnes)
         (a)       406     484      453     475     406      1,537 1,333
Of which, treated to
extract tin
('000 tonnes)      49      25       8       7       -        165   14
Average ore grades:
Copper (%)         4.95    5.07     4.85    5.26    4.87     4.73  5.00
Tin (%)            1.80    1.21     4.52    2.09    -        1.63  3.38
Copper production:
Copper concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes)      72.1    88.1     74.6    90.8    72.3     256.2 237.7
Copper concentrate
grade:
copper (%)         23.9    24.2     24.8    24.3    23.9     24.0  24.3
Copper in concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes)      17.2    21.3     18.5    22.1    17.3     61.6  57.8
Tin production:
Tin concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes)      0.7     0.2      0.4     0.1     -        1.9   0.5
Tin concentrate
grade: tin (%)     58.7    61.0     62.2    60.5    -        56.9  61.8
Tin in concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes)      0.4     0.1      0.3     0.1     -        1.1   0.3

(a)  Total ore treated for both copper and tin production. Tin production
   was discontinued in the third quarter of 2002 due to the low availability
   of economically recoverable ore.


DIAMONDS

Argyle Diamonds
Total production from mining operations at Argyle Diamonds (Rio Tinto
100%) (a) in Western Australia.

(100% basis)
Ore processed
('000 tonnes):
AK1 ore            2,669   2,524    2,501   2,519   2,558    7,789  7,578
Alluvial ore       999     980      882     780     851      3,210  2,514

Total ore
processed          3,668   3,504    3,383   3,299   3,409    10,999 10,092

Diamonds recovered
('000 carats):
AK1                7,808   7,739    5,878   8,241   8,599    17,485 22,718
Alluvial           239     206      277     174     414      667    865
Total
recovered          8,048   7,945    6,155   8,415   9,013    18,152 23,583

(a) Rio Tinto's interest in the Argyle Diamond mine increased from 99.8%
to 100% on 29 April 2002, following the purchase of the outstanding
units in the Western Australian Diamond Trust.

Ore  processed  and  carats produced from the AK1 pit  was  in  line  with
previous   quarters.   2002  alluvial  carat  production   reflected   the
processing of high grade ore blocks compared with 2001.

Merlin

Rio Tinto share of production from the Merlin mine (Rio Tinto 100%) in
the Northern Territory, Australia.
Ore processed
('000 tonnes)      141     135      191     195     184      296  570
Diamonds
Recovered
('000 carats)      13      20       34      22      33       35   90


Ore  processed  was in line with previous quarters. Carats recovered  were
higher  than in the previous quarter, reflecting a return to higher  grade
ore in accordance with planned mining sequence.

IRON ORE

                   3Q      4Q       1Q      2Q      3Q       9 MTHS   9MTHS
                   2001    2001     2002    2002    2002     2001     2002

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       15,748  15,149   14,653  14,078  15,711   43,679   44,442
Channar            2,704   3,215    2,528   2,409   2,423    7,873    7,361
Total
production         18,452  18,364   17,181  16,487  18,134   51,552   51,803
Total shipments
('000 tonnes)      16,710  16,831   13,179  16,984  19,284   48,526   49,446

Although third quarter production levels were 1.7% lower year-on-year (Rio
Tinto's  share was 1.2% lower year-on-year), nine month production  lifted
0.5% to set a new January to September record. Strong demand, particularly
from  China, helped establish new shipment levels - the third quarter  and
nine  month  totals were up 11.5% and 2.3% respectively  on  the  previous
record figures set in 2000.

Iron Ore Company of Canada

Total production and shipments from the Carol Lake operations (Rio Tinto
56.1%) in Newfoundland & Labrador and Quebec in Canada.

(100% basis)

Carol Lake operations
Saleable production:
Concentrates
('000 tonnes)      630     717      589     1,568   532      2,287 2,689
Pellets
('000 tonnes)      2,986   2,564    2,647   2,334   1,778    8,994 6,759

Shipments:
Concentrate
('000 tonnes)      727     938      704     869     973      2,477 2,546
Pellets
('000 tonnes)      2,207   2,704    1,370   3,094   3,612    7,018 8,076

Production in the third quarter of 2002 was adversely affected by  a  five
week  shutdown  during  August. Excluding  the  effect  of  the  shutdown,
production  performance  during  the  quarter  continued  the  improvement
started  in the previous quarter. Shipments during the third quarter  were
56%  higher  than  the  corresponding period last  year  as  a  result  of
additional  sales  to  existing customers  and  new  business,  mainly  in
Germany,  China and North America. Shipments for the first nine months  of
2002  were  12% higher than in the equivalent period last year  reflecting
improving market conditions.

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)  206     164      104     201     282      478    587

(a)  Production includes by-product fines.

Production increased from 2001 levels due to renegotiation of a contract
with a major customer and new market developments.

Robe River Iron Associates

Total production and shipments from the Pannawonica and West Angelas mines
(Rio Tinto 53%) in Western Australia.

(100% basis)

Pannawonica mine
Saleable production
('000 tonnes)      8,692   8,263    8,206   6,275   8,186    22,443 22,667
Shipments
('000 tonnes)      9,087   7,582    8,334   7,179   8,848    23,531 24,361

West Angelas mine
Saleable production
('000 tonnes)      -       -        129     680     1,898    -      2,707
Shipments
('000 tonnes)      -       -        -       131     1,777    -      1,908

The  first commercial deliveries from West Angelas boosted production  and
shipment  totals  this quarter. Production and shipments from  Pannawonica
were  up  30%  and  23%  respectively on the preceding  quarter,  although
results  for  April  to  June  were adversely affected  by  a  maintenance
shutdown in April 2002.

                   3Q      4Q       1Q      2Q      3Q      9 MTHS  9 MTHS
                   2001    2001     2002    2002    2002    2001    2002

NICKEL

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

Fortaleza mine
Production
(tonnes)           2,989   1,984    2,063   1,290   510      8,186   3,863

Production decreased from 2001 levels due to low ore availability from
underground, resulting from poor ground conditions leading to an
unscheduled shutdown of the mine. Production has now resumed.

Rio Tinto Zimbabwe

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

(100% basis)

Empress Nickel refinery
Production
(tonnes)           1,770   1,591    1,683   1,489   1,761    5,044  4,933

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)      1,550   2,035    1,699   1,671   1,883    4,506 5,253

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


TALC

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

(100% basis)

Talc
production
('000 tonnes)      312     316      323     347     341      953  1,010


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)      359     341      328     318     309      1,086  955

Titanium dioxide feedstock production in the first nine months of 2002 was
below that of the equivalent period of 2001 as production was curtailed in
line with market demand.

                   3Q      4Q       1Q      2Q      3Q      9 MTHS  9 MTHS
                   2001    2001     2002    2002    2002    2001    2002

URANIUM

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

(100% basis)

Ranger mine
Production
(tonnes U3O8)      789     1,155    951     977     1,130    3,056 3,058


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

(100% basis)

Production
(tonnes U3O8)      793     674      743     675     846      1,966 2,264


ZINC

Norzink AS
Total refined zinc production at the Norzink smelter (Rio Tinto 0% (a)) in
Norway.
(100% basis)

Production
('000 tonnes)      -       -        -       -                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%) in Sweden.

Ore treated
('000 tonnes)      195     208      197     188     188      599   573
Average ore grades:
Zinc (%)           8.5     8.7      6.2     6.1     8.0      8.2   6.8
Lead (%)           3.5     3.7      2.8     3.0     5.3      3.6   3.7
Silver (g/t)       83      91       71      69      119      82    86
Production of zinc
concentrate
('000 tonnes)      27.8    30.2     20.0    18.9    24.6     82.4  63.5
Production of lead
concentrate
('000 tonnes)      8.6     8.9      7.2     7.2     13.1     26.1  27.5

Production of
metal in
concentrates:
Zinc
('000 tonnes)      15.1    16.6     11.1    10.4    13.6     45.2  35.1
Lead
('000 tonnes)      5.8     6.1      4.7     4.9     9.2      18.4  18.7
Silver
('000 ounces)      326     427      324     302     545      1,069 1,171


Metal  grades improved in the third quarter of 2002 compared with  earlier
quarters in 2002.  Lead production was particularly strong.
EXPLORATION

Expenditure

Total  pre-tax  exploration expenditure charged to  the  profit  and  loss
account  for  the  quarter  ending 30 September  2002  was  US$29  million
compared  with  US$34 million for the comparable quarter of   2001.  Total
expenditure  for the first nine months of 2002 was US$87 million  compared
with US$88 million in the first nine months of 2001.

Ongoing Programmes

Country    Commodity    Programme Summary
                        
Peru       Copper       Exploration continued at the Marcona project  to
                        locate  additional  copper  mineralisation  near
                        the known iron oxide copper resource.
                        
USA        Copper       Drilling   continued  at  the  Resolution   deep
                        porphyry copper project in Arizona.
                        
Iran       Gold         Encouraging results were obtained from drilling
                        at the Dashkasan gold project.
                        
Turkey     Gold         Drilling  continued  at the  Copler  project  to
                        locate  extensions  of the known  porphyry  gold
                        resource.
                        
Australia  Diamonds     Exploration  drilling  has  commenced   on   the
                        Southern  Tail  target  at  the  Argyle  diamond
                        mine.
                        
Botswana   Diamonds     Airborne  geophysical  surveying  was  completed
                        over   diamond   tenements  in  the   south   of
                        Botswana.  Drilling will commence in the  fourth
                        quarter.
                        
Canada     Diamonds     Exploration continued on kimberlite  targets  in
                        Ontario, Nunavut and on Brodeur Peninsula.
                        
Guinea     Diamonds     Exploration   drilling   continued   at   Aredor
                        project to test a range of kimberlite targets.
                        
India      Diamonds     Exploration  continued on granted reconnaissance
                        permits   in   Andhra  Pradesh  and   Karnataka.
                        Drilling  has commenced on a range of kimberlite
                        targets.
                        
Guinea     Iron Ore     Delineation  drilling  was  completed   at   the
                        Simandou hematite project. Evaluation work  will
                        continue in the fourth quarter.
                        
Mozambique Titanium     Delineation drilling continued on heavy  mineral
                        deposits in the south of Mozambique.





                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange