Hamersley Iron Relinquishes Karijini Mining Tenure

Rio Tinto PLC
14 April 2000

                     Hamersley Iron relinquishes Karijini                     
                         National Park mining tenure                          
                                              

Rio Tinto's wholly owned Hamersley Iron has relinquished six Temporary
Reserves in the Karijini National Park to the State Government.

The Reserves were granted to Hamersley in 1973, prior to the establishment of
the Karijini National Park.

The relinquishment of the Reserves removes mining tenure held by Hamersley.

Hamersley Iron Managing Director Sam Walsh said the relinquishment recognised
the important conservation values of the Park and was part of Hamersley's
tenement rationalisation program.  At the same time that the Karijini Reserves
were relinquished, Hamersley converted two Temporary Reserves at its Homestead
project to Mining Leases.

While general exploration activity has taken place on the Karijini Reserves
over the years, CALM has assessed these areas and declared that they have been
rehabilitated in accordance with the values of the National Park.

Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said she was pleased with Hamersley
Iron's decision because the six Temporary Reserves that had been relinquished
included some areas within the park of high conservation and recreation
significance.

Mrs Edwardes said conservation and land management staff had inspected areas
that had been rehabilitated after exploration. She said calm had found
Hamersley Iron had done an excellent job of rehabilitation.

The Temporary Reserves that have been relinquished by Hamersley are:

                 TR ID         TR name
                 TR70/5617     Mt Frederick
                 TR70/5618     Mt Stevenson
                 TR70/5619     Mt Vigors
                 TR70/5620     Mt Vigors East
                 TR70/5624     Mt Eileen
                 TR70/5625     Mt Eileen East


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