Part 2 - 4th Qtr Prod Figures
Rio Tinto PLC
24 January 2001
Part 2
COPPER & GOLD
FULL FULL
4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q YEAR YEAR
1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 1999 2000
Kennecott Utah Copper
Total production at Kennecott's Bingham Canyon mine, smelter and refinery
(Rio Tinto 100%) and Barneys Canyon mine (Rio Tinto 100%) in Utah, US.
Bingham Canyon Mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 13,191 15,440 14,281 13,839 15,102 56,595 58,662
Average ore grade:
Copper (%) 0.53 0.52 0.58 0.58 0.63 0.55 0.57
Gold (g/t) 0.30 0.32 0.47 0.54 0.36 0.30 0.42
Silver (g/t) 2.67 2.54 2.78 3.09 2.71 2.85 2.77
Molybdenum
(%) 0.031 0.035 0.050 0.043 0.040 0.033 0.042
Copper concen-
trates produced
('000 tonnes) 248 275 262 274 326 1,051 1,137
Average concentrate
grade (% Cu) 25.5 25.2 28.1 25.6 24.9 26.1 25.9
Production of metals in copper concentrates:
Copper
('000 tonnes)
(a) 63.7 69.7 74.1 70.5 81.4 279.3 295.7
Gold
('000 ounces) 88 111 143 154 121 367 529
Silver
('000 ounces) 886 916 952 1,066 1,005 3,859 3,939
Molybdenum concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes): 2.9 4.3 5.4 4.5 4.2 11.8 18.4
Molybdenum in
concentrates
('000 tonnes) 1.6 2.3 3.0 2.5 2.3 6.3 10.1
Kennecott Smelter & Refinery
Copper concentrates
smelted
('000 tonnes) 266 279 246 251 296 1,065 1,072
Copper anodes produced
('000 tonnes)
(b) 66.8 70.5 58.0 66.3 73.9 265.2 268.8
Production of refined metal:
Copper
('000 tonnes) 70.3 69.9 61.1 65.8 71.9 265.4 268.7
Gold
('000 ounces) (c) 96 80 110 102 121 346 413
Silver
('000 ounces) (c) 775 776 709 912 821 4,291 3,218
(a) Includes a small amount of copper in precipitates.
(b) New metal excluding recycled material.
(c) Includes gold and silver in intermediate products.
In the fourth quarter of 2000, production of all metals in concentrate
exceeded the fourth quarter of 1999, primarily due to higher ore grade and
throughput. Compared with the third quarter of 2000, copper production was
greater mainly due to higher ore grade and throughput. Gold, silver and
molybdenum output was lower largely as a result of lower ore grade.
Smelter copper output was higher in the fourth quarter of 2000 compared
with both the fourth quarter of 1999 and the third quarter of 2000 due to
high plant availability.
In the fourth quarter of 2000, refined gold production exceeded both the
fourth quarter of 1999 and third quarter 2000 output mainly due to higher
anode availability. Refined silver in the fourth quarter of 2000 was lower
than the third quarter of 2000 primarily due to lower ore grade and timing
of production from intermediate products.
Barneys Canyon Mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 542 461 599 649 541 2,331 2,250
Average ore grade:
Gold (g/t) 3.69 2.44 2.99 3.44 3.12 2.38 3.03
Gold produced in
dore and concentrates
('000 ounces) 43 33 35 37 48 112 153
Gold production in the fourth quarter of 2000 was higher than the fourth
quarter of 1999 and third quarter of 2000, principally due to timing of
flows from the heap leach pads.
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 21,073 19,885 20,377 20,468 80,561 81,803
Average mill head grades:
Copper (%) 1.09 0.94 0.94 1.09 1.33 1.12 1.07
Gold (g/t) 1.37 0.99 0.86 0.89 1.64 1.37 1.10
Silver (g/t) 2.69 2.83 2.72 2.62 3.70 2.78 2.97
Production of metals in concentrates:
Copper in
concentrates
('000 tonnes) 190.2 169.6 158.2 195.2 246.3 766.5 769.3
Gold in
concentrates
('000 ounces) 766 574 457 485 920 3,086 2,436
Silver in
concentrates
('000 ounces) 1,301 1,082 992 1,210 1,701 4,917 4,985
Sales of payable metals
in concentrates: (b)
Copper in
concentrates
('000 tonnes) 198.1 162.4 136.2 202.1 244.8 747.4 745.5
Gold in
concentrates
('000 ounces) 795 551 408 517 911 3,047 2,387
Silver in concentrates
('000 ounces) 1,061 824 684 993 1,347 3,829 3,848
(a) See note (a) 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 third quarter of 2000,production of copper and gold in concentrates
increased significantly compared with the third quarter of 2000 and the
corresponding period of 1999 due largely to higher ore grades.
Atlantic Copper
Concentrate smelted
('000 tonnes) 254.8 244.7 238.5 245.2 187.9 949.4 916.3
Copper anodes
produced
('000 tonnes) (c) 79.4 80.9 76.1 74.5 58.4 293.5 289.9
Copper cathodes
produced
('000 tonnes) 65.5 65.2 65.6 66.8 60.0 252.5 257.6
Copper cathode
sales
('000 tonnes) (d) 65.7 62.2 66.7 65.0 61.2 253.3 255.1
(c) New metal excluding recycled material.
(d) Refers to copper cathode and wire rod sales.
Minera Escondida Limitada
Total production at the Escondida mine (Rio Tinto 30%) in Chile.
(100% basis)
Escondida Mine
Sulphide ore treated
('000 tonnes) 11,678 11,484 11,528 12,358 11,535 46,023 46,905
Average copper
grade (%) 1.84 1.99 1.83 1.85 1.94 2.05 1.90
Mill production (metals in concentrates):
Contained copper
('000 tonnes) 187.1 203.8 184.6 197.4 190.7 826.8 776.4
Contained gold
('000 ounces) 32 32 28 38 31 150 129
Contained silver
('000 ounces) 718 771 883 859 769 3,525 3,282
Oxide ore treated
('000 tonnes) 4,020 1,796 2,813 3,740 4,223 14,738 12,572
Average copper
grade (%) 1.26 1.08 0.99 1.04 1.16 1.17 1.08
Contained copper in
leachate/mined material
('000 tonnes) 51 19 28 39 49 172 135
Refined production:
Oxide plant
production
('000 tonnes) 35.1 34.9 35.0 34.7 35.6 131.8 140.3
Ore treated in 2000 was comparable with 1999, however contained copper
declined with the planned decrease in ore grade. Contained gold and silver
were also down. The decline in oxide ore processed in 2000 reflected a
slow first quarter where buffer stocks of crushed ore on the pads exceeded
leach requirements. The oxide plant continued to produce consistently at
140,000 tonnes per annum capacity.
Somincor
Total production at the Neves Corvo mine (Rio Tinto 49%) in Portugal.
(100% basis)
Neves Corvo Mine
Total ore treated
('000
tonnes)(a) 517 499 538 402 250 2,210 1,689
Of which, treated to
extract tin
('000 tonnes) 55 64 80 63 40 350 248
Average ore grades:
Copper (%) 5.20 5.47 5.14 4.77 5.42 5.12 5.19
Tin (%) 1.25 1.18 1.83 1.64 0.81 1.27 1.45
Copper production:
Copper concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes) 101.1 102.7 99.7 68.7 48.0 417.8 319.2
Copper concentrate
grade
(% copper) 23.8 23.7 23.9 24.0 24.1 24.1 23.9
Copper in concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes) 24.0 24.3 23.9 16.5 11.6 100.5 76.3
Tin production:
Tin concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes) 0.6 0.4 1.0 0.7 0.1 4.2 2.3
Tin concentrate
grade (% tin) 53.2 50.5 54.2 52.0 51.1 50.8 52.7
Tin in concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes) 0.3 0.2 0.6 0.4 0.1 2.2 1.2
(a) Total ore treated for both copper and tin production.
The quarter's production was affected by the main shaft motor failure in
October and November, and a miners' strike in December.
COPPER & GOLD (continued)
Full Full
4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Year Year
1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 1999 2000
Palabora
Total production at the Palabora mine, smelter and refinery (Rio Tinto
48.6%(a)) in South Africa.
(100% basis)
Palabora Mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 7,053 5,862 6,547 6,814 6,514 28,343 25,737
Average ore grade
(copper %) 0.62 0.59 0.58 0.59 0.59 0.47 0.59
Copper concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes) 108.7 86.9 89.3 101.6 80.9 333.4 358.7
Average concentrate
grade
(copper %) 33.7 32.2 33.6 32.0 32.8 33.5 32.6
Copper in concentrates
('000 tonnes) 36.6 27.9 30.0 32.6 26.5 111.9 117.0
Palabora Smelter/Refinery
New concentrate
smelted on site
('000 tonnes) 80.2 58.9 51.3 87.8 83.9 285.1 281.9
New copper anodes
produced
('000 tonnes)(b) 31.3 17.6 14.6 27.7 30.3 101.0 90.2
Refined new copper
produced
('000 tonnes) 29.9 17.8 14.4 26.3 29.2 100.1 87.7
By-products:
Magnetite concentrate
('000 tonnes) 70 60 70 60 49 190 239
Uranium oxide
(tonnes) 24 14 19 34 28 90 95
Baddeleyite (several grades)
('000 tonnes) 3.1 1.9 2.2 1.6 2.2 11.1 7.9
Refined nickel sulphate
(tonnes) 106 103 32 46 82 246 263
Vermiculite Plant
Vermiculite produced
('000 tonnes) 52.1 39.4 48.0 56.9 64.1 208.6 208.4
(a) Rio Tinto acquired an additional 2.1% holding during the fourth
quarter of 2000.
(b) Contained copper in anodes; anode production includes a small amount
produced from purchased material.
High head-grades associated with the revised mining strategy have improved
year on year concentrate production. Operational problems in the
converter and anode sections combined with the smelter shutdown during
June 2000 reduced anode output and hence refined copper production.
Nickel sulphate production for the year was higher reflecting the high
electrolyte inventory level carried over from December 1999. Magnetite
production was higher in order to meet market demand.
The drop in baddeleyite feed from the Heavy Minerals Plant due to the
revised copper pit mining strategy and lower feed grades received from
Foskor had a negative effect on gross baddeleyite production. This flowed
through to the other grades of baddeleyite.
Vermiculite production during the latter part of the year, following the
negative effects of excessive rain during the first and second quarters.
Minera Alumbrera
Production and sales at the Bajo de la Alumbrera mine (25% Rio Tinto(a))
in Argentina.
(100% basis)
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) - - - 3,736 7,102 - 10,839
Average ore grade:
Copper (%) - - - 0.59 0.64 - 0.62
Gold (%) - - - 0.9 0.7 - 0.8
Concentrate produced
('000 tonnes) - - - 72.1 148.1 - 220.3
Copper in concentrates:
Production
('000 tonnes) - - - 20.0 41.1 - 61.1
Sales
('000 tonnes) - - - 17.5 33.4 - 50.9
Production of gold
In concentrates
('000 ounces) - - - 71.3 125.0 - 196.3
Production of gold
In dore
('000 ounces) - - - 4.4 7.7 - 12.0
Total gold sales
('000 ounces) - - - 65.6 114.9 - 180.5
(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.
COPPER & GOLD (continued) Full Full
4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Year Year
1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 1999 2000
Kennecott Minerals Company
Total production at the mines of Kennecott Minerals Company in the US;
Rawhide (Rio Tinto 51%) in Nevada; Ridgeway (Rio Tinto 100%) in South
Carolina, Cortez/Pipeline (Rio Tinto 40%) in Nevada and Greens Creek (Rio
Tinto 70%)in Alaska.
(100% basis)
Rawhide Mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 1,437 1,488 1,529 1,477 1,435 6,129 5,929
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t) 0.99 0.99 0.93 0.75 0.87 0.86 0.89
Silver (g/t) 18.7 13.6 16.0 9.2 11.0 11.7 12.5
Metals produced in dore:
Gold
('000 ounces) 27 27 27 27 23 113 104
Silver
('000 ounces) 184 235 206 215 158 651 814
Mill throughput rates varied due to changing ore hardness, maintenance
requirements and haulage distance. Ore grades for both gold and silver
fluctuated as a result of mining sequence. The gold and silver production
reflected delays in recovery from the leach pads due to higher stacking
resulting in intermixing of leach solutions which inhibited high grade
solution segregation.
Ridgeway
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 435 - - - - 3,160 -
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t) 1.10 - - - - 1.10 -
Silver (g/t) 1.1 - - - - 1.1 -
Metals produced in dore:
Gold
('000 ounces) 12 - - - - 81 -
Silver
('000 ounces) 9 - - - - 58 -
Gold production ceased in November 1999.
Cortez / Pipeline
Ore treated
Milled
('000 tonnes) 901 861 772 837 867 3,835 3,337
Leached
('000 tonnes) 725 718 1,458 2,625 2,584 2,976 7,385
Sold for roasting
('000 tonnes) - 13 - 26 102 - 141
Average ore grade:
gold
Milled(g/t) 11.94 12.19 9.54 6.52 8.58 11.19 9.22
Leached (g/t) 0.83 0.72 0.62 0.90 1.43 0.93 1.01
Sold for
(g/t) roasting - 15.10 - 19.75 17.14 - 17.43
Gold produced
('000 ounces) 318 312 214 189 295 1,329 1,010
Mill throughput was lower in 2000 as the Cortez Mill (No. 1) was shut down
during the fourth quarter of 1999 with ore being shifted from milling to
leaching. Higher leach recoveries and reduced leaching costs accounted
for the shift. Mining grades temporarily declined, as expected, as mining
moved into a new area. Grades began to increase in the fourth quarter as
mining progressed into Phase 3. Roast ore sales continued under an
agreement with AngloGold for processing at their Jerrit Canyon roaster. A
test parcel of roast ore was also sold in the first quarter of 2000.
Greens Creek
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 135 136 143 145 139 525 563
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t) 6.00 7.44 6.97 7.00 7.10 7.27 7.13
Silver (g/t) 820 747 723 597 687 811 688
Zinc (%) 11.4 13.4 13.7 14.1 13.1 13.5 13.6
Lead (%) 4.8 5.3 5.2 5.3 5.3 5.6 5.3
Metals produced in concentrates:
Gold
('000 ounces) 17 22 21 19 21 80 83
Silver
('000 ounces) 2,705 2,500 2,531 1,977 2,229 10,261 9,237
Zinc
('000 tonnes) 12.2 14.1 16.0 16.2 14.4 57.0 60.7
Lead
('000 tonnes) 4.4 5.0 5.1 5.2 4.9 20.6 20.2
Mill throughput was constrained in the fourth quarter due to lower mine
production. Mine ore production was affected by the timing of the
backfill, access development and ore production cycle and lower equipment
availability for major overhauls. Metal grades varied with the mining
sequence. Production was also affected in the third and fourth quarters of
2000 as a result of mining in areas with high iron content which had an
adverse affect on recoveries.
Peak Gold Mine
Total production and sales from the Peak Gold mine (Rio Tinto 100%) in New
South Wales, Australia.
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 148 148 147 150 144 598 589
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t) 8.10 6.82 8.04 8.06 5.98 7.60 7.23
Silver (g/t) 4.63 5.22 6.15 5.23 4.92 5.34 5.38
Copper (%) 0.40 0.41 0.36 0.37 0.46 0.51 0.40
Lead (%) 0.85 0.84 0.74 0.79 0.89 0.63 0.82
Zinc (%) 0.87 0.76 0.78 0.99 1.09 0.61 0.90
Bullion produced
('000 ounces) 38 31 41 39 28 143 139
Containing:
Gold
('000 ounces) 35 28 34 35 24 127 121
Silver
('000 ounces) 3 3 6 4 3 12 16
Gold recovered in
concentrates
('000 ounces) 3 4 1 2 2 13 9
Total gold production
('000 ounces) 38 32 35 37 26 140 130
Bullion sales
(fine gold)
('000 ounces) 31 32 34 30 25 122 120
Copper in concentrate ('000 tonnes):
Production 0.3 1.6 0.6 0.2 0.0 1.7 2.5
Sales - - 5.0 - 0.2 0.9 5.2
Lead/zinc in concentrate ('000 tonnes):
Production 1.0 1.7 2.2 1.1 1.6 2.1 6.6
Sales 0.5 - 1.4 1.0 1.8 1.7 4.2
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) - - - 692 1,297 - 1,989
Average ore grade:
Copper (%) - - - 1.07 1.10 - 1.09
Gold (g/t) - - - 0.17 0.16 - 0.16
Copper concentrates
Produced
('000 tonnes) - - - 16.8 32.1 - 48.9
Contained copper in
concentrates:
Saleable production
('000 tonnes) - - - 6.5 12.5 - 19.0
Sales
('000 tonnes)(b) - - - 6.6 7.9 - 14.5
Contained gold in
concentrates:
Saleable production
('000 tonnes) - - - 2.8 4.8 - 7.6
Sales
('000 tonnes) (b) - - - 2.8 2.7 - 5.5
(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.
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) 4,853 4,976 4,933 5,051 4,785 17,475 19,745
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t) 0.46 0.47 0.49 0.48 0.48 0.45 0.48
Refined gold
produced
('000 ounces) 54 59 58 55 57 189 229
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) 2,014 1,435 1,044 1,910 1,823 7,673 6,212
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t) 2.30 2.43 2.53 2.39 2.33 2.33 2.41
Silver (g/t) 4.22 7.96 6.74 6.41 6.76 4.18 6.93
Production:
Gold
('000 ounces) 113 76 61 103 98 440 338
Silver
('000 ounces) 85 86 55 90 95 345 326
Sales:
Gold
('000 ounces) 122 77 53 102 84 448 316
Silver
('000 ounces) 80 80 - 100 99 379 279
Gold production in the quarter was consistent with the previous quarter,
with no major production interruptions.
COPPER & GOLD (Continued)
Full Full
4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Year Year
1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 1999 2000
Lihir Gold
Total production at the Lihir gold mine (Rio Tinto 16.3%(a)) in Papua New
Guinea.
(100% basis)
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 812 791 841 838 943 2,911 3,413
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t) 6.62 5.27 5.64 6.37 6.63 7.04 6.01
Gold produced
('000 ounces) (b) 166 121 142 152 191 625 606
(a) Effective 14 February 2000, Rio Tinto's interest in Lihir decreased
from 17.15% to 16.3% following a placement of shares by Lihir Gold.
(b) Gold production represents quantity of gold poured.
Gold production during the first nine months was lower than in the
equivalent period last year due to lower ore grades and scheduled
maintenance. Grade and plant availability improved in the fourth quarter
of 2000.
Rio Tinto Zimbabwe
Total production at Rio Tinto Zimbabwe's gold operations (Rio Tinto 56.0%)
in Zimbabwe.
(100% basis)
Renco Mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 74 70 77 77 63 309 287
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t) 5.21 5.30 5.74 6.40 6.01 5.30 5.91
Total gold produced
('000 ounces) 11 10 13 13 11 46 47
Patchway Mine (a)
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 26 26 25 26 27 98 104
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t) 5.34 4.70 4.79 5.67 4.99 5.55 5.05
Total gold produced
('000 ounces) 4 4 3 4 4 16 15
Cam Dump Reprocessing
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 226 200 219 249 262 962 930
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t) 1.21 1.08 1.07 1.18 1.19 1.17 1.14
Total gold produced
('000 ounces) 3 2 2 2 3 9 8
Total Rio Tinto Zimbabwe
Total gold produced
('000 ounces) 18 16 17 20 17 71 70
(a) Includes low grade material.
IRON ORE
Full Full
4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Year Year
1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 1999 2000
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 11,780 12,618 12,978 14,642 14,857 44,997 55,095
Channar 2,841 2,594 2,465 2,732 2,811 10,110 10,602
Total
production 14,621 15,212 15,443 17,374 17,668 55,107 65,697
Total shipments
('000 tonnes) 16,732 15,162 16,870 17,301 17,722 59,593 67,055
Hamersley achieved record production and shipments in 2000 which reflected
the upturn in the Asian steel industry. For the year, iron ore production
was 12% higher than the previous record of 58.4 million tonnes in 1997 and
shipments were 8% higher than the previous record of 61.8 million tonnes,
also in 1997. Shipments and production for the fourth quarter 2000 were
also records.
Robe River Iron Associates
Total production from the Pannawonica mine (Rio Tinto 53% (a)) in Western
Australia.
(100% basis)
Saleable production
('000 tonnes) - - - 4,831 7,954 - 12,785
Shipments
('000 tonnes) - - - 5,600 7,295 - 12,895
(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.
The figures are only given for the period since Rio Tinto took control,
but for reference the fourth quarter sales increased by 4% and production
increased by 1% compared with the corresponding quarter of 1999. For the
full year Robe recorded record shipments of 33.2 million tonnes and
production of 31.7 million tonnes (up 12% and 4% respectively from 1999,
which was the previous record year).
Iron Ore Company of Canada
Total production from the Carol Lake operations (Rio Tinto 56.1% (a)) in
Labrador, Canada.
(100% basis)
Saleable production:
Concentrates
('000 tonnes) - - - 567 868 - 1,435
Pellets
('000 tonnes) - - - 1,609 3,092 - 4,701
Shipments:
Concentrate
('000 tonnes) - - - 718 1,124 - 1,842
Pellets
('000 tonnes) - - - 1,781 2,517 - 4,298
(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 figures are only given for the period since Rio Tinto took control.
Sales for the fourth quarter 2000 decreased by 8% due to shipment timing
and the softening of the North American market. Total production increased
by 3% compared with the fourth quarter of 1999, with pellet production
rising by 7%. Full year pellet production was a record 12 million tonnes.
Rio Tinto Brasil Limitada
Total production at the Corumba mine (Rio Tinto 100%) in Corumba, Mato
Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
(100% basis)
Total iron ore
production
('000 tonnes) (a) 94 147 173 281 178 767 778
(a) Production includes by-product fines.
COAL Full Full
4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Year Year
1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 1999 2000
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)
Thermal coal production
('000 tonnes)
Antelope 5,258 5,076 5,035 5,486 5,240 20,579 20,837
Colowyo 1,417 1,168 1,225 1,268 1,030 5,053 4,691
Cordero Rojo 11,129 8,899 7,204 9,018 9,917 41,436 35,038
Decker 3,148 2,112 2,296 2,439 2,210 9,954 9,057
Jacobs Ranch 7,016 5,726 5,965 7,352 6,635 26,371 25,678
Spring
Creek 2,495 2,650 2,668 2,397 2,538 9,975 10,253
Total Kennecott Energy
Total coal
production
('000 tonnes) 30,463 25,631 24,393 27,960 27,570 113,368 105,554
Fourth quarter 2000 production was 9.5% lower than in the same period in
1999. This was primarily due to reduced sales at the Cordero Rojo and
Jacobs Ranch, as a consequence of lower spot prices experienced in late
1999 and early 2000, and a related decision to reduce production. In
addition, December shipments from all of KEC's operations were adversely
impacted by reduced rail performance as a result of bad weather in the
Midwestern U.S.
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 (j)on page 6).
(100% basis)
Thermal coal:
Production
('000 tonnes) 3,261 2,292 3,319 3,027 4,497 14,013 13,135
Shipments
('000 tonnes) 3,302 2,562 3,287 2,178 5,227 14,015 13,254
Production increased to record levels in the fourth quarter of 2000
following resolution of the industrial dispute which affected the third
quarter. Stripping ratios also improved in comparison to the first half
of the year.
COAL (Continued)
Full Full
4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Year Year
1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 1999 2000
Pacific Coal
Total production and sales from the Blair Athol mine (Rio Tinto 71.2%
(a)), the Kestrel Coal mine (Rio Tinto 80% (b)) and the Tarong Coal mine
(Rio Tinto 100%) in Queensland, Australia.
(100% basis)
Blair Athol
Thermal coal:
Production
('000 tonnes) 2,550 2,432 2,594 2,635 3,378 11,110 11,040
Sales
('000 tonnes) 2,885 2,324 2,957 2,639 3,045 11,424 10,964
Kestrel Coal
Thermal coal:
Production
('000 tonnes) 214 220 307 320 283 530 1,130
Sales
('000 tonnes) 223 127 158 253 146 287 685
Coking coal:
Production
('000 tonnes) 355 435 590 665 476 1,104 2,167
Sales
('000 tonnes) 297 506 418 733 494 635 2,151
Semi-hard coking
coal: (c)
Sales
('000 tonnes) 94 265 152 232 192 240 840
Tarong Coal
Thermal coal:
Production
and sales
('000 tonnes) 1,176 1,256 1,049 1,268 1,470 5,116 5,043
Total Pacific Coal
Total coal
Production
('000 tonnes) 4,295 4,343 4,540 4,888 5,607 17,860 19,379
(a) On 10 January 1999, Rio Tinto acquired an additional 14% beneficial
interest in Blair Athol.
(b) Rio Tinto acquired Kestrel Coal, formerly Gordonstone, in February
1999 and production commenced in June 1999.
(c) Semi-hard coking coal is a mixture of thermal coal and coking coal.
The product mix is customer dependant.
Blair Athol had record production in the fourth quarter of 2000. Full year
production was affected by problems associated with mining through old
underground workings, which had a subsequent impact on sales.
Kestrel production in the fourth quarter was affected by unfavourable
geological conditions.
Coal & Allied Industries Limited (a)
Total production and sales from the Hunter Valley Operations (Rio Tinto
71%)and Mount Thorley mine (Rio Tinto 57%), both in New South Wales,
Australia.
(100% basis)
Hunter Valley Operations (b)
Thermal coal
Production
('000 tonnes) 1,170 1,226 1,554 1,437 1,545 6,319 5,762
Coking coal
Production
('000 tonnes) 624 771 898 598 556 3,004 2,823
Mount Thorley
Thermal coal:
Production
('000 tonnes) 447 435 423 650 656 2,213 2,164
Coking coal:
Production
('000 tonnes) 520 615 482 540 588 2,448 2,225
Total Coal & Allied
Total coal
Production
('000 tonnes) 2,762 3,047 3,357 3,225 3,345 13,984 12,974
Total sales
('000 tonnes) (c) 2,728 2,893 3,616 3,654 2,989 13,663 13,152
(a) Effective from 1 July 1999, Coal & Allied purchased the Rio Tinto
Group's coal interests in New South Wales. The restructuring of Coal &
Allied's shareholding left Rio Tinto with a 70.9% interest.
(b) Hunter Valley Operations consist of the now merged Howick and Hunter
Valley mines. Coal and Allied acquired the Lemington mine with effect
from 20 December 2000, production from the mine is included in the Hunter
Valley Operations numbers.
(c) Sales relate only to coal mined by the operation and exclude traded
coal.
Coal production for Hunter Valley Operations in the fourth quarter of 2000
was comparable with the third quarter. Coal production for the year was
lower than 1999 due to a dispute with a significant domestic customer.
Coal production at Mount Thorley in the fourth quarter 2000 was comparable
with the third quarter. Coal production for the year was lower than 1999
due to matching of the resource, equipment, market and labour numbers to
achieve maximum productivity at the lowest cost.
COAL (Continued)
Full Full
4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Year Year
1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 1999 2000
Carbones del Cerrejon SA
Total production at the Carbones del Cerrejon SA mine (Rio Tinto 0% (a)).
(100% basis)
Carbones del Cerrejon SA
Thermal coal:
Production
('000 tonnes) 352 - - - - 1,207 -
(a) Rio Tinto disposed of its interest in Carbones del Cerrejon in early
January 2000.
ALUMINIUM
Full Full
4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Year Year
1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 1999 2000
Comalco
Production and sales from operations owned by Comalco (Rio Tinto 100% (a))
including Comalco's share of primary aluminium production from partly
owned smelters.
(100% of Comalco's share)
('000 tonnes)
Weipa mine, Queensland (Comalco 100%):
Beneficiated bauxite
production 2,997 2,777 3,008 2,990 2,992 11,386 11,767
Metal grade bauxite
shipments 2,997 2,729 2,766 3,058 2,965 11,194 11,518
Calcined bauxite
production 34 33 36 31 29 112 129
Boke mine, Guinea
(Comalco 4%):
Bauxite production 177 173 172 111 119 441 575
Queensland Alumina Limited,
Queensland
(Comalco 30.3%):
Alumina production 279 273 294 284 290 1,101 1,141
Eurallumina SpA,
Sardinia
(Comalco 56.2%):
Alumina production 141 143 140 146 146 546 575
Primary aluminium production:
Bell Bay, Tasmania
(Comalco 100%) 39.0 37.1 38.8 40.6 40.9 151.1 157.4
Boyne Island, Queensland
(Comalco 54.2%) 68.7 69.9 68.2 68.8 69.0 267.7 275.9
Tiwai Point, New Zealand
(Comalco 79.4%) 66.1 65.2 64.6 66.0 65.6 259.4
261.4
Total Comalco
share 173.8 172.2 171.6 175.5 175.4 678.2 694.7
Total sales of Comalco
produced aluminium 173.3 169.6 182.5 157.7 191.2 676.5 701.0
(a)Rio Tinto progressively increased its interest in Comalco from 70.4% to
72.4% during the first half of 1999. During the first half of 2000, Rio
Tinto offered to acquire all the shares in Comalco and now holds 100%.
The refineries and smelters all performed at record levels in 2000,
reflecting ongoing process improvements.
Aluminium sales for the fourth quarter were higher than in prior quarters
due to the timing of shipments.
Anglesey Aluminium
Total production at Anglesey Aluminium (Rio Tinto 51%) in the UK.
(100% basis)
Aluminium hot metal production
('000 tonnes) 34.7 35.0 35.3 35.3 38.2 137.1 143.8
INDUSTRIAL MINERALS
Full Full
4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Year Year
1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 1999 2000
BORATES
Rio Tinto Borax
Total production at the Boron mine (Rio Tinto 100%) in California, US and
at the Tincalayu, Sijes and Porvenir mines (Rio Tinto 100%) in Argentina.
(100% basis)
Borates
('000 tonnes) (a) 132 145 135 161 149 561 590
(a) Production is expressed as B2O3 content.
TITANIUM DIOXIDE FEEDSTOCK
Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium
Total Rio Tinto share of titanium dioxide feedstock production in Canada
and South Africa.
(Rio Tinto share)
Titanium dioxide
feedstock
production
('000 tonnes) 350 349 310 341 368 1,428 1,368
The first half was restricted whilst a furnace at QIT was being repaired.
All furnaces at QIT are now back in operation and production capability
has been fully restored.
Full Full
4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Year Year
1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 1999 2000
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 2,552 2,575 2,780 2,597 2,466 9,503 10,419
Alluvial ore 1,488 1,260 1,108 1,492 1,048 5,943 4,908
Total ore
processed 4,040 3,835 3,888 4,089 3,514 15,447 15,326
Diamonds recovered ('000 carats):
AK1 6,876 6,384 7,247 6,439 5,354 27,760 25,423
Alluvial 544 287 281 318 166 1,939 1,052
Total
recovered 7,420 6,671 7,527 6,757 5,520 29,699 26,475
(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 ore processed for the fourth quarter was lower than in the
corresponding period last year. AKI ore processed for the year was higher
than in 1999 due to 1999 ore processed being significantly impacted by a
ten day shutdown to upgrade the scrubber feed system.
Lower AKI diamond production for the fourth quarter and full year,
relative to the corresponding periods last year, reflects the lower grade
of the ore processed in line with expectations and the effect of
rescheduling ore blocks to facilitate pit development work.
Ashton Mining
Total Rio Tinto share of production from the Ashton Mining (Rio Tinto 100%
(a)) interests apart from Argyle.
(Rio Tinto
share)
Ore processed
('000 tonnes) - - - - 95 - 95
Diamonds recovered
('000 carats) - - - - 37 - 37
(a) Production data are shown from 10 November 2000, the effective date
of acquisition of Ashton Mining.
SALT
Dampier Salt
Total production of salt from Dampier and Lake MacLeod (Rio Tinto 64.9%)
in Western Australia.
(100% basis)
Salt production
('000 tonnes) 1,416 1,024 1,338 1,142 1,095 5,250 4,599
The consequences of a cyclone, in the first quarter of 2000, and related
flooding has had an adverse effect on the annual production.
TALC
The Luzenac Group
Total talc production from Luzenac Group operations in Europe (Rio Tinto
99.9%) and North America (Rio Tinto 100%).
(100% basis)
Talc
production
('000 tonnes) 313 321 315 324 302 1,269 1,262
OTHER METALS
Full Full
4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Year Year
1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 1999 2000
NICKEL
Rio Tinto Brasil Limitada
Total nickel in matte production at the Fortaleza mine (Rio Tinto 100%) in
Brazil.
Production
(tonnes) 2,928 2,561 2,170 1,333 2,674 9,445 8,738
Production in the fourth quarter of 2000, following the third quarter
reduction which was related to preparing the mine for transition from open
pit to underground operation.
Rio Tinto Zimbabwe
Total refined metal production at the Empress nickel refinery (Rio Tinto
56.0%) in Zimbabwe.
(100% basis)
Production
(tonnes) 1,728 1,736 1,676 1,869 1,654 7,027 6,935
URANIUM
Rossing Uranium Ltd
Total uranium production at the Rossing Uranium mine (Rio Tinto 68.58%) in
Namibia.
(100% basis)
Production
(tonnes U3O8) 719 818 726 821 836 3,171 3,201
Energy Resources of Australia Ltd
Production at the Ranger mine (68.4% Rio Tinto (a)) in the Northern
Territory, Australia.
(100% basis)
Production
(tonnes U3O8) - - - 548 1,216 - 1,764
(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.
ZINC
Zinkgruvan Mining AB
Total production at the Zinkgruvan mine (Rio Tinto 100% (a)) in Sweden.
(100% basis)
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) - - - 127 179 - 306
Average grades:
Zinc (%) - - - 10.1 11.1 - 10.7
Lead (%) - - - 3.8 4.3 - 4.1
Silver (g/t) - - - 107 112 - 110
Production of zinc
concentrate
('000 tonnes) - - - 22.7 33.9 - 56.6
Production of lead
concentrate
('000 tonnes) - - - 5.5 9.1 - 14.6
Production of
metal in
concentrates:
Zinc
('000 tonnes) - - - 12.8 18.7 - 31.5
Lead
('000 tonnes) - - - 3.9 6.6 - 10.5
Silver
('000 tonnes) - - - 271 431 - 702
(a) Rio Tinto acquired its interest in Zinkgruvan as part of North
Limited. Production data are shown from 11 August 2000, the effective
date of the acquisition.
Norzink AS
Total refined zinc production at the Norzink smelter (Rio Tinto 50%) in
Norway.
(100% basis)
Production
('000 tonnes) 35.7 35.6 32.9 35.2 34.7 144.0 138.4
Other
Wood Fibre
North Forest Products
Production and sales at North Forest Products operations (Rio Tinto 100%
(a)) in Tasmania, Australia.
Hardwood chips
(domestic & export):
Saleable production
('000 tonnes) - - - 485 791 - 1,276
Sales
('000 tonnes) - - - 369 819 - 1,188
Softwood sawlogs
(domestic & export):
Saleable production
('000 tonnes) - - - 11 17 - 28
Sales
('000 tonnes) - - - 8 19 - 27
Softwood pulplogs
& chips
(domestic & export):
Saleable production
('000 tonnes) - - - 20 45 - 65
Sales
('000 tonnes) - - - 19 54 - 73
(b) Rio Tinto acquired its interest in North Forest Products as part of
North Limited. Production data are shown from 11 August 2000, the
effective date of the acquisition.
The figures are only given for the period since Rio Tinto took control,
but for reference fourth quarter production and shipments of hardwood
chips were at record levels, mainly as a result of improvements in Asian
economies.
Expenditure
Total pre-tax exploration expenditure charged to the profit and loss
account for the quarter ending 31 December 2000 was US$50 million compared
with US$42 million in the comparable quarter of 1999. Total expenditure
for the twelve months of 2000 was US$136 million, the same as 1999.
Major Developments
Grasberg, Indonesia
In Block A, delineation drilling continued on porphyry gold-copper
mineralisation within the Ertsberg intrusion and on extensions to the
Kucing Liar skarn system on the periphery of the Grasberg intrusion.
Argyle, Australia
Deep delineation drilling continued at the Argyle mine. Resource modelling
indicates over 100 million carats of underground resource in two feeder
pipes beneath the open pit deposit.
Feasibility Studies
Murowa, Zimbabwe
The recently concluded feasibility study has confirmed that the three
kimberlites discovered near Zvishavane in Zimbabwe represent a mining
reserve of 16.5 million tonnes at a grade of 0.9 carats per tonne. A
project to mine 500,000 tonnes per year of the kimberlite with the
possibility of subsequent expansion following initial mining has been
shown to be viable. Requirements to enable the project to proceed are now
being investigated. The Murowa Diamond Prospect is owned 50 per cent by
Rio Tinto Zimbabwe and 50 per cent by Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto owns 56 per
cent of Rio Tinto Zimbabwe.
Other Programmes
Country Commodity Programme Summary
Australia Phosphate Delineation drilling continued at the Wonarah
deposit in the Northern Territory. There is
potential for an open pittable resource of over
100Mt @ greater than 22% P2O5.
Guinea Iron Ore Delineation drilling continued at the Simandou
lump hematite prospect. Resource modelling
indicates a primary resource of approximately
1200Mt @ 65% Fe and a detrital resource of
approximately 480Mt at similar grade. Lump
contents are approximately 28% and 40%
respectively.
Indonesia Nickel A laterite nickel deposit with development
potential was identified. Preliminary indications
suggest a resource of approximately 380Mt @ 1.34%
Ni, 0.1% Co containing a higher grade resource of
approximately 195Mt @ 1.46% Ni, 0.1% Co.
Turkey Copper and Early encouragement was obtained from
gold reconnaissance drilling of a porphyry prospect.