REG - Rio Tinto - Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves updates
19/02/2025 18:00
For best results when printing this announcement, please click on link below:
https://newsfile.refinitiv.com/getnewsfile/v1/story?guid=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20250219:nRSS7644Xa&default-theme=true
RNS Number : 7644X Rio Tinto PLC 19 February 2025
Notice to
ASX/LSE
Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves updates
19 February 2025
Rio Tinto has today announced to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
changes in Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves to support its 2024 annual
reporting 1 (#_ftn1) , including:
· Increased Proved Ore Reserves and decreased Mineral Resources at
the Rio Tinto Aluminium (RTA) Pacific Operations Amrun deposit in Queensland,
Australia.
· Increased Indicated Mineral Resources at the Rio Tinto Copper
Winu project in Western Australia, Australia.
· Increased Mineral Resources at the Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium
Quebec Operations (RTITQO) in Quebec, Canada.
· Increased Ore Reserves and decreased Mineral Resources at the RTA
Atlantic Operations Porto Trombetas deposit in Brazil. Porto Trombetas is
operated by the Mineração Rio do Norte (MRN) joint venture.
Supporting information relating to the changes of Mineral Resources and Ore
Reserves is set out in the Table 1 Release and its appendices. This release
provides a summary of those changes. Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves are
quoted in this release on a 100 percent basis. Mineral Resources are reported
in addition to Ore Reserves. The figures used to calculate Mineral Resources
and Ore Reserves are often more precise than the rounded numbers shown in the
tables, hence small differences may result if the calculations are repeated
using the tabulated figures.
These changes will be included in Rio Tinto's 2024 Annual Report, to be
released to the market on 19 February 2025 (London time), which will set out
in full Rio Tinto's Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves position as at 31
December 2024, and Rio Tinto's interests.
Rio Tinto Aluminium Pacific Operations - Amrun
Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves for the RTA Pacific Operations 2 (#_ftn2)
, including the Amrun deposit, are presented in Table A and Table B. The
updated Ore Reserves at Amrun reflect a material change in classification.
Proved Ore Reserves have increased by 203 million tonnes (Mt) (77%), while
Probable Ore Reserves have decreased by 176 Mt (26%). The change in Ore
Reserves classification reflects a higher level of confidence in the modifying
factors resulting from completion of an access study, and increased confidence
in the underlying Mineral Resources as a result of updated orebody
knowledge. There has been no material change to other modifying factors,
including governmental, tenure, environmental, cultural heritage or community
factors. Mineral Resources exclusive of Ore Reserves have decreased by 41 Mt
(5%) at Amrun due to the conversion of Mineral Resources to Ore Reserves, and
updated orebody knowledge.
Rio Tinto Copper - Winu
Mineral Resources for Winu 3 (#_ftn3) are presented in Table C. Indicated
Mineral Resources comprise 63% of these Mineral Resources, which is a
substantial increase from the previously reported 31% of Mineral Resources.
This change is the result of the implementation of a different classification
methodology which uses the relationship between drill hole spacing and orebody
uncertainty as determined by conditional simulation of copper grades. The
total Mineral Resources tonnage has increased by 19 Mt (2.7%) in comparison to
the previously reported estimates.
Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium Quebec Operations
Mineral Resources for RTITQO 4 (#_ftn4) are presented in Table D. Significant
technical work conducted from 2000 to 2024 on the Grader deposit situated 3
kilometres (km) from the main Lac Tio hemo-ilmenite deposit, with over 4,800
metres (m) of drilling, and the development of a new resource model, has
resulted in a 26.7 Mt (100%) increase in Mineral Resources.
Rio Tinto Aluminium Atlantic Operations - Porto Trombetas (MRN)
Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves for the RTA Atlantic Operations, Porto
Trombetas deposit 5 (#_ftn5) are presented in Table E and Table F. Probable
Ore Reserves have increased by 167 Mt, while Proved Ore Reserves have
decreased by 4 Mt for an overall increase in Ore Reserves of 163 Mt (354%).
The increase in Ore Reserves is attributed to the issuance of the Preliminary
Licence for the New Mines Project by IBAMA (the Brazilian Federal
Environmental Agency). There have been no other significant changes in
modifying factors, including governmental, tenure, cultural heritage,
community factors, or operational aspects.
Measured Mineral Resources have decreased by 178 Mt and Inferred Mineral
Resources have decreased by 112 Mt for an overall decrease of 290 Mt (50%).
The decrease in Mineral Resources is partly due to the conversion of bauxite
from Mineral Resources to Ore Reserves, as mentioned above, as well as to the
downgrade of certain plateaus, containing only historical drilling data, from
the Inferred Resource category to non-Resource status. The methodology for
determining Mineral Resources remains unchanged.
Table A Rio Tinto Aluminium Pacific Operations Mineral
Resources as at 31 December 2024
Likely Measured Mineral Resources Indicated Mineral Resources Total Measured and Indicated Mineral
mining
method((1))
as at 31 December 2024 as at 31 December 2024 Res
our
ces
as
at
31
Dec
emb
er
202
4
Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade
Bauxite Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2) Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2) Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2)
Rio Tinto Aluminium (Australia)((2))
- Amrun O/P 129 49.1 11.7 380 49.7 11.8 509 49.5 11.8
- East Weipa and Andoom O/P 36 48.0 8.9 - - - 36 48.0 8.9
- Gove O/P 10 47.7 9.0 0.1 49.5 8.4 10 47.7 9.0
- North of Weipa O/P - - - 202 52.0 11.1 202 52.0 11.1
Total (Australia) 175 48.8 11.0 583 50.5 11.6 758 50.1 11.4
Inferred Mineral Resources Total Mineral Resources Rio Tinto Total Mineral Resources
interest
as at 31 December 2024 as at 31 December 2024 as
at
31
Dec
emb
er
202
3
Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade
Bauxite Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2) Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2) % Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2)
Rio Tinto Aluminium (Australia)((2))
- Amrun 238 51.4 12.4 747 50.1 12.0 100.0 788 50.4 11.9
- East Weipa and Andoom - - - 36 48.0 8.9 100.0 43 49.9 8.8
- Gove - - - 10 47.7 9.0 100.0 9 48.1 8.9
- North of Weipa 1,248 51.8 11.4 1,451 51.9 11.4 100.0 1,451 51.9 11.4
Total (Australia) 1,486 51.8 11.6 2,244 51.2 11.5 2,291 51.3 11.5
1. Likely mining method: O/P = open pit/surface.
2. Rio Tinto Aluminium bauxite Mineral Resources are stated as dry product
tonnes and total alumina and silica grades.
Table B Rio Tinto Aluminium Pacific Operations Ore Reserves
as at 31 December 2024
Type Proved Ore Reserves Probable Ore Reserves Total Ore Reserves
of
mine((1))
as at 31 December 2024 as at 31 December 2024 as
at
31
Dec
emb
er
202
4
Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade
Bauxite((2)) Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2) Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2) Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2)
Rio Tinto Aluminium (Australia)((3))
- Amrun O/P 466 54.6 8.8 512 54.3 9.1 978 54.4 9.0
- East Weipa and Andoom O/P 55 50.6 8.1 2 48.9 8.5 56 50.5 8.1
- Gove O/P 44 50.0 6.4 4 50.3 6.7 48 50.0 6.4
Total (Australia) 565 53.8 8.6 518 54.2 9.1 1,083 54.0 8.8
Rio Tinto interest Rio Tinto share recoverable mineral Total Ore Reserves as at 31 December 2023
Tonnage Grade
Bauxite((2)) % Mt Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2)
Rio Tinto Aluminium (Australia)((3))
- Amrun 100.0 978 950 54.3 9.1
- East Weipa and Andoom 100.0 56 72 50.5 8.0
- Gove 100.0 48 58 50.2 6.4
Total (Australia) 100.0 1,083 1,080 53.8 8.8
1. Type of Mine: O/P = open pit/surface.
2. Bauxite Ore Reserves are stated as recoverable Ore Reserves of
marketable product after accounting for all mining and processing losses. Mill
recoveries are therefore not shown.
3. Australian bauxite Ore Reserves are stated as dry tonnes and total
alumina and silica grade.
Table C Rio Tinto Copper Winu Mineral Resources as at 31
December 2024
Likely Measured Mineral Resources Indicated Mineral Resources Total Measured and Indicated Mineral
mining
method((1))
as at 31 December 2024 as at 31 December 2024 Reso
urce
s as
at
31
Dece
mber
2024
Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade
Copper((2)) Mt % Cu g/t Au g/t Ag Mt % Cu g/t Au g/t Ag Mt % Cu g/t Au g/t Ag
Winu O/P - - - - 464 0.39 0.32 2.24 464 0.39 0.32 2.24
Inferred Mineral Resources Total Mineral Resources Rio Tinto Total Mineral Resources
interest
as at 31 December 2024 as at 31 December 2024 as
at
31
Dece
mber
2023
Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade
Copper((2)) Mt % Cu g/t Au g/t Ag Mt % Cu g/t Au g/t Ag % Mt % Cu g/t Au g/t Ag
Winu 277 0.41 0.36 2.12 741 0.40 0.33 2.20 100.0 721 0.40 0.34 2.21
1. Likely mining method: O/P = open pit/surface.
2. Copper Mineral Resources are stated on a dry in situ weight basis.
Table D Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium Quebec Operations
Mineral Resources as at 31 December 2024
Likely mining method((1)) Measured Mineral Resources as at 31 December 2024 Indicated Mineral Resources Total Measured and Indicated Mineral
as at 31 December 2024 Resources as at 31 December 2024
Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade
Titanium dioxide feedstock((2)) Mt Mt % Ti Minerals Mt % Ti Minerals Mt % Ti Minerals
Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium (RTIT) Quebec Operations (Canada))
- Grader O/P 19 82.0 9 81.8 28 82.0
- Beaver O/P - - - - - -
- Tio O/P - - - - - -
Total 19 82.0 9 81.8 28 82.0
Inferred Mineral Resources Total Mineral Resources Rio Tinto interest Total Mineral Resources
as at 31 December 2024 as at 31 December 2024 as at 31 December 2023
Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade
Titanium dioxide feedstock((2)) Mt % Ti Minerals Mt % Ti Minerals % Mt % Ti Minerals
Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium (RTIT) Quebec Operations (Canada))
- Grader 10 80.4 38 81.6 100.0 11 84.9
- Beaver 16 79.2 16 79.2 100.0 16 79.2
- Tio - - - - 100.0 - -
Total 25 79.7 53 80.9 27 81.6
1. Likely mining method: O/P = open pit/surface.
2. Titanium dioxide feedstock Mineral Resources are reported as dry in
situ tonnes.
Table E Rio Tinto Aluminium Atlantic Operations Porto
Trombetas (MRN) Mineral Resources as at 31 December 2024
Likely Measured Mineral Resources Indicated Mineral Resources Total Measured and Indicated Mineral
mining
method((1))
as at 31 December 2024 as at 31 December 2024 Res
our
ces
as
at
31
Dec
emb
er
202
4
Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade
Bauxite Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2) Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2) Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2)
Porto Trombetas (MRN) (Brazil)((2)) O/P 244 46.8 5.9 3 49.1 2.5 247 46.8 5.9
Inferred Mineral Resources Total Mineral Resources Rio Tinto Total Mineral Resources
interest
as at 31 December 2024 as at 31 December 2024 as
at
31
Dec
emb
er
202
3
Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade
Bauxite Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2) Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2) % Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2)
Porto Trombetas (MRN) (Brazil)((2)) 34 47.3 5.2 282 46.9 5.8 22.0 571 47.9 5.0
1. Likely mining method: O/P = open pit/surface.
2. Porto Trombetas (MRN) Mineral Resources are stated as dry in situ
tonnes, available alumina grade and total reactive silica grade.
Table F Rio Tinto Aluminium Atlantic Operations Porto
Trombetas (MRN) Ore Reserves as at 31 December 2024
Type Proved Ore Reserves Probable Ore Reserves Total Ore Reserves
of
mine((1))
as at 31 December 2024 as at 31 December 2024 as
at
31
Dec
emb
er
202
4
Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade
Bauxite((2)) Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2) Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2) Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2)
Porto Trombetas (MRN) (Brazil)((3)) O/P 39 48.0 5.2 170 49.1 4.6 209 48.9 4.7
Rio Tinto interest Rio Tinto share recoverable mineral Total Ore Reserves
as at 31 December 2023
Tonnage Grade
Bauxite((2)) % Mt Mt % Al(2)O(3) % SiO(2)
Porto Trombetas (MRN) (Brazil)((3)) 22.0 46 46 48.9 4.9
1. Type of Mine: O/P = open pit/surface.
2. Bauxite Ore Reserves are stated as recoverable Ore Reserves of
marketable product after accounting for all mining and processing losses. Mill
recoveries are therefore not shown.
3. Porto Trombetas (MRN) Ore Reserves are stated as dry tonnes,
available alumina grade and reactive silica grade.
Contacts
Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com
Media Relations, Media Relations, Media Relations,
United Kingdom Australia Canada
David Outhwaite Matt Chambers Simon Letendre
M +44 7787 597 493 M +61 433 525 739 M +1 514 796 4973
Michelle Lee Malika Cherry
M +61 458 609 322 M +1 418 592 7293
Rachel Pupazzoni Vanessa Damha
M +61 438 875 469 M +1 514 715 2152
Media Relations,
US
Jesse Riseborough
M +1 202 394 9480
Investor Relations, Investor Relations,
United Kingdom Australia
Rachel Arellano Tom Gallop
M +44 7584 609 644 M +61 439 353 948
David Ovington Amar Jambaa
M +44 7920 010 978 M +61 472 865 948
Laura Brooks
M +44 7826 942 797
Wei Wei Hu
M +44 7825 907 230
Rio Tinto plc Rio Tinto Limited
6 St James's Square Level 43, 120 Collins Street
London SW1Y 4AD Melbourne 3000
United Kingdom Australia
T +44 20 7781 2000 T +61 3 9283 3333
Registered in England Registered in Australia
No. 719885 ABN 96 004 458 404
This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Andy Hodges, Rio
Tinto's Group Company Secretary.
riotinto.com
1 (#_ftnref1) These Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves were reported in
accordance with the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results,
Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, 2012 (JORC Code) and the ASX Listing Rules
in a release to the ASX dated 19 February 2025 titled "Ore Reserve and Mineral
Resource updates: supporting information and Table 1 checklists" (Table 1
Release). Rio Tinto confirms that it is not aware of any new information or
data that materially affects the information included in the Table 1 Release,
that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the
estimates in the Table 1 Release continue to apply and have not materially
changed, and that the form and context in which the Competent Persons'
findings are presented have not been materially modified.
2 (#_ftnref2) The Competent Person for the information in the Table 1
Release that relates to RTA Pacific Operations Mineral Resources is Mr Angus
C. McIntyre, who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and
Metallurgy (MAusIMM). The Competent Person for the information in the Table 1
Release that relates to RTA Pacific Operations Ore Reserves is Mr William Saba
MAusIMM.
3 (#_ftnref3) The Competent Person for the information in the Table 1
Release that relates to Winu Mineral Resources is Mr James Pocoe MAusIMM.
4 (#_ftnref4) The Competent Person for the information in the Table 1
Release that relates to the data and geological models underpinning the RTITQO
Mineral Resources is Mr. Francois Kerr-Gillespie, who is a Member of the Ordre
des geologues du Quebec (OGQ). The Competent Person for the information in the
Table 1 Release that relates to RTITQO Mineral Resources is Mr Jacques
Dumouchel (OGQ).
5 (#_ftnref5) The Competent Person for the information in the Table 1
Release that relates to RTA Atlantic Operations - Porto Trombetas (MRN)
Mineral Resources is Mr Robson Aglinskas MAusIMM. The Competent Person for the
information in the Table 1 Release that relates to RTA Atlantic Operations -
Porto Trombetas (MRN) Ore Reserves is Mr Luiz Henrique Diniz Costa MAusIMM.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact
rns@lseg.com (mailto:rns@lseg.com)
or visit
www.rns.com (http://www.rns.com/)
.
RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our
Privacy Policy (https://www.lseg.com/privacy-and-cookie-policy)
. END MSCUKOBRVOUUAARRecent news on Rio Tinto
See all newsREG - Rio Tinto - Director/PDMR Shareholding
AnnouncementREG - Rio Tinto - Director/PDMR Shareholding
AnnouncementREG - Rio Tinto - Director/PDMR Shareholding
AnnouncementREG - Rio Tinto - Director/PDMR Shareholding
AnnouncementREG - Rio Tinto - Total Voting Rights
Announcement