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Definitions and exchange rates

Non Mining Definitions A - P | R - U

Mining and technical definitions A - C | F - O | P - Z

Throughout this document, the collective expressions Rio Tinto, Rio Tinto Group and Group are used for convenience only. Depending on the context in which they are used, they mean Rio Tinto plc and/or Rio Tinto Limited and/or one or more of the individual companies in which Rio Tinto plc and/or Rio Tinto Limited directly or indirectly own investments, all of which are separate and distinct legal entities.

Unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the meanings shown below:

Rock mined	The quantity of ore and waste rock excavated from the mine. In this document, the term is only applied to surface mining operations.
Rutile	A mineral composed of titanium and oxygen (TiO2).
Stripping ratio	The tonnes of waste material which must be removed to allow the mining of one tonne of ore.
Solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW)	Processes for extracting metal from an ore and producing pure metal. First the metal is leached into solution; the resulting solution is then purified in the solvent extraction process; the solution is then treated in an electro-chemical process (electro-winning) to recover cathode copper.
Tailing	The rock wastes which are rejected from a concentrating process after the recoverable valuable minerals have been extracted.
Titanium dioxide feedstock	A feedstock rich in titanium dioxide, produced, in Rio Tinto's case, by smelting ores containing titanium minerals.
Zircon	Zirconium mineral (ZrSiO4).

Conversion of weights and measures

1 troy ounce = 31.1 grams
1 kilogram = 32.15 troy ounces
1 kilogram = 2.2046 pounds
1 metric tonne = 1,000 kilograms
1 metric tonne = 2,204.6 pounds
1 metric tonne = 1.1023 short tons
1 short ton = 2,000 pounds
1 long ton = 2,240 pounds
1 gram per metric tonne = 0.02917 troy ounces per short ton
1 gram per metric tonne = 0.03215 troy ounces per metric tonne
1 kilometre = 0.6214 miles

Exchange rates

The following tables show, for the periods and dates indicated, certain information regarding the exchange rates for the pound sterling and Australian dollar, based on the Noon Buying Rates for pounds sterling and Australian dollars expressed in US dollars per £1.00 and per A$1.00.

Pounds sterling

Year ended 31 December*	Period end	Average rate	High	Low
2008	1.44	1.86	2.03	1.44
2007	1.99	2.00	2.11	1.92
2006	1.96	1.84	1.98	1.72
2005	1.73	1.82	1.93	1.71
2004	1.93	1.83	1.95	1.76

*The Noon Buying Rate on such dates differed slightly from the rates used in the preparation of Rio Tinto's financial statements as of such date. No representation is made that pound sterling and Australian dollar amounts have been, could have been or could be converted into dollars at the Noon Buying Rate on such dates or at any other dates.

Australian dollars

Year ended 31 December*	Period end	Average rate	High	Low
2008	0.698	0.852	0.983	0.607
2007	0.878	0.839	0.937	0.772
2006	0.788	0.753	0.791	0.706
2005	0.734	0.763	0.799	0.727
2004	0.783	0.737	0.798	0.686

*The Noon Buying Rate on such dates differed slightly from the rates used in the preparation of Rio Tinto's financial statements as of such date. No representation is made that pound sterling and Australian dollar amounts have been, could have been or could be converted into dollars at the Noon Buying Rate on such dates or at any other dates.

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