2010 Annual report

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Production data notes:

1. Mine production figures for metals refer to the total quantity of metal produced in concentrates, leach liquor or doré bullion irrespective of whether these products are then refined on site, except for the data for bauxite and iron ore which represent production of marketable quantities of ore.
2. (a) Rio Tinto percentage share, shown above, is as at the end of 2010 and has applied over the period 2008 – 2010 except for those operations where the Rio Tinto ownership has varied during the year; the weighted average ownership for each year is shown below. The Rio Tinto share varies at individual mines and refineries in the “others“ category and thus no value is shown.
   
   

   Rio Tinto Share %

   Operation	See note	2010	2009	2008
   Antelope	(p)	46.2	94.0	100.0
   Cordero Rojo	(p)	46.2	94.0	100.0
   Decker	(p)	23.1	47.0	50.0
   Spring Creek	(p)	46.2	94.0	100.0

3. (b) Production of smelter grade alumina at Gardanne ceased at the end of 2008. Production continues from the Gardanne specialty alumina plant.
4. (c) Jonquière’s (Vaudreuil’s) production shows smelter grade alumina only and excludes hydrate produced and used for specialty alumina.
5. (d) Rio Tinto sold its 100 per cent interest in the Brockville specialty alumina plant with an effective date of 20 September 2010. Production data are shown up to that date.
6. (e) The Anglesey smelter ceased smelting operations at the end of the third quarter of 2009. Casting operations continue.
7. (f) The Beauharnois smelter ceased smelting operations in the second quarter of 2009. Casting operations continue.
8. (g) The Lannemezan smelter closed in the first quarter of 2008.
9. (h) Rio Tinto sold its 50 per cent interest in the Ningxia aluminium smelter with an effective date of 26 January 2009. Production data are shown up to that date.
10. (i) Production at the Sohar smelter commenced in the third quarter of 2008.
11. (j) Rio Tinto Alcan had an 80 per cent interest in the Awaso mine but purchased the additional 20 per cent of production. Rio Tinto Alcan sold its interest in Ghana Bauxite Company, owner of the Awaso mine, with an effective date of 1 February 2010.
12. (k) Rio Tinto has a 22.95 per cent shareholding in the Sangaredi mine but receives 45.0 per cent of production under the partnership agreement.
13. (l) Borate quantities are expressed as B₂O₃.
14. (m) Thermal coal and semi-soft coking coal were previously reported under “Other Coal“.
15. (n) Production commenced at Clermont in the second quarter of 2010.
16. (o) Rio Tinto sold its 100 per cent interest in Tarong Coal with an effective date of 31 January 2008; production data are shown up to that date.
17. (p) As a result of the initial public offering of Cloud Peak Energy Inc. on 20 November 2009, Rio Tinto held a 48.3 per cent interest in the Antelope, Cordero Rojo and Spring Creek mines and a 24.1 per cent interest in the Decker mine. These interests were formerly reported under Rio Tinto Energy America but are now managed by Cloud Peak Energy. Following a secondary public offering in December 2010, Rio Tinto completed the divestment of its entire interest in Cloud Peak Energy Inc. with an effective date of 15 December 2010. Production data are shown up to that date.
18. (q) During 2008, Rio Tinto acquired a 100 per cent interest in the Colowyo mine, having previously held a partnership interest. All of Colowyo’s production was already included in Rio Tinto’s share of production.
19. (r) Rio Tinto completed the sale of its 100 per cent interest in the Jacobs Ranch mine on 1 October 2009. Production data are shown up to that date.
20. (s) Through a joint venture agreement with Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX), Rio Tinto is entitled to 40 per cent of additional material mined as a consequence of expansions and developments of the Grasberg facilities since 1998. Total production reflects the total quantities attributable to the joint venture.
21. (t) Rio Tinto sold its 40 per cent interest in the Cortez/Pipeline joint venture on 5 March 2008, with an effective date end of February 2008. Production data are shown up to that date.
22. (u) Rio Tinto sold its 70.3 per cent share in the Greens Creek joint venture with an effective date of 16 April 2008. Production data are shown up to that date.
23. (v) On 28 October 2008, Rio Tinto increased its shareholding in the Rawhide Joint Venture from 51 per cent to 100 per cent. The previous joint venture shareholder continued to be entitled to 49 per cent of production until 31 December 2008; thereafter Rio Tinto has been entitled to 100 per cent. Rio Tinto sold its 100 per cent interest in the Rawhide mine with an effective date of 25 June 2010. Production data are shown up to that date.
24. (w) Rio Tinto completed the sale of its 100 per cent interest in the Corumbá mine, effective 18 September 2009.
25. (x) Rio Tinto’s share of production includes 100 per cent of the production from the Eastern Range mine. Under the terms of the joint venture agreement (Rio Tinto 54 per cent), Hamersley Iron manages the operation and is obliged to purchase all mine production from the joint venture.
26. (y) Production at the Mesa A mine commenced in the first quarter of 2010.
27. (z) In March 2009, Rio Tinto announced that HIsmelt^® would be placed on an extended care and maintenance programme. In December 2010, the HIsmelt^® joint venture partners agreed to close the Kwinana site permanently and terminate the joint venture.
28. (aa) In February 2011, Rio Tinto announced that it had received a binding offer for the purchase of 100 per cent of its talc business. Talc production includes some products derived from purchased ores.
29. (bb) Quantities comprise 100 per cent of Rio Tinto Fer et Titane and 50 per cent of Richards Bay Minerals’ (RBM) production until late 2009 when RBM concluded a Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment transaction. Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium’s share of RBM production reflects a decrease from 50 to 37 per cent with effect from 9 December 2009.
30. (cc) Ilmenite mined in Madagascar is being processed in Canada with effect from June 2009.

Production figures are sometimes more precise than the rounded numbers shown, hence an apparent small difference may result where the Rio Tinto share is totalled.

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