Disposal

RIO TINTO PLC
2 September 1999


            Rio Tinto Agrees to Sale of Las Cruces

Rio Tinto has sold the Las Cruces copper deposit in Andalucia,
southern Spain to MK Gold Company. The agreed price is US$42
million cash, plus a 1.5 per cent royalty paid on copper sales
revenue when the copper price exceeds 80 cents per pound.

Negotiations are also being finalised regarding an exploration
farm-in to certain Rio Tinto exploration properties located in
the Spanish Pyrite Belt.

For further information, please contact:

Media Relations                    Investor Relations
Alexis Fernandez                   Peter Jarvis
+ 44 207 753 2305                  + 44 207 753 2401