Purchase of Own Securities

Rio Tinto PLC
16 June 2000

                          Share Buy Back



Shares Purchased in the Market

Rio   Tinto  plc  announces  that  it  has  today  purchased   for
cancellation, 1,000,000 ordinary shares of 10p each in  Rio  Tinto
plc from Cazenove & Co at a price of 1041.15p per ordinary share.


For further information, please contact:

Media Relations                    Investor Relations

Lisa Cullimore                     Peter Jarvis
+ 44 (0) 20 7753 2305              + 44 (0) 20 7753 2401

Cazenove & Co

Duncan Hunter

+ 44 (0) 20 7588 2828


Website: www.riotinto.com