| Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited operate as one business organization (Rio Tinto). Rio Tinto is an international mining company. Its business is finding, mining and processing mineral resources. Its major products are aluminum, copper, diamonds, coal, uranium, gold, industrial minerals (borax, salt, talc), and iron ore. Businesses include open pit and underground mines, mills, refineries and smelters, as well as a number of research and service facilities. On October 23, 2007, Rio Tinto acquired Alcan Inc., the parent company of an international group of companies involved in bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminum smelting, engineered products, flexible and specialty packaging. In April 2008, Hecla Mining Company completed the transaction to acquire the Rio Tinto subsidiaries that held a 70.27% interest in the Greens Creek silver mine and joint venture located near Juneau, Alaska. As a result of the transaction, Hecla subsidiaries hold 100% of the Greens Creek joint venture. |
