Rio Tinto Limited : Transaction in Own Shares

120 Collins Street

Melbourne 3000

Australia

T [phone]

F [phone]

Notice to ASX

Transaction in Own Shares 4 January 2012

Further to the announcements on 10 February 2011 and 4 August 2011 regarding the Rio Tinto Group's capital management programme, Rio Tinto Limited on 3 January 2012 acquired 83,250 ordinary shares in Rio Tinto plc at an average price of 3264.69 pence per share.
Rio Tinto plc subsequently purchased those shares from Rio Tinto Limited off-market as part of internal capital management for an aggregate consideration of £5, pursuant to the share purchase approval granted by Rio Tinto plc shareholders at the 2011 Rio Tinto plc Annual General Meeting. The shares purchased will be cancelled.
It is immaterial to the shareholders of either Rio Tinto plc or Rio Tinto Limited if Rio Tinto Limited or any of its subsidiaries make a gain or a loss on such transactions as they have no effect on the Rio Tinto Group's overall resources. The underlying purpose of this series of transactions is to facilitate the Rio Tinto Group's ongoing capital management programme and Rio Tinto considers that the transactions will not constrain its ability to maintain its progressive dividend policy and will not affect Rio Tinto Limited's capacity to fully frank its dividends.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and New York Stock Exchange listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, thermal and metallurgical coal, uranium, gold,
industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide and salt) and iron ore. Activities span the world and are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in Asia, Europe, Africa and South America.

Cont…/

Registered in Australia Rio Tinto Limited 120 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 Australia ABN 96 004 458 404

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For further information, please contact:

Media Relations, Australia / Asia David Luff Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Karen Halbert Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Bruce Tobin Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Investor Relations, Australia Dave Skinner Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Christopher Maitland Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]
Media Relations, EMEA / Americas Illtud Harri Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Tony Shaffer Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Christina Mills Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Investor Relations, London Mark Shannon Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] David Ovington Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]
Media Relations, Canada Bryan Tucker Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Investor Relations, North America Jason Combes Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]

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