Combined annual report for the Cape Ford Project EL 1924 Cape Ford and EL 3405 Anson for the period 28 July 2006 to 27 July 2007

Abstract

This report describes exploration by Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Limited (RTX) within the Cape Ford Project area during the period 28 July 2006 to 27 July 2007. The Cape Ford Project is comprised of two exploration licences, EL1924 Cape Ford and EL3405 Anson. The tenements are owned by Ashton Mining Limited and Ashton Operations Australia Limited ('Ashton'), subsidiaries of Rio Tinto Ltd. Work programmes on the project area are managed and operated by RTX. The Cape Ford tenement package is located approximately 140 km south west of Darwin on the Daly River/Port Keats Aboriginal Land Trust. The area covers portions of the Palaeoproterozoic Pine Creek Orogen, the Mesoproterozoic Victoria-Birrinduddu Basin and the Palaeozoic Bonaparte Basin. No field-based exploration was completed during the current reporting period. Office-based interpretation of remote sensed data, including digital terrain images and TM scenes, concentrated on further refining and prioritizing bauxite exploration targets within the project area. Field work was postponed due to access issues.