| Scope and Content: |
- Records of the subsidiary and predecessor companies of Rio Tinto plc.
LMA/4543/01-12 RIO TINTO COMPANY LIMITED
LMA/4543/AG A.G. EXPLORATION COMPANY LIMITED
LMA/4543/AP ANGLO-PERUVIAN ALLUVIALS LIMITED
LMA/4543/BC BORAX CONSOLIDATED LIMITED
LMA/4543/BE BORAX EUROPE LIMITED
LMA/4543/BL BORAX LIMITED
LMA/4543/BN BORAX INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
LMA/4543/BV BORAX OVERSEAS HOLDINGS LIMITED
LMA/4543/CM THE CAM AND MOTOR GOLD MINING COMPANY (1919) LIMITED: ADMINISTRATION
LMA/4543/CN CONSOLIDATED ZINC COMPANY LIMITED
LMA/4543/CZ CONSOLIDATED ZINC CORPORATION LIMITED
LMA/4543/IM IMPERIAL SMELTING CORPORATION LIMITED
LMA/4543/MN MANCHESTER OXIDE COMPANY LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/MP MINERAL PROPERTIES INVESTIGATIONS LIMITED: ADMINISTRATION
LMA/4543/NA NATIONAL SMELTING COMPANY LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/PY THE PYRITES COMPANY LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/RB R.T.Z. BORAX LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/RM RIO TINTO MINERALS LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/RZ THE RIO-TINTO-ZINC CORPORATION LIMITED: LEGAL
LMA/4543/RZB R.T.Z. BRITAIN LIMITED: ADMINISTRATION
LMA/4543/ZC THE ZINC CORPORATION LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/ZL THE ZINC CORPORATION (LONDON) LIMITED: CORPORATE
Catalogued records:
Records of Rio Tinto Company Limited include memorandum and articles of association; minutes of the board and committees; annual reports and accounts; seal registers; papers relating to shares; letter books; subject files concerning the company and its operations; records of the chairman, directors, overseas department and technical department; financial papers; records of the Madrid office; letter books relating to the Spanish mines; plans of head offices and mines; printed material and photographs of operations in Spain.
Records of The Pyrites Company Limited include board minutes, directors' attendance books, register of directors' holdings, papers relating to The Pyrites Company Incorporated, register of members and share ledger, ledgers, accounts, agreements and contracts to supply pyrites, photographs of Wilmington Plant, and staff books.
Core records of the Borax group have been catalogued, including minutes books and letter books. Other records remain uncatalogued.
Core records of the Consolidated Zinc Company Limited, the Consolidated Zinc Corporation Limited, the Imperial Smelting Corporation Limited and Imperial Smelting Processes Limited, have been catalogued. These include board minutes and board papers. Other records of these companies remain uncatalogued and require prior notice to be ordered.
Notice books of the Zinc Corporation Limited and the Zinc Corporation (London) Limited have been catalogued. Other records of these companies remain uncatalogued and require prior notice to be ordered.
A small amount of records for the following companies can be found in the Rio Tinto Plc archive and have been catalogued: A.G. Exploration Company Limited; Anglo-Peruvian Alluvials Limited; The Cam and Motor Gold Mining Company (1919) Limited; Mineral Properties Investigations Limited; R.T.Z. Britain Limited.
Uncatalogued records:
Records of other companies under Rio Tinto plc are uncatalogued and require prior notice to be ordered. Main companies represented are: Borax Europe Limited, Borax Consolidated Limited, Borax Holdings Limited, Borax Limited, Borax International Limited, Borax Research Limited, Borax Overseas Holdings Limited, Luzenac UK Limited, N.S.C. London, Rio Tinto Australian Holdings Limited, Rio Tinto Technology Development Limited, Rio Tinto Minerals Limited, Rio Tinto Metals Limited and The Zinc Corporation Limited (registered in Australia).
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING ACCESS RESTRICTIONS:
All records dating from 01 January 1962 are closed by request of the depositor. However published material is available for general access. Please contact LMA staff regarding requests for permission for access from the depositor.
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| Extent: |
61.85 linear metres |
| Classification: |
BUSINESSES |
| Former Reference: |
Rio Tinto Corporate Archives used the following references:
RTC: The Rio Tinto Company Limited Head Office files.
Records created by the head office in London (1873 - 196-). Each file has been numbered using the following subject classification scheme:
10 - Organisation
20 - Investments and Finance
30 - Accounts, Taxes and Costs
40 - Staff
70 - Technical and Economic
80 - Marketing
90 - Operations in United Kingdom and Ireland
100 - Operations in Spain and Portugal
110 - Overseas Operations
120 - Operations in Australasia
130 - Operations in Central and South Africa
140 - Operations in Canada and USA
From 1957 to 1964 there was a classification scheme in place, which begins with 'SD'. Prior to this, files were tied up in consecutively numbered parcels;
CAR: Central Archives
Records created by head office in London or transferred from subsidiaries that have closed. Each file has been numbered using the following subject classification scheme:
10 - Rio Tinto Company
15 - Consolidated Zinc Corporation Limited
20 - RTZ Corporation plc
25 - London Office Departments
30 - Spain
35 - Europe excluding Spain
40 - Middle East
45 - Africa
50 - Australia
55 - South America
60 - Central America
65 - United States of America
70 - Canada
75 - Asia;
SRR or SR: Strong Room Collection
Mainly official company records held by the Company Secretary. Includes some companies that were taken over or amalgamated to form Rio Tinto plc.
CAB - Central Archive Borax
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| Site Location: |
London Metropolitan Archives |
| Level of Description: | |
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| Administrative History: |
- Rio Tinto plc was formed in June 1997 with the merger of The RTZ Corporation PLC and its' 49% owned associate company CRA Limited (of Australia).
The Rio Tinto-Zinc Corporation Limited was formed in March 1962 on the merger of The Rio Tinto Company Ltd (Inc 1873) and The Consolidated Zinc Corporation Limited (Inc 1949). After the merger, the operations of the Rio Tinto Company and The Consolidated Zinc Corporation were restructured, with the parent company, RTZ, housed in London.
Rio Tinto's existing public company in Australia, Rio Tinto Mining Company of Australia Limited was renamed Conzinc RioTinto of Australia Limited in 1962. Conzinc RioTinto was used as a vehicle for restructuring RTZ's Australian assets. Part of the shares were Australian owned and there were a majority of Australian directors on the board. This was a pattern that was followed in subsequent developments around the world. In August 1980 Conzinc RioTinto became known as CRA Limited. This name was changed to Rio Tinto Limited in June 1997.
The Rio Tinto Company Limited was formed in 1873 by a consortium of banks to acquire the Spanish copper mine of Rio Tinto in Huelva, Spain. Headed by Hugh Matheson, the consortium agreed to pay 92,756,592 pesetas (equivalent to £3,500,000) for the freehold of the mines. The first instalment of 3422,680 was paid towards the purchase price as well as 9 pagares, or promissory notes, the last of which was due for payment in 1883. Matheson became the chairman and the company was registered on 29 March 1873 in London. A railway between Huelva and the mines was constructed together with a pier at Huelva. In 1954 the Rio Tinto Company sold the mines to the newly formed Compañía Española de Minas de Río Tinto (owned by a consortium of Spanish banks), retaining only a one-third interest. The remaining interest in was divested in 1990. The proceeds of the sale in 1954 were invested on projects in Africa such as Big Ben, Patchway, Sandwana, Empress Nickel and Palabora, in Australasia such as Mary Kathleen and in Canada on the Rio Algom mines.
The Consolidated Zinc Corporation Limited was incorporated in 1949 to acquire the interests of The Zinc Corporation Limited (formed 1911), The Sulphide Corporation (reg 1898), The Broken Hill Corporation Limited (registered 1947) and The Imperial Smelting Corporation Limited (inc 1929). The Zinc Corporation Limited was formed to treat the tailing dumps from the Broken Hill mine in New South Wales Australia. The Broken Hill Corporation Limited held a substantial interest in the New Broken Hill Consolidated Limited mine. The Sulphide Corporation Limited was a producer of sulphuric acid, superphosphate and cement. The Imperial Smelting Corporation based in the United Kingdom was the sole zinc producer in the country mainly from raw material from the Broken Hill mines, it also produced sulphuric acid, chemicals, fertilisers and fluorine and fluorine compounds in plants in Avonmouth, Avon, Swansea and West Glamorgan. In 1955 Consolidated Zinc discovered the huge Weipa bauxite deposits in Queensland, the basis for the development of a major integrated aluminium industry in Australia and New Zealand.
Rio Tinto Company Limited head office: Plantation House, Fenchurch Street, City of London (1947);
Rio Tinto plc head office: 2 Eastbourne Terrace, Westminster (2011)
For further information see company histories:
Avery, David. 'Not on Queen Victoria's Birthday. The Story of the Rio Tinto Mines', Collins, 1974. This publication was published by Rio Tinto to celebrate its centenary. It describes the history of The Rio Tinto Company and its Spanish , mine, from 1874 to 1954 with epilogue covering period to 1970. From the 1870s to the 1950s, Rio Tinto's major area of operations was its Spanish mine at Rio Tinto in Andalusia.
Harvey, Charles E. 'The Rio Tinto Company. An Economic History of a leading International Mining Concern, 1873-1954', Alison Hodge, 1981. This publication by an economic / business historian concentrates on the Spanish operations, but also describes the diversification which led to investments in mining operations in Africa.
For information about the mine in the early 18th century, please see: 'The Duchess of Rio Tinto : the story of Mary Herbert and Joseph Gage' by Martin Murphy (library reference: 35.136 MUR).
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| Creator: |
Rio Tinto plc | metals and mining company xx Rio Tinto Company Limited xx The Pyrites Company Limited |
| Copyright: |
Depositor |
| Source of Acquisition: | |
| Access Restrictions: |
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions |
| Arrangement: |
Records currently catalogued are arranged as follows:
LMA/4543/01 RIO TINTO COMPANY LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/02 RIO TINTO COMPANY LIMITED: SHARES
LMA/4543/03 RIO TINTO COMPANY LIMITED: HEAD OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
LMA/4543/04 RIO TINTO COMPANY LIMITED: FINANCE AND TAXATION
LMA/4543/05 RIO TINTO COMPANY LIMITED: INVESTMENTS
LMA/4543/06 RIO TINTO COMPANY LIMITED: OPERATIONS AND BRANCHES
LMA/4543/09 RIO TINTO COMPANY LIMITED: STAFF AND EMPLOYMENT
LMA/4543/10 RIO TINTO COMPANY LIMITED: PREMISES AND PROPERTY
LMA/4543/11 RIO TINTO COMPANY LIMITED: PRINTED MATERIAL, HISTORIES AND RELATED DOCUMENTATION
LMA/4543/12 RIO TINTO COMPANY LIMITED: PHOTOGRAPHS
LMA/4543/AG03 A.G. EXPLORATION COMPANY LIMITED: ADMINISTRATION
LMA/4543/AP03 ANGLO-PERUVIAN ALLUVIALS LIMITED: ADMINISTRATION
LMA/4543/BC01 BORAX CONSOLIDATED LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/BE01 BORAX EUROPE LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/BL03 BORAX LIMITED: ADMINISTRATION
LMA/4543/BL05 BORAX LIMITED: OPERATIONS
LMA/4543/BN01 BORAX INTERNATIONAL LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/BV01 BORAX OVERSEAS HOLDINGS LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/CM03 THE CAM AND MOTOR GOLD MINING COMPANY (1919) LIMITED: ADMINISTRATION
LMA/4543/CN01 CONSOLIDATED ZINC COMPANY LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/CZ01 CONSOLIDATED ZINC CORPORATION LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/CZ02 CONSOLIDATED ZINC CORPORATION LIMITED: SHARES
LMA/4543/IM01 IMPERIAL SMELTING CORPORATION LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/MN01 MANCHESTER OXIDE COMPANY LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/MP03 MINERAL PROPERTIES INVESTIGATIONS LIMITED: ADMINISTRATION
LMA/4543/NA01 NATIONAL SMELTING COMPANY LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/NA01 NATIONAL SMELTING COMPANY LIMITED: SHARES
LMA/4543/PY01 THE PYRITES COMPANY LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/PY02 THE PYRITES COMPANY LIMITED: SHARES
LMA/4543/PY03 THE PYRITES COMPANY LIMITED: ADMINISTRATION
LMA/4543/PY04 THE PYRITES COMPANY LIMITED: ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
LMA/4543/PY05 THE PYRITES COMPANY LIMITED: OPERATIONS
LMA/4543/PY06 THE PYRITES COMPANY LIMITED: STAFF AND EMPLOYMENT
LMA/4543/RB01 R.T.Z. BORAX LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/RB03 R.T.Z. BORAX LIMITED: ADMINISTRATION
LMA/4543/RB05 R.T.Z. BORAX LIMITED: OPERATIONS
LMA/4543/RM01 RIO TINTO MINERALS LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/RZ07 THE RIO-TINTO-ZINC CORPORATION LIMITED: LEGAL
LMA/4543//RZB01 R.T.Z. BRITAIN LIMITED: ADMINISTRATION
LMA/4543/ZC01 THE ZINC CORPORATION LIMITED: CORPORATE
LMA/4543/ZL01 THE ZINC CORPORATION (LONDON) LIMITED: CORPORATE
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| Related Material: |
Also held are records of the Diocese in Europe: English Church at the "Minas de Rio Tinto" in Spain (reference CLC/357). These comprise registers or notes of baptisms 1951-1957 marriages undated and 1950 and death 1933 (Ms 23639-41), service register 1931-58 (Ms 23640), and offertory account book 1912-28 (Ms 23640)
Records of the Rio Tinto mines are held by Archivo Histórico Minero de Riotinto, Plaza del Museo S/N, 21660 - Minas De Riotinto, Huelva, Spain
Records of some group companies including CRA Limited, Rio Tinto Mining of Australia Limited, Rio Tinto Zinc Corporation, Conzinc Riotinto of Australia Limited, Mary Kathleen Uranium Limited and Rio Tinto Exploration are held at the University of Melbourne Archives, Australia.
Records of Selection Trust Limited are held at the London School of Economics archives.
Thos W Ward Limited and subsidiary companies are held at the Sheffield Records Office. The shipbreaking records of Thos W Ward Limited are deposited at the Department of Marine Technology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Milford Haven Dock and Railway Co Limited 1860-1981 deposited at the Dyfed Archives
John Fowler & Co (Leeds) Limited; Marshall Sons and Company Limited deposited at the Institute of Agricultural History, Reading University.
Clayton Shuttleworth Limited, 1918-1981; Horrocksford Lime Co Limited 1892-1933, Ketton Cement Limited, 1900-1977; Ribblesdale Cement Company Limited, 1947-1970 deposited at the Leicester Record Office. The Marshall group of companies 1924-1976 deposited at Lincolnshire Record Office.
Some records of Borax Consolidated Limited's Belevedere Factory in Kent are held at Bexley Archives
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| Language Notes: |
English, some Spanish and French |
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