A SYMBOL OF LEGACY AND RENEWAL

AUSTRALIAN MINING WAS ON THE GROUND AS RIO TINTO CUT THE RIBBON ON ITS NEW WESTERN RANGE IRON ORE MINE.

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As some of Rio Tinto's longest-runnig Pilbara mines begin to wind down, do the company has commenced a new chapter in the iron ore heartland of Western Australia.

The Western Range mine, located just 10 minutes from Paraburdoo Airport, has officially joined Rio's Paraburdoo hub, strengthening the future of the region's iron ore supply.

Australian Mining was on the ground to witness the official opening of the mine, which sits against a backdrop of rugged Pilbara terrain, its red earth cut by deep gorges and geological formations.

Snaking across the land is one of Western Range's most impressive features, an 18km long conveyor system that connects the site's primary crusher to the Paraburdoo processing facility.

Western Range is more than an engineering feat; it's a symbol of legacy and renewal.

The mine is one of Rio Tinto's key replacement projects in the Pilbara, supporting continuity of its high-quality Pilbara Blend iron ore as nearby deposits become depleted.

The site contains two key deposits, 36W-50W and 55W-66W, located within the Hamersley Basin and hosted in the Brockman Iron Formation.

Western Range is also the next step in the longstanding relationship between Rio Tinto and China Baowu Steel Group, the world's largest steel producer.

A $US2 billion ($3.6 billion) development, the mine is a 54:46 joint venture (JV) between Rio Tinto and Baowu, marking a continuation of the companies' partnership that began in 2002 to develop the Eastern Range deposits.

Rio Tinto chief executive officer Jakob Stausholm said the Western Range mine is a significant milestone for the company's future in the Pilbara.

"I'm particularly proud of the work we've done with the Yinhawangka People to develop Western Range and we'll continue to work closely together," Stausholm said.