Rio Tinto halts operations at north Australian bauxite mine as cyclone nears

Melbourne – Rio Tinto said on Wednesday has suspended its Weipa bauxite mining operations at the northeastern tip of the country ahead of a cyclone.

“Operations have been suspended at Weipa as Cyclone Trevor approaches the coast, as per standard procedures,” a spokesman told Reuters by email.

Bauxite is the raw material used to make aluminium. (Reporting by Melanie Burton Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)