Rio Tinto is a ghost town in Elko County, Nevada in the United States.

It was named after the prosperous copper mines in Andalusia, Spain that produced ore for 3,000 years..

The discovery of copper mines near Rio Tinto is credited to Franklyn Hunt, who had explored in the west for many years.

[2] He had claimed his discovery, but no one except the brothers Walt and Jack Davidson had enough faith in Hunt to grub stake him.

This information spread and started a rush in the area, including creation of the town.