Rio Tinto has emerged as the mystery buyer behind an 11 per cent parcel of shares in uranium explorer Extract Resources Ltd, which could be a hurdle in the company's planned merger with West Perth-based Kalahari Minerals Ltd.

Rio Tinto has emerged as the mystery buyer behind an 11 per cent parcel of shares in uranium explorer Extract Resources Ltd, which could be a hurdle in the company's planned merger with West Perth-based Kalahari Minerals Ltd.