The Muntulgura Guruma people, represented by the Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation, are addressing reported impacts to an ancient rock shelter site in the Hamersley Ranges, located on Muntulgura Guruma country.

The site, somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000 years old, was 150 metres from a Rio Tinto blast zone where Traditional Owners, the Muntulgura Guruma people, had previously warned that it is an important area that requires protection.

Rio Tinto said photos taken before and after the blast showed a large rock and a scrub tree had fallen from an overhang above the cave entrance.

"As part of our cultural heritage monitoring and management processes, last month we identified the fall of a Pilbara scrub tree and a one square metre rock from the overhang of a rock shelter in an area adjacent to the Nammuldi mine site," Rio said in a statement.

"As soon as we identified this, we paused work which was occurring 150 metres away, and notified the Traditional Owners of the land, the Muntulgura Guruma people."

According to Rio Tinto, initial assessments taken by drone haven't found structural damage to the rock shelter or impacts to any cultural materials.

"We are working closely with the Muntulgura Guruma people to better understand what has happened and will be guided by them on the appropriate next steps," Rio said in a statement.

"We deeply respect the Muntulgura Guruma people and have apologised for this incident."

Those next steps will involve visiting the shelter with the traditional owners.

This incident comes less than three years after Rio Tinto faced global condemnation for destroying two ancient rock shelters at Juukan Gorge, near Tom Price, in a similar blasting operation, despite warnings from traditional owners about the site's significance.

"WGAC is aware of the reported impacts to the rock shelter site on Muntulgura Guruma country in the Hamersley Ranges. WGAC is disappointed by the report but is yet to establish the extent of the impact to the rock shelter," the corporation said in a statement.

"We are working with Rio Tinto to better understand what has happened and will work to independently establish the facts in the coming weeks.

"WGAC will not be providing any further comment until the facts are established."

National Indigenous Times has contacted Rio Tinto and WGAC for further comment.

More to come.