Aug 18 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Monday

temporarily blocked federal officials from completing a land

transfer needed for Rio Tinto and BHP to

develop Arizona's Resolution Copper project.

The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court Of Appeals

granted a temporary administrative injunction while it considers

the merits of a request from the San Carlos Apache tribe to

block the transfer. The transfer had been slated to occur on

Tuesday.