UPDATE 1-Australia's Rio Tinto put on trading halt

(Adds background)

WELLINGTON, June 5 (Reuters) - Global miner Rio Tinto (RIO.AX) (RIO.L) called a share trading halt on Friday amid speculation that it is about to announce that it has scrapped its $19.5 billion deal with China's Chinalco.

The trading halt on the New Zealand market came after some media reported that the group would make a rights issue instead to raise up to $15 billion.

Shares in the company closed on Thursday in Australia at A$66.90.

Rio did not mention state-owned metals firm Chinalco in a brief statement on Thursday that followed heated speculation over a deal that been criticised by shareholders and would be the biggest overseas investment by a Chinese company.

"Rio Tinto is pursuing a range of options, some of which are at an advanced stage, for maximising shareholder value and improving the group's capital structure," it said.