The Carrapateena mineral discovery was the outcome of a PACE Initiative drilling project co-funded by RMG Services Pty Ltd and the Government of South Australia. Two holes were drilled, the second of which (CAR002) encountered a major body of mineralisation. Evaluation of the Carrapateena iron-oxide - associated copper-gold (IOCG) deposit was subsequently joint-ventured to Teck Cominco Ltd (now Teck). A primary geochemical dispersion halo extends around this deposit for a radius of at least 10 km, as defined by the properties of haematite clasts present in the overlying Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic sediments. Many of these clasts appear to have the texture of IOCG-style haematite breccias. Niton XRF spectrometric chemical analyses performed on drill cores cut in drillhole CAR002 identified a characteristic Sr-U-Th-Cu-Fe-Cr-V geochemical signature, which is echoed in the composition of haematite pebbles present within basal conglomerate beds extending up to 10 km away from the Carrapateena IOCG deposit. It is postulated that similar primary geochemical dispersion haloes may be present elsewhere on the Stuart Shelf at the base of the Mesoproterozoic Cariewerloo Basin and Neoproterozoic Stuart Shelf cover sequences. In particular, there are several localities where basal conglomeratic sediments of the Mesoproterozoic Pandurra Formation are found associated with base metal geochemical anomalies, and these warrant further investigation. Such localities include Arcoona, Dromedary Dam, Heaton Hill, Horse Well and Winjabbie. A trial assessment of open file drill core and cuttings made using a Niton hand-held XRF spectrometric analyser appears to introduce a useful and cost-effective exploration technique, providing timely multi-element rock geochemical data that would be valuable for use in most commodity searches, except perhaps those for gold. Digitising of historical drillhole sample assay results has enabled some spatial assessment of Stuart Shelf mineral exploration geochemical data, but more extensive digital data entries would be required to be made before the spatial density of the data becomes sufficient to allow positive identification of potential target areas.