After a review of existing geophysical and water bore data revealed a subsurface basement topographic depression onshore in the vicinity of Venus Bay, CRA took up an exploration licence there to look for possible economic lignite or sandstone-hosted uranium deposits that might be contained within Tertiary sedimentary fill to this depression. Initial work consisted of the acquisition and interpretation of 20 line km of resistivity survey traverses, and two of three resulting interpreted fluvial channel anomalies were tested by drilling. However, no carbonaceous sediments or significant uranium mineralisation were disclosed by the drilling (2 vertical rotary mud holes for a total penetration of 156 m), which encountered a sequence of Tertiary sands and clays overlying deeply weathered basement. No significant base or precious metal geochemical values were returned from the downhole samples.