Ongoing base metal exploration in the Arkaroola Station region of the north-eastern Flinders Ranges by licensee North Flinders Mines (NFM) has involved reviews of certain existing prospects, which has led to the entry of farminee Shell Minerals Exploration (Australia) who are targeting economic stratabound mineralisation within the upper Callanna Beds sequence of the Adelaidean metasedimentary cover. At the start of the current licence period NFM addressed the Mount McTaggart prospect by performing field geology and a review of previous drillhole sections. This orebody's dimensions and grade still appear uneconomic. Another field programme investigated local diapiric structures to see if suspected related igneous intrusions were causing possible contact metasomatic copper mineralisation, but no such attributable Cu occurrences were found. The Shell farm-in led to the conduct of detailed mapping over prospects within the Blue Mine Conglomerate, plus rock chip sampling for petrographic studies to assist with mineral genesis models and stratigraphic definition. Shell geologists undertook the measurement of detailed stratigraphic sections across the upper Callanna Beds outcrop to allow scale comparisons with Zambian Copper Belt stratabound deposits. They also analysed rock chip samples for Cu/Pb/Zn, and re-mapped the local geology during their follow-up of stream sediment and soil geochemical anomalies. Their conclusion was that Cu mineralisation appears to be associated with complex faulting (i.e. splays off of the Paralana Fault) and limonitic 'cappings' to metamorphosed reactive sediments (e.g. the Skillogalee Dolomite, Wortupa Quartzite and Opaminda Formation). By contrast, the Pb and Zn anomalism may be stratiform in nature, although no deep basin sedimentary conditions are apparent. On 27/10/1972 Shell elected to withdraw from their informal joint venture agreement with NFM. Subsequently, NFM commissioned more petrographic examinations of mineralised surface samples from the Lady Buxton mine area and of randomly selected Wywyana Formation percussion drillhole cuttings samples. The results indicate that the widespread secondary Cu mineralisation seen in this unit is a product of intensive silicic, potassic and CO2 metasomatism acting on original syngenetic copper sulphides, with the effects often enhanced by pneumatolytic processes. Fine authigenic pyrite is a ubiquitous feature of the early Adelaidean metasedimentary rock suites, and it may have acted to scavenge other syngenetic sulphides into the more porous rock types near structural discontinuities. Field investigations of possible volcanic rocks in SA and WA, conducted for NFM by consultant B. Fehlberg, included inspecting the Wooltana Volcanics for pointers to possible volcanogenic mineralisation. However, no features were identified which might reflect a potential for the existence of massive sulphide zones within this unit.