The majority of mineral exploration undertaken in the South Eagle area, centred 40 km north-east of Olary, has targeted stratabound Pb-Zn-Ag, stratabound massive sulphide Cu-Zn-Co-Mn, and Cu-Au mineralisation that may have formed in Proterozoic rocks of the Willyama Supergroup basement. Results of early such exploration by various operators have previously been released in a series of Open File Envelopes (Numbers 999, 1562, 2511, 3203, 3330, 8703, 8761). This release pertains to the most recent such work, undertaken by Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd from September 1997 to September 2000 (actual field activities by Rio, though, ceased in 1999). Detailed geophysical surveys comprising gravity, moving loop TEM and ground magnetics were followed by aircore drilling along three traverses (39 holes, total 3516 m), seeking to identify mineralisation in the Willyaman "Pelite Suite" and "Bimba Suite" which might be akin to that found in the Mount Isa and Century deposits of the Mount Isa Inlier in Queensland. Significant multi-element anomalism was recorded from several holes, with a best interval result of 33 m at 885 ppm Pb. Re-directed exploration of the same area by other interests now continues under EL 3017.