Possible metallic mineral products of porphyry / skarn and iron oxide - associated copper-gold (IOCG) mineralising systems related to fractionated high level Cambrian to Ordovician igneous intrusions were the targets of exploration in the Coonalpyn - Padthaway region, within a tenement extending from north to south approximately 50 km west of Bordertown. A review of previous exploration data, plus the re-assaying of stored CSR drill core samples which had reportedly returned anomalous gold values of up to 130 ppb Au, defined several drilling targets which were then refined by the acquisition of ground magnetic surveys. A planned exploratory drilling programme of 21 aircore holes was, as it eventuated, reduced to 9 vertical holes for 860 m due to finding siliceous hard bands in the regolith and a greater than prognosed thickness of cover sediments. Only four of the holes reached the pre-Tertiary basement, and no significant assay results were returned, thus failing to substantiate the reputed gold geochemical anomalism. Further reviewing of prospectivity resulted in the selection of four other magnetic anomalies, which were drill tested by rotary mud pre-collared holes with diamond tails (5 vertical holes, total 815.5 m). Probable Paleozoic basement rocks, encountered in all holes, included syenite to syeno-granite, strongly magnetic diorite/gabbro, non-magnetic hornfelsed metasediments, and strongly magnetic and altered mafic volcanics. No evidence of mineralisation was seen in these rocks, and again no significant assay results were obtained. The lithologies revealed by drilling were concluded to have adequately explained the target magnetic features. Joint venturer Normandy Gold withdrew from the Coomandook operating agreement on 27/5/2001. Exploration by the original licensee is continuing in its adjacent EL 2655, to the west of Coonalpyn.