As part of a regional search for hydrothermal / epithermal gold and base metals, EL 2167 joint venturer Goldstream Mining over the period October 1996 - March 1999 undertook three phases of regional and detailed geochemical sampling in the poorly exposed Palaeoproterozoic basement upland area 10 km west of Cowell. The work comprised rock chip, BLEG and BCL soil and stream sediment, plus calcrete sampling, of which the latter proved to be the most effective where it could be used, although all these methods failed to locate significant mineralisation (peak result 145 ppb near the historic Oakfield copper workings, in both calcrete and rock chips at the same site). Due to the low order Cu-Au values, and field geological reconnaissance impressions suggesting a lack of deposit size potential, Goldstream decided to withdraw from its joint venture with the licensee. A subsequent farm-in by Helix Resources did not yield any further field work because of other, competing priority activies by that company in its adjoining tenements. During the lengthy period preceding this partial relinquishment the licensee in his own right has explored several exposures of different Palaeoproterozoic crystalline basement rocks, including white marble and various coloured granites, for their dimension stone aesthetic and quarrying potential. After locating and sampling suitable material for processing to allow preliminary marketplace evaluation, several Mineral Claims and later, Mining Leases, were obtained to secure title to likely commercial dimension stone occurrences, and quarrying commenced at one deposit (the Royal Mahogany granite on ML 6021). Exploration continues on a reduced area.