An area of possible economic metalliferous Mesoproterozoic basement located 60 km north-west of Tarcoola was investigated by Platsearch NL, who entered a joint venture with EL 2475 holder and former EL 1789 partner Oxford Resources Pty Ltd on 19/7/1999. Platsearch undertook a compilation of all work carried out to date in the area, including available geophysical data. Previous work had encountered numerous occurrences of anomalous base metals, gold, nickel and rare earths (especially niobium). By far the main exploration method used previously had been RAB drilling of calcrete gold geochemical anomalies. Platsearch found that there did not appear to have been a systematic targeting of the stronger regional magnetic anomalies, which could represent, for instance, ferruginous breccias associated with Hiltaba granites, or BIF-associated base metal and gold deposits, or VMS deposits. In particular they identified three discrete magnetic anomalies, designated 'A' to 'C', that possibly reflect buried magnetite/haematite deposits with potential for associated gold and/or base metals mineralisation. These anomalies lie over the Muckanippie Anorthosite Complex, which covers an area of approximately 800 square km and contains anorthosite, gabbroic anorthosite, gabbro, diorite, syenite, granodiorite and granite. All of these rocks are intruded by Proterozoic granites of the Hiltaba Suite and dykes of the Wiltabbie Volcanics. The newly proposed primary titanium mineral potential of the Muckanippie intrusion was based by Platsearch on comparisons with massive anorthosites of similar age and geology which are known to be associated with economic ilmenite deposits, such as Tellnes in Norway (300 Mt @ 18% TiO2), and Lac Tio and Sanford Lake in Canada (Lac Tio contains 125 Mt of ore averaging 32% Ti02). Coincident 6000 nT magnetic low and 7 mGal gravity high anomalies exist within Anomaly 'A' at the Wigetty prospect: a similar phenomenon is seen at Lac Tio due to massive ilmenite layers having reverse magnetism. A single RAB hole, CAR012, which was drilled over this geophysical feature by PIRSA in 1991, penetrated 2 m into bedrock which assayed at 5.32% TiO2 in association with 32.19% Fe2O3. After Iluka Resources took up an option on the licence in April 2002, that company drilled 6 RC holes for 800 m to test the Wigetty prospect. Although average TiO2 values in rock samples taken from the target unit, a magnetite and ilmenite - rich, high- grade metamorphic iron formation within the Mulgathing Complex, were well above background, the maximum concentration found was only 7.33%. Petrological work on recovered drill cuttings describes the rock closest to the magnetic high as a magnetite olivine pyroxene granulite. The central magnetic low and coincident gravity high is thought to be due to a gabbroic rock with approximately 5% TiO2 and little magnetite. The model of an ilmenite segregation within a mafic igneous rock is now regarded by the joint venturers as being discounted. The iron formation's economic potential was downgraded, as the $5/tonne value ascribed to the titanium ore by Iluka was below its $10/tonne economic cut-off. The Tarcoola palaeochannel prospect sediment heavy mineral assemblages were also too low grade to fit with Iluka's exploration priority targets of high margin, high TiO2 or high zircon and/or rutile assemblages, so they chose to cease further participation. The Anomaly 'A' prospect is still considered by the remaining joint venture partners to have major prospectivity. Highly anomalous copper and zinc values (up to 2,500 ppm Cu and 1,300 ppm Zn) were found in PIRSA aircore holes that are located along strike on both sides of it. The anomaly appears, from PIRSA mapping, to be in a soil-covered area close to the contact of a Hiltaba Suite granite and Gawler Range Volcanics (rhyodacite). Aztec Mining had earlier drilled two inclined RC percussion drillholes, TCP002 and TCP007, to vertical depths of 88 m and 66 m to test the magnetic anomaly. These holes were only 30 m apart, and intersected magnetite diorite with broad zones of strong 'red rock' (haematite-dusted feldspar) and up to 338 ppm Cu and 693 ppm Zn in overlying clays. Interpretation of ground magnetic surveys conducted by PlatSearch indicates that the depth to the top of the main causative bodies is approximately 80-100 m, consequently the Aztec drilling would have only just penetrated the top of the body. Since Anomaly 'A' is almost 750 m in diameter, these few shallow drill tests have clearly not adequately tested the prospect. However, because no new farm-in funding could be attracted, the licence was dropped.