The initial manager of the joint venture, CRA Exploration Pty Ltd (CRAE), targeted a range of copper, gold and uranium mineralisation styles, including vein-style uranium associated with carbonate rocks (Kintyre model), Olympic Dam style copper-gold-uranium, and vein-style gold deposits. CRAE also targeted diamonds and carbonatites. The Adelaide Chemical Company targeted oxide copper deposits at Dome Rock mine. A later JV manager, Delta Gold, targeted Olympic Dam - style iron oxide - associated copper-gold (IOCG) deposits. As the joint venture's major partner, CRAE managed the long running exploration programme in the Kalabity region, where the subject licences were owned by Carpentaria Exploration Co. (CEC) from 1988 until 2000. The initial activities, undertaken from 1988 to 1992, began with a detailed, ~11,000 line km and 100 m N-S flight line spaced airborne magnetic/radiometric survey, plus a major compilation of the data from previous exploration. Under a subsidiary joint venture arrangement, Adelaide Chemical Company drilled 43 vertical percussion holes totalling 2223 m at the Dome Rock mine, on a 100 m x 20 m pattern, probing down to the groundwater table in a search for oxide copper resources suitable for heap leaching. The CRAE geophysical survey was intended to trace bedrock strata under cover and also to identify discrete magnetic and radiometric targets. The resulting data highlighted about 40 radiometric anomalies. The historical information compilation identified 21 targets for base metal or gold mineralisation. The four most prospective, with significant copper-lead-zinc in drill intercepts, became the Telechie, Ironstone, Waukaloo and Mount Howden prospects. At Waukaloo prospect, extensive preliminary work included gridding, 1:25,000 scale geological mapping, rock chip sampling, electrical geophysics, and lag loam sampling. IP surveys defined a major chargeable anomaly associated with highly anomalous Cu-Au in rock chips. Follow-up work included a ZEROTEM survey which identified three EM anomalies, 10 diamond drillholes totalling 2347 m, down-hole geophysics, and detailed soil sampling. At the Dome Rock mine prospect, preliminary work included a reconnaissance soil sampling traverse, 1:10,000 scale geological mapping, rock chip sampling, auger geochemical sampling and regolith geochemical sampling. Follow-up activities comprised the drilling of two diamond holes and a detailed geochemical survey in which 729 soil and 126 rock chip samples were collected. Work at Ironstone prospect included a lag loam traverse, gridding and auger soil sampling, followed by the drilling of two diamond holes. Work at Nancatee prospect included soil and rock chip sampling and the re-assaying of samples from a previous RC drillhole. A downhole EM probe was run in two drillholes at Telechie prospect. From 1992 to 1993, CRAE's exploration on EL 1497 expanded to a more regional reconnaissance phase. In the Billeroo area, rock chip sampling tested the iron ore potential. On the Koolka and Waukaloo 1:25 000 mapsheet areas, follow-up work investigated airborne radiometric anomalies, plus some soil sampling traverses on Waukaloo only. In the South Burdens Dam area, rock chip sampling investigated albite-bearing rocks. Prospects identified in the Boolcoomata area included Boolcoomata mine, Dome Rock, Dome Rock East, Dome Rock North, Dome Rock South and Wiperaminga Hill. Follow-up work included testing the Bimba metasedimentary rock package for Cu-Au mineralisation via rock chip and soil sampling done at all prospects, and the completion of two diamond drillholes for 567.5 m at Dome Rock North. In the Waukaloo Synform area, CRAE's follow-up of geochemical anomalies at South Burdens Dam prospect included investigation of three outcrops of near-ore-grade manganese oxide, the drilling of 5 diamond holes (183.9 m) and the cutting of 4 costeans (1050 m). CRAE's work on the renewed EL 1864 in 1993-1994 focussed on five targets. Stream sediment sampling in the Billeroo area yielded weakly anomalous Zn and Cu. Aircore drilling at Koolka and at Waukaloo identified weakly anomalous Zn and Cu only at Koolka. Diamond drilling at Waukaloo South confirmed the presence of sporadic anomalous Cu and Au previously identified by aircore drilling, but the mineralisation generally occurs as late-stage fracture filling chalcopyrite, and is probably not significant. Diamond drilling at South Burdens Dam intersected only very low grade mineralisation. CRAE returned to a regional focus in 1994-1995, selecting to use high-iron lag and stream sediment sampling to cover the entire tenement. Analyses of high-iron lag samples found elevated Cu in the Billeroo Hill area, and for stream sediment samples identified elevated Zn and Au in streams in the Billeroo Hill, Koolka Hill and Telechie Valley areas. Follow-up work included acquiring seven regional CSAMT and ground magnetic traverses, with additional lag sampling and geological mapping along some traverses. This work detected some CSAMT conductors, each with coincident geochemical and/or magnetic anomalies. In 1995-1996 CRAE investigated four prospects. At the Billeroo carbonatite prospect, exploration included geological mapping and petrographic studies, the collection of 119 auger soil samples, drilling of 4 percussion holes and one diamond hole, and the completion of 15.9 line km of IP surveys. This work revealed the existence of only a small carbonatite intrusive complex having only a weakly elevated Cu content, which warranted no further work. However, an IP anomaly to the south may merit further testing. At Telechie prospect, exploration included 12.3 line km of fixed loop and 2.3 line km of moving loop TEM surveys, the drilling and downhole geophysical logging of 4 diamond holes, the collection of 31 BLEG and/or -80# stream sediment samples, and acquisition of 1200 m of AMT surveys. This work confirmed the presence of sub-economic Cu-Zn in the Bimba Formation, but warranted no further testing. At Dayanna prospect, CRAE collected 94 auger soil samples, but assaying of these did not explain the anomaly reported previously by MIM (1.2% Zn), and it was clear that to resolve the matter would require aircore drilling. At Koolka Hill prospect, CRAE collected 933 -20# soil samples and carried out geological mapping and petrographic studies. Weak Zn anomalism detected in soils probably warrants follow-up. CRAE investigations in 1996-1997 concentrated on three prospects. At Dayanna prospect, an IP survey successfully located a sulphide response coincident with the Zn anomaly (1.2% Zn) previously found by MIM. Follow-up diamond drilling encountered stratiform pyrrhotite-sphalerite mineralisation within the lower Pelite Suite. Assays identified extensive low grade (sub-economic) stratiform zinc mineralisation in carbonaceous pelite, e.g. 97 m @ 0.47% Zn from 109 m in DD97KY408. Along strike, drilling intersected 90 m @ 0.37% Zn in DD97KY412, and 75 m @ 0.35% Zn in DD97KY415. At the Billeroo carbonatite prospect, diamond drilling tested the outlying IP anomaly. Here DD97KY407 intersected 30.5 m of disseminated chalcopyrite representing up to 5% by volume, from 268 m depth. However, the best intercept found was 8 m @ 0.18% Cu from 272 m, which did not warrant further investigation. At Johnaroo prospect, aircore drilling of a conceptual supergene copper target did not discover mineralisation. In 1997-1998 and 1998-1999, CRAE returned to using regional geophysical programmes to identify further targets, by conducting regional SP, TEM, gravity and ground magnetic surveys. Follow-up geophysical surveys acquired at Waukaloo Syncline included gravity, wireline logging, down-hole EM, TEM and IP. A diamond drillhole to 423 m made broad intersections of low grade Zn-Pb mineralisation. Follow-up at Dayanna prospect included IP surveying, geological mapping and determination of drill core specific gravity. At Dayanna South prospect and Telechie Corridor, follow-up included the drilling of 318 aircore holes (9625.5 m). Bedrock assays from Telechie Corridor suggested the presence of Zn-Pb mineralisation in places. At Dayanna South, bedrock assays detected anomalous Zn-Pb and Cu-Co for more than 4 km along strike. Anomalous Cu + Co/Au is associated with magnetic anomalism and elevated Ag in gossanous outcrops. Delta Gold (later acquired by Placer Dome) entered the joint venture in 2000 and took over as operator, completing the bulk of the work done on the renewed EL 2554 up until late 2003. After reviewing previous data, Delta began aircore drilling to test targets for evidence of IOCG mineralisation. Delta drilled a total of 995 aircore holes (25 475 m), two RC holes (445.2 m) and three diamond holes (551.5 m), and analysed 6269 drillhole rock samples. The main discovery made was at South Koolka prospect, where the best mineralised intercepts within a skarn-like host rock were 12 m @ 0.7% Cu and 0.77 g/t Au, and 14.3 m @ 1.26% Cu and 0.24 g/t Au. Delta detected other Cu/Au/Zn anomalies in weathered bedrock at East Koolka, South-east Koolka, Kaloola and Birthday Dam Road, but did not proceed to drill test these. Subsequently, Placer Dome did not consider that there was enough potential present in the Kalabity ground to meet corporate gold resource targets, and therefore withdrew from the joint venture.