Exploration of an area with poor basement outcrop, located approximately 45 km north-east of Tarcoola, primarily sought possible fault or breccia-hosted mesothermal gold +/- base metal mineralisation in likely multiphase Mesoproterozoic felsic volcanic and granitoid intrusive rocks which are juxtaposed against or are cross-cut by long-lived deep crustal faults. Initial work carried out by Aurora Gold comprised regional calcrete sampling (800 m x 800 m sample spacing, closing down to 400 m x 400 m and then 200 m x 200 m, for 605 samples), plus limited rock chip sampling of outcropping altered basement lithologies (11 samples), and ground magnetic surveying (67 traverses for 166.39 line km). Several identified robust calcrete and magnetic anomalies were then drilled (via 6 aircore holes for 366 m total penetration, plus 88 RAB holes for a total penetration of 3163 m). This drilling yielded best mineralised intercepts of 6 m @ 0.25 g/t Au, enveloped by 18 m @ 0.55% Zn, 0.1% Cu and 0.1% Pb, in hole PRR057 in the north-west part of the licence area, within an iron-rich alteration zone displaying a magnetite-pyrite-chlorite-epidote-carbonate alteration assemblage. Subsequent soil sampling performed by Aurora Gold over interpreted similar nearby alteration zones giving rise to magnetic and gravity highs (86 samples taken on 100 m or 50 m centres), returned 13 ppb Au over an area 2 km x 500 m in extent that borders a Hiltaba Suite intrusive stock, as well as an anomaly of 21 ppb Au that is centred on a north-westwards trending fault that lies immediately north of the previously explored Birthday prospect. Elsewhere, dipole-dipole IP surveying was undertaken over 10.2 line km to test for possible sulphides accompanying ironstone/jaspilite alteration seen in rocks adjacent to the Bulgunnia Fault Zone. No follow-up work was done by Aurora Gold during the 2000 and 2001 licence years because of delays in obtaining a broad-scale Native Title land access agreement in accordance with Part 9B of the SA Mining Act. After the takeover of Aurora Gold's parent company by Peninsula Minerals late in 2001, the new licensee during the 2002-2003 licence year completed a short diamond drilling programme (3 angled holes for a total penetration of 813 m) plus a detailed, 1237 station gravity survey at the Mariner prospect, to test for Prominent Hill type iron oxide - associated copper-gold (IOCG) mineralisation at Aurora Gold's earlier outlined geochemical and IP anomalies. Drillhole MRDH002 gave a best drill core assay result of 7 m @ 0.1% Cu + 3.7 g/t Ag from below 117.5 m depth in brecciated quartzite, mafic and haematite-magnetite breccias. The gravity survey disclosed a number of sizeable dense bodies lying along the margins of an east-west striking magnetic feature. On 8 November 2004, joint venturer Minotaur Exploration assumed the licence operatorship, by agreeing with Peninsula Minerals that it would spend $1 million in 4 years to earn up to a 70% interest in EL 2972. To begin to achieve this expenditure Minotaur carried out portions of multi-licence gravity (13 stations), ground magnetic (7.2 line km) and IP surveys (2 line km) over Mariner prospect to try to geophysically define alteration targets within the Gawler Range Volcanics, before drilling 3 RC holes for a total penetration of 574 m. Hole TA05R006 targeted a magnetic anomaly, and encountered a metasomatite containing magnetite, topaz and fluorite along with anomalous zinc, including a 104 m thick interval (36-140 m) @ 0.5 % Zn and a 5 m subinterval with 3.2 % Zn (110-115 m). Hole TA05R007 targeted an IP anomaly, and met with thin, pyrite-rich intervals that included one at 225-230 m depth having >30% pyrite, but which showed no anomalous geochemistry. Hole TA05R008, a shallow hole put down adjacent to Aurora Gold's mineralised RAB hole PRR057, also returned multi-element metal anomalism, with maximum values of 250 ppb Au (24-30 m), 1028 ppm As (60-66 m), 972 ppm Cu (18-24 m), 1112 ppm Pb (30-36 m) and 6401 ppm Zn (36-42 m). However, from the tenor of these intercepts Minotaur concluded that its drilling of the principal magnetic, gravity and IP features had failed to reveal any economic mineralisation, and that the options were limited for continuing exploration at the Mariner Prospect. In consequence of making this decision, Minotaur chose next to acquire improved gravity coverage on the eastern half of the licence area, to try to ascertain if any accessible IOCG prospects might exist there in the concealed basement. A gravity survey was read during June-July 2006 to cover all parts of the licence that did not already have good regional gravity data, the new data being acquired at a station spacing of 1 km x 1 km for a total of 787 stations. Four positive anomalies were delineated (central, southern, eastern and western), but all have modest amplitudes. For these anomalies 2D and 3D geophysical modelling indicated that their source body theoretical densities range from 2.77-2.87 g/cc, which represent values consistent with mafic igneous rocks. It was determined that there are no gravity anomalies present of sufficient amplitude to suggest the existence of significant IOCG-style alteration and mineralisation. Therefore in March 2007, Minotaur withdrew from the joint venture with Peninsula Minerals. Minotaur's affilate company Toro Energy was left to continue with exploration for possible roll-front or unconformity type uranium mineralisation on this licence area, but undertook no field work or preliminary studies of importance, and eventually it too withdrew from the joint venture arrangement with Peninsula Minerals, which caused tenure then to be surrendered.