An area lying along the south-western margin of the Gawler Ranges has been explored by Minotaur Resources to assess the economic iron oxide - associated copper-gold mineralisation (IOCG) potential of near-coincident gravity and magnetic anomalies that were discerned to lie on the north-western margin of a large Hiltaba Suite pluton, the Kondulka Batholith. Additionally, in 2006 the licensee floated a separate subsidiary uranium exploration company, Toro Energy, and this entity had as one of its objectives to assess the sedimentary uranium mineralisation of Tertiary strata known to be present on the subject licence. Preliminary exploration work performed by Minotaur was a review of existing geological and geophysical data and the planning of local and regional gravity surveys in cooperation with PIRSA, aimed at using PACE Initiative Year 1 funds to help subsidise the creation of an improved, evenly expressed regional gravity data coverage for the western Gawler Craton region at a minimum precision of 2 km x 2 km station spacing. By prior arrangement with Minotaur, the PACE gravity survey portion acquired within EL 3166 was further refined to give 1 km E-W x 2 km N-S coverage. During 2005 the licensee merged and interpreted the PACE survey gravity results in concert with earlier gravity data, thereby identifying a series of gravity anomalies in the southern portion of EL 3166 that may have been created by rock movements and alteration controlled by a north-west trending regional fault structure splaying off the Yarlbrinda Shear Zone. Separately, the Narlaby Palaeochannel system sediments were investigated by interpreting NOAA satellite thermal images and by sampling a series of remnant salt lakes within EL 3166 that had produced aerial radiometric anomalies thought to be related to the underlying hydrogeochemical regime in the buried palaeochannel sands. Field checking of the radiometric anomalies and XRF analysis of lake sediment samples revealed an elevated U value (6 ppm) at one of six sample locations. Scintillometer ground radiation readings ranged from 30 to 80 cps. The next important activity was the acquisition by Toro Energy over the licence area during July-August 2006 of part of a regional TEMPEST AEM survey (303 line km at 1 km line spacing and a nominal 120 m terrain clearance height). The resulting EM data clearly defined a westwards-trending palaeochannel, having both convergent and meander features, that debouched from the southern margin of the Gawler Ranges and flowed seaward between resistant exposures of Hiltaba Suite granite. However, Toro did not conduct any further field work for uranium exploration on EL 3166 until October 2008, when a reconnaissance visit was made to scout preferred drilling sites in the palaeochannel. The company then determined that extensive and costly earthworks would be required to make its planned drill tests, and that this expense could not be justified within prevailing financial circumstances. Following a lengthy process of obtaining environmental approvals to conduct on-ground operations within the Yellabinna Regional Reserve, Minotaur acquired infill gravity data during November-December 2007 over an 8 km x 6 km anomaly situated near Yarranna Hill which was of interest for its IOCG mineralisation potential. 429 stations were read, principally on a 500 m x 500 m grid, plus some additional 100 m spaced stations read along three selected traverses crossing the anomaly peak. This new gravity data delineated a curvilinear positive anomaly with a maximum amplitude of ~ 2 mGal, extending for about 5 km adjacent to the western side of the magnetite-bearing, 20 km long x 15 km wide Kondulka intrusion. Subsequent two-dimensional geophysical modelling of the gravity data indicated that a theoretical source body, with a best-fit density of 2.85 g/cc, would lie at less than 50 m depth and be eastwards dipping. Minotaur concluded that these properties are not supportive of the existence of significant IOCG style alteration and mineralisation, and this decision, coupled with land accessibility complications, prompted the company not to seek continuing tenure of the ground into a second licence term.