In a continuation of uranium exploration work (part of the Frome Project) begun by E-Z and Newmont on their former SML 217, a surface radiometric anomaly previously identified at the Mount John prospect by ground scintillometer prospecting and shallow auger drilling was tested at depth along two traverses, by drilling 13 vertical percussion holes during June 1969 for a total penetration of 2207 feet. The surface radiometric response, of up to ten times background, occurs in lateritic Parachilna Formation sandstones and siltstones, samples of which assayed up to 100 ppm U3O8.Correlations made in the subsurface using the drill cuttings lithologs enabled the recognition of eight different sedimentary facies within the Parachilna Formation rocks which border the Mount John diapir. However, downhole geophysical logging detected only mildly elevated radioactivity, so 51 drill cuttings samples from various stratigraphic levels were submitted for fluorometric analysis. The majority of these samples had less than 10 ppm U. It was concluded that no significant uranium exists at depth in this locality, but rather, that a thin zone of near-surface uranium enrichment exists, probably due to precipitation of uranium from evaporating groundwater solutions onto lateritic iron and manganese oxide concentrations. A separate base metal exploration programme was also undertaken on SML 217A by E-Z alone (the Mount Chambers Project), addressing potential economic Beltana or Blinman style deposits. Prospective Cambrian carbonate rocks and Adelaidean diapiric intrusions were stream sediment sampled (1074 samples), and geochemical anomalies of interest were followed up with close-spaced stream sediment sampling (427 samples) and 1:1200 scale geological mapping. The only high order base metal anomalism (> 0.5% Cu and > 1.0% Zn) was found at the abandoned Moorowie copper mine in Chambers Gorge, where much of it originates from ore spills and mine spoil heaps. The presumed valid copper and zinc anomalies detected at this locality, which follow a creek valley that is controlled by a highly silicified fault zone, are thought by E-Z to be related to replacement type, secondary copper - mineralised vein and cavity fillings seen in metasomatised, gritty-textured Cambrian archaeocyathid limestone that is thinly interbedded with purple shale. Elsewhere in the licence, minor geochemical anomalies were attributed to the commonly occurring phenomenon of the adsorption of base metal ions by scavenging manganese and iron oxides within ironstone concretions, features which are usually associated with brecciated limestones. However, lead anomalies that probably arise from visible galena mineralisation were also rarely found in proximity to diapiric intrusions.Detailed geological mapping carried out in the vicinity of Mount Chambers found a completely new facies within the Lower Cambrian limestone rocks which contrasts markedly with equivalent sequences known elsewhere, i.e. at Wilkawillina, Parachilna, Beltana and Angepena. University of Adelaide geological consultant Dr Brian Daily was therefore engaged by E-Z to interpret the stratigraphy represented by this part of the Arrowie Basin. An excerpt of his preliminary findings is given in the fourth six-monthly report for SML 217A.