An area surrounding the Emeroo Range, and extending from the vicinity of Port Augusta to 30 km west of Hawker, was explored by Utah for possible economic stratabound base metal deposits which it was thought could be associated with certain favourable stratigraphic horizons. Based on early reconnaissance geological traversing and regional stream sediment geochemical sampling (4645 samples), 35 base metal anomalies were identified from statistical analysis of the geochemical data, for closer evaluation by grid-based soil and rock chip sampling, detailed 1:5000 and 1:1000 scale geological mapping, geophysical surveys and drilling. Outcropping pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralisation was found at the Thompson's Gap east anomaly, associated with diapiric breccia. Elsewhere around the margins of the Emeroo Diapir, anomalous phosphorus and niobium were detected in the creek sediments. Two copper-mineralised horizons were found in the Emeroo Quartzite Member at the historically worked Robinson's prospect, with rock chip samples returning up to 3% Cu. The uppermost horizon was considered to be the most prospective, being up to 30 feet thick, with a strike length of > 2800 feet, while the lower horizon outcrops over ~ 1000 feet and varies from 20-40 feet in thickness. During November 1970, Utah tested this prospect with 4 diamond drillholes for a total penetration of 1420 feet. The results were disappointing because the upper mineralised horizon did not give encouraging assay values, the highest grade drill intercept being just 0.15% Cu @ 200 feet depth in hole R4, still in the secondary ore zone, and within brecciated sedimentary strata that were attributed to post-depositional slumping. Petrographic study of the host rock concluded that it represented reworked syngenetic pyroclastic material, including very finely disseminated haematite, probably originally deposited in a fluvio-deltaic environment and later reworked and re-deposited on a shallow marine carbonate platform. Diamond drilling was next attempted at Depot Creek to investigate coincident geochemical and IP anomalies which might represent a downdip primary orebody that has given rise to an observed surface gossan; however, this drillhole had to be abandoned at 70 feet depth due to too difficult drilling conditions in badly fractured rock. During April-May 1971, intensive ground magnetic, IP and resistivity surveys were run over three prospects, Depot Creek, Robinson's and Dutchman's. In follow-up percussion drilling work done over the latter grid (6 holes for 1368 feet), three thin copper carbonate-mineralised horizons were found at depth in the Willochra Formation, with the deepest occurring at around 270 feet depth. The best drillhole intercept made here was 6 feet @ 0.12% Cu from hole PX03. Other percussion drilling was conducted at Depot Creek and at Reservoir prospect (7 holes for 1843 feet), but no mineralisation of any significance was revealed.