Late in 1957 work was in progress at the Departmental Laboratories on age determination of granites by the zircon method. A letter dated 31 December 1957 from Chief Geologist, Bureau of Mineral Resources, Canberra to the Director stated that the Bureau was engaged in this work in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, using the strontium rubidium method; and suggested a joint D.M. Bureau sampling tour early in 1958. This suggestion was accepted, the Deputy Director suggesting in his reply (14 January 1958) that both methods should be used on South Australia samples. It was agreed that the Bureau should provide a Land Rover towing a trailer mounted compressor in charge of a geologist (Mr. Jack Arkin) and a field assistant (Mr. Keith Robertson) and the writer was asked to supervise the programme and escort the party throughout its tour in South Australia. A list of 27 sampling locations was compiled by B.P. Webb, Senior Geologist. This included three in the Olary district which is was suggested could be visited by the Bureau party on its way to Adelaide from Broken Hill, New South Wales.