Within the northern Kanmantoo Trough at Frankton, The Gap and Accommodation Hill, newly defined aeromagnetic prospects were thought to have base and precious metal potential, and a possible igneous intrusive was the target at the Malabena prospect. Departmental exploratory diamond drilling included 2 holes totalling 395.1 metres at Frankton; reverse circulation hammer drilling included 8 holes totalling 398 metres at The Gap, 5 holes totalling 258 metres at Accommodation Hill, and 1 hole to 138 metres at Malabena. The drilling confirmed that Cu, Pb, Zn, As and Au soil anomalies reflect underlying mineralisation, and the diamond holes obtained good sections of the lower Karinya Shale and its contact with the underlying Backstairs Passage Formation. Mineralisation at Frankton and The Gap was found to be stratigraphically controlled at the transition from black shale to calc-siltstone near the base of Karinya Shale, and also at the contact zone between said calc-siltstone and the underlying metasandstone of the Backstairs Passage Formation. The best intersection was at the northern end of The Gap prospect, with 4 metres of 2.14% Pb, 2250 ppm Zn, 1863 ppm Cu, 1450 ppm As and 27 ppb Au at the top of the Backstairs Passage Formation. At Accommodation Hill, supergene ferruginization at the top of the Milendella Limestone Member is weakly mineralized by the scavenging action of iron oxides. No evidence was found for a possible igneous intrusive at Malabena. The lower Karinya Shale and upper Backstairs Passage Formation have been identified as regionally prospective, and detailed follow- up is recommended at the northern closure of a secondary fold structure of The Gap prospect, while regional follow-up exploration is recommended around the southern closure of the Karinya Syncline.