Between June and December 1993, 184 vertical RC stratigraphic drillholes totalling 10,126.2 m (average hole depth 55 m) were drilled by Mines and Energy South Australia at 2 km spacing along roadsides traversing much of the BARTON 1:250k map sheet area, which is located near the western margin of the Gawler Craton, to determine in part the previously unknown bedrock geology and geochemistry that is hidden there below extensive younger deposits of Tertiary fluviomarine sand plus the sand dunes of the Holocene Great Victoria Desert. 146 of these exploratory holes penetrated basement lying at depths below the surface ranging from 9 m to greater than 110 m, and revealed it to be an amphibolite - granulite facies regionally metamorphosed terrain comprising granitoid gneisses that also contains abundant intruded mafic and ultramafic rocks. Structural trends are north-easterly dextrally transposed, and are dominated by at least three major shear zones. Anomalous assayed base and precious metal geochemical values are widespread. Three areas of layered mafic-ultramafic complexes, containing up to 20% chromite, were outlined. Potential for lode-gold style deposits similar to those of the Western Australian Shield is indicated, and the discovery of lamprophyre dykes indicates potential for metallic and diamond mineralisation. Significant heavy mineral concentrations may be present in the Tertiary sands of the Ooldea and Barton Ranges. The regional investigations have significantly upgraded the mineral prospectivity of the area, making it an attractive exploration target for a variety of commodities.