As part of the South Australian Steel and Energy Project, Mines and Energy South Australia completed an exploration programme for iron ore at the Hawks Nest prospect during 1995 and 1996. Along with detailed magnetic and gravity surveys, the work programme included the drilling of 110 RC-hammer holes. Analysis of the drill cuttings revealed some highly anomalous Au, Cu, Pb and Zn values, which prompted the execution of the subject calcrete geochemical sampling programme in 1997, to test the precious and base metal potential of the iron ore prospect. Orientation samples were collected from trenches dug at 2 sites (A and B), and were analysed by Amdel Ltd for Au, Ag and Cu by a low detection cyanide leach method with detection limits of 0.05 ppb Au, 0.5 ppb Ag and 0.1 ppm Cu. Samples were also analysed for Ca, Fe, Mn, Mg, As, Co, V, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cr and P. The ultra low gold detection limit allowed confidence in the interpretation of values in the 1-10 ppb range. Site A was an un-mineralised area, while Site B was above drill hole HKN 99 which had intersected 4 m of 4 g/t Au. Two main areas were selected for the subsequent full calcrete sampling program, a northern grid and western grid: North Grid - 17 north-south lines 2600 m long, 400 m apart with a 100 m sample interval. West Grid - 11 east-west lines 2000 m long, 400 m apart with a 100 m sample interval. In addition, detailed grids were completed over three drill holes that intersected significant gold mineralisation: HKN 4, a 200 m square grid with 50 m sample spacing; HKN 53, a 200 m square grid with 50 m sample spacing; HKN 99, a 500 m square grid with 50 m sample spacing. Calcrete at the Hawks Nest prospect was generally found to be an effective sampling medium for detecting nearby gold mineralisation. Orientation sampling showed up to 5.4 ppb Au in calcrete over known gold mineralisation, against a background of 1.3 ppb Au. Anomalous copper and, to a lesser extent, arsenic and silver are generally associated with anomalous gold values. A poor geochemical response obtained from detailed Grid HKN 53 may be due to a lack of extent and/or intensity of gold mineralisation. However, several significant gold anomalies, up to 98 ppb Au in the north grid and up to 8.9 ppb Au in the west grid, were located by the calcrete sampling programme, and further investigations of these areas is recommended. Anomalous silver in calcrete, with associated arsenic, was found to be a possible indicator of base metal mineralisation, a result which has important implications for mineral exploration in the area.