Exploration activity is gathering momentum across South Australia’s Northern Gawler Craton, following the release of new Exploration Release Areas informed by the MinEx CRC National Drilling Initiative (NDI).

More than 5,500 km² of exploration acreage has now been taken up across the region, with new exploration licences targeting commodities including copper, gold and uranium.

The activity follows the release of 16 Exploration Release Areas (ERAs) in February 2026, which were developed with the benefit of new geological information generated through the Northern Gawler NDI, a collaboration between MinEx CRC and the Geological Survey of South Australia (GSSA).

The Northern Gawler NDI was designed to improve understanding of the geology and mineral potential beneath extensive cover in one of South Australia’s underexplored regions. Seven drillholes were completed in 2024, providing new basement core intersections, basin samples and geological and analytical datasets to help refine understanding of the region.

These results have been incorporated into publicly available pre-competitive datasets and geological interpretations, supporting explorers in assessing the region’s mineral potential and identifying areas for further investigation.

The Northern Gawler story demonstrates how pre-competitive geoscience can help reduce geological uncertainty, support informed exploration decisions and open up new opportunities for mineral discovery.

Explore the Northern Gawler data

The geological information generated through the NDI is publicly available through South Australia’s geological data platforms.

The GSSA has also released Connections in the North: Results from the Northern Gawler National Drilling Initiative, documenting the results and geological insights generated by the program.