Exploration release areas (ERAs)

About ERAs

Under the Mining Act 1971 (1 January 2021 version) an expired, fully surrendered or cancelled mineral exploration licence area becomes relinquished ground and will be released to industry as an 'exploration release area (ERA)'.

In accordance with Section 28(6) of the Mining Act 1971 the areas shown in the tables below have been released as ERAs.

A map of South Australia showing the exploration release areas is available via the South Australian Resources Information Gateway (SARIG).

Map showing exploration release areas

Submitting applications

Applications may be submitted during the application week by completing and lodging the online form.

The ERA application wizard allows users to apply and lodge an ERA application via SARIG.

ERA online application

Application fees

An ERA application must be accompanied by the statutory EL application fee.

The fee schedule, a fee calculator and FAQs are available from:

Forms, legislation and guidance.

More information

More information about ERAs and the application process is available in the exploration licences guideline MG33:

MG33: Exploration licences guideline (PDF 426 KB)

A list of ERAs including former tenement holder and status of the ERA is available for download:

Information sheet M53: Mineral exploration release areas (ERAs) (PDF, updated daily)

Current exploration release areas

Application open dates changed to 22 May 2023 to 2 June 2023

UPDATE 8 FEBRUARY 2023

NOTICE is hereby made that the Exploration Release Area Notice published on 2 December 2022 is varied by amending the Application period to 22 May 2023 to 2 June 2023. The department is awaiting additional sample data (whole rock geochemistry, petrology and geochronology) from the Quondong Vale Section 15 geological investigations which will be released to industry shortly. On receipt of the information the datasets contained in the links below will be updated to inform ERA applications.

For this release we have put together a package of information on the area including factsheets, articles, links to papers and presentations, datasets, maps and geological models. You can access all the information from ERA repository: http://dem-era.s3-website-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com

ERA number and map	Locality	Area km²	Open for application dates	Location specific aspect / ERA specific criteria
ERA 1228 Download map (PDF)	Lindley area approximately 2km north of Morgan	681 km²	22/05/2023 to 02/06/2023	Describe how your proposed exploration program will increase the understanding of base and precious metal potential and accelerate new discoveries of these deposits in the area. River Murray Water Protection Area (part). White Dam Conservation Park (abutting).
ERA 1229 Download map (PDF)	Westons Flat area approximately 20km north of Waikerie	586 km²	22/05/2023 to 02/06/2023	Describe how your proposed exploration program will increase the understanding of base and precious metal potential and accelerate new discoveries of these deposits in the area. River Murray Water Protection Area (abutting/adjacent).
ERA 1230 Download map (PDF)	Old Koomooloo area approximately 40km north of Morgan	901 km²	22/05/2023 to 02/06/2023	Describe how your proposed exploration program will increase the understanding of base and precious metal potential and accelerate new discoveries of these deposits in the area.
ERA 1231 Download map (PDF)	Canegrass area approximately 60km northeast of Waikerie	973 km²	22/05/2023 to 02/06/2023	Describe how your proposed exploration program will increase the understanding of base and precious metal potential and accelerate new discoveries of these deposits in the area. Danggali Wilderness Area (abutting).
ERA 1232 Download map (PDF)	Sturt Vale area approximately 70 km north of Morgan area	496 km²	22/05/2023 to 02/06/2023	Describe how your proposed exploration program will increase the understanding of base and precious metal potential and accelerate new discoveries of these deposits in the area.
ERA 1233 Download map (PDF)	Sturt Vale area approximately 85 km north of Waikerie	786 km²	13/02/2023 to 24/02/2023	Describe how your proposed exploration program will increase the understanding of base and precious metal potential and accelerate new discoveries of these deposits in the area.
ERA 1234 Download map (PDF)	Pine Valley Station area approximately 90 km northeast of Waikerie	838 km²	22/05/2023 to 02/06/2023	Describe how your proposed exploration program will increase the understanding of base and precious metal potential and accelerate new discoveries of these deposits in the area. Danggali Wilderness Area (abutting).
ERA 1235 Download map (PDF)	Mutooroo area approximately 110 km north of Waikerie	854 km²	22/05/2023 to 02/06/2023	Describe how your proposed exploration program will increase the understanding of base and precious metal potential and accelerate new discoveries of these deposits in the area.
ERA 1236 Download map (PDF)	Quondong area approximately 130 km northeast of Waikerie	824 km²	22/05/2023 to 02/06/2023	Describe how your proposed exploration program will increase the understanding of base and precious metal potential and accelerate new discoveries of these deposits in the area.
ERA 1237 Download map (PDF)	Quondong area approximately 120 km northwest of Renmark	990 km²	22/05/2023 to 02/06/2023	Describe how your proposed exploration program will increase the understanding of base and precious metal potential and accelerate new discoveries of these deposits in the area. Danggali Wilderness Area (abutting).
ERA 1238 Download map (PDF)	Oakvale Station area approximately 130 km northeast of Renmark	555 km²	22/05/2023 to 02/06/2023	Describe how your proposed exploration program will increase the understanding of base and precious metal potential and accelerate new discoveries of these deposits in the area. Danggali Wilderness Area (abutting).
ERA 1239 Download map (PDF)	Mutooroo area approximately 150 km north of Renmark	785 km²	22/05/2023 to 02/06/2023	Describe how your proposed exploration program will increase the understanding of base and precious metal potential and accelerate new discoveries of these deposits in the area.
ERA 1240 Download map (PDF)	Mutooroo area approximately 170 km north of Renmark	797 km²	22/05/2023 to 02/06/2023	Describe how your proposed exploration program will increase the understanding of base and precious metal potential and accelerate new discoveries of these deposits in the area.