After six years of studies, including model building, studies of geological and geophysical maps, and numerous aero-magnetic surveys, Western Mining Corporation took out Exploration Licence 190 in 1975. In June of that year the first hole, (RD1) drilled by Ted Whenan to locate the expected copper was a failure. A month later they did find the copper. The deposit proved to be one of the world's largest, nearly seven kilometre long, four kilometres wide and one kilometre deep. Enough to keep mining for the next sixty years. When RD10 was completed it not only contained copper but also uranium.
