South Australian government releases new geological data outlining mineral potential of the highly prospective Far North OZ Minerals Prominent Hill mine. GEOLOGICAL data aimed at identifying as much as $35 billion of mineral treasure in South Australia's Outback has been published today. Describing it as a "game changer for exploration," SA's chief geologist Steve Hill said the data was being made freely available to companies to help target the highly prospective Far North of the state. The data covers an area larger than the size of England and focuses on a zone in the Woomera Prohibited Area which has not been properly explored and an area in the Marree region. "The beauty of new data is it raises all sorts of questions," Mr Hill told the SA Exploration and Mining Conference being held at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the gravity survey over the Woomera region had captured 34,000 points and was the most comprehensive ever published. "This information released today should light up the sky in one of the most prospective regions of the state," he said. In addition to the survey, the State Government's geological survey arm has published an atlas that brings together all the publicly available information on the Woomera area. "This package of information will help explorers to better target an estimated $35 billion of potential developments in this region," he said. Mr Koutsantonis said it was time to resolve the question of mining companies and explorers having access to the Woomera Prohibited Area. Under the previous Federal Government, an access protocol balancing the interests of the Defence Department with resources companies, tourism and other private sector operators was passed by the House of Representatives. However, the legislation stalled in the Senate which called for more committee work. "It is now time for the Commonwealth to honour ts promise to open up he WPA for exploration," Mr Koutsantonis said. I call on the Federal Government to honour the commitment of both major parties before the election to open up this valuable resource. Allow the explorers in, allow the geologists in. It's time has come. The conference, hosted by the SA Chamber of Mines and Energy and other industry organisations, was told that the Woomera survey was conducted with $2 million in SA taxpayer funding. The Marree region survey, which used radiometric and magnetic data collection, cost $810,000 and covered more than 131,000km of line. The results of both surveys are being made available through the SARIG website administered by the Department of Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy. Mr Hill said the next phase in government providing pre-competitive data will be to conduct a drilling program. Beginning in 2014-15, a program of drilling exploratory holes in a 5km to 10km grid pattern will be conducted on the Gawler Craton area surrounding SA's major known deposits Olympic Dam, Carrapateena and Vulcan. The program will cost about $6.5 million but the government is looking for private companies to partner as co-investors. The geological department also will investigate the poorly explored western Gawler Craton area which borders on WA and the Great Australian Bight.