Quartzite was quarried on the Riverside Crown granted mineral claim south of Sheep Creek, 15.5 kilometres southeast of Salmo.

This area is underlain by a sequence of metamorphosed carbonates and clastic sediments of Lower Paleozoic age that have been folded into a series of anticlines and synclines that trend north and exhibit steep to near vertical limbs.

The quarry is developed in micaceous quartzite of the Lower Cambrian Quartzite Range Formation. Individual quartzite beds exhibit various colours similar to those on the Porcupine claims to the north (082FSW279), including buff, red, grey and green. The stone is reported to split readily and evenly along cleavage planes containing sericite.

A total of 77 tonnes of quartzite was mined in 1963 and 1964, by A. Endersby of Fruitvale. The stone was sold in the Nelson district for decorative facing stone.