The Little Joan quarry is located on the west side of the Kootenay River about one kilometre south of Nine Mile Creek. Gypsum has been exposed in trenches and other workings over a stratigraphic interval of approximately 125 metres.

In the Kootenay River - Nine Mile Creek area, gypsum outcrops extensively on the west side of the river in an area approximately 1.5 kilometres in length, with an average width of 400 metres and an elevation difference of up to 30 metres. Bedding generally strikes north to northeast with moderate to steep dips to the east. The gypsum, typically laminated to thin-bedded, is pale grey to grey in color. Pure white gypsum is present locally. To the west, the gypsum is in fault contact with older rocks and to the east it disappears under extensive overburden in the river valley. The Little Joan quarry is located at the north end of this area (see also Nine Mile 082JSW020).

To the west of the Little Joan deposit, gypsum is in fault contact with the Upper Cambrian Sabine Formation. The gypsum at the quarry is normally well-laminated except for numerous lenses, blebs and irregular areas of white massive gypsum scattered throughout. Locally this white gypsum may crosscut or have gradational contacts with the grey laminated variety.

There are several large exposures of gypsum, to the north, along the east bank of the Kootenay River near Nine Mile Creek. The gypsum, thought to be of the Devonian Burnais Formation, is intercalated with carbonate rocks of the Cedared Formation.

Minor shipments, in 1951, from this quarry contained 85 per cent, or less, gypsum.

Westroc Industries Limited plan mining in the area.