The Empress (B.L. No.21 and B.L. No.20) occurrence is located on the north side of Empress Lake, approximately 32 kilometres northwest of Nakusp.

The area is underlain by rocks of the Thor-Odin gneiss dome of the Proterozoic Monashee Complex and by metamorphic rocks of the Proterozoic to Paleozoic Kootenay Assemblage. The Thor-Odin dome is one of a series of gneiss domes spaced approximately 80 kilometres apart. A central core zone in the dome consists of gneissic and migmatitic rocks. This zone is surrounded by a heterogeneous assemblage of metasedimentary rocks of the Mantling zone and Fringe zone, the latter containing abundant pegmatite and lineated quartz monzonite. The Supracrustal zone, consisting of quartzite, marble, phyllite, schist and metavolcanic rocks, forms a cover to the gneisses.

The mineralized horizon (the Ledge horizon) occurs in an east- west –trending succession of metasedimentary rocks of the Mantling zone. The rusty weathering succession consists of a heterogeneous mixture of schist and gneiss, calcareous quartzite, calc-silicate gneiss, marble and amphibolite. The Ledge consists of fine-grained, dark graphitic-sericitic schist, dark quartz-rich schist, calc-silicate gneiss and minor siliceous marble layers. Pyrite and pyrrhotite are disseminated throughout these units resulting in a characteristic rusty weathering.

Within the Ledge, conformable mineralization consisting of pyrrhotite, pyrite and sphalerite with minor galena has been traced by outcrop and diamond drill holes for approximately 13 kilometres from Mount Symons to the west shore of Arrow Lake. Another similar zone of mineralization is reported in a creek gully approximately 1.5 kilometres to the south- south west and 1.2 kilometres to the east of Paint Lake on the former June 8 claim.

In 1979, rock sampling yielded up to 2.09 per cent zinc, 0.06 per cent lead and 7.5 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 08415).

During 1947 through 1966, Tthe area was staked and explored by Cominco as part of the Big Ledge (MINFILE 082LSE012) property. In 1976, reconnaissance mapping was completed by Metallgesellschaft. During 1979 through 1981, Esperanza Explorations Limited conducted programs of geological mapping, geochemical sampling and geophysical surveys on the area. In 1990, a program of geological mapping, geochemical sampling and a ground magnetic survey were conducted on the area immediately south as the AMF claims. In 2006, a program of rock sampling and prospecting was completed. During 2006 through 2015, programs of prospecting, rock sampling and a ground magnetic survey were completed on the area.