The geology of the region consists of (?)Hadrynian to Paleozoic Snowshoe Group rocks. The Snowshoe Group is an assemblage of dominantly metasedimentary rocks within the Barkerville Terrane. The metasedimentary rocks consist mainly of marble, quartzite and phyllite which in the area of the showing comprise the Downey succession. Metamorphism of the region varies from chlorite to sillimanite and higher grade. Mineral deposits of the region are generally confined to greenschist facies rocks.

The Sterling showing consists of pyrite mineralization in quartz veins subparallel to bedding and in crosscutting quartz stringers. The veins and stringers are hosted by a sequence of interbedded quartzite, schist and limestone. One low gold value was reported but nothing further is known of the gold distribution in these veins.