The Fontaine Creek placer showing is located about 18 kilometres southwest of Barkerville. Historic production was recorded between 1876 and 1885 and totalled 15,799 grams per tonne gold. From 1883 to 1885 and 1888 to 1889, production from Fontaine Creek is combined with production from Swift River. Area geology comprises sediments of the Middle-Upper Triasic Nicola Group.

The recorded gold production of the Cariboo mining district was considerably greater than that of any other in the Province. The first discoveries of placer streams were made in 1860; new creeks were found quickly, and production mounted so rapidly that 1863 was the year of greatest placer output. Although detailed records of production are available from 1874 onward, it is believed that fully one-third of the total Cariboo production was mined in the preceding fifteen years (Bulletin 28).