Thirteen coal seams are present in the Jurassic-Cretaceous Mist Mountain Formation (Kootenay Group). Of these, the No. 10 seam (oldest) (13.7 metres), No. 8 (3.0 metres), and the No. 7 seam (6.1 metres) are the thickest. In 1978, the No. 10 seam was being mined underground at Balmer North (continuous Miners) and south (hydraulic operation - Panel 5). Panel 5 has since been replaced by the Panel 6 underground mine. The coal is medium to high volatile bituminous in rank and occurs interbedded with sandstone, siltstone and shale.

The Balmer North mine is located on the west flank of the east limb of the north trending, south plunging Fording syncline, while the Panel 6 underground (Balmer South mine, 082GNE011) is located on the west (east dipping) limb of the syncline, to the west of Sparwood Ridge. The Balmer North mine contains a number of north-northwest trending, west dipping thrust faults.

The Panel 6 underground hydraulic mine was closed early in 1985 and the Balmer North mine in early 1986 (Grieve 1986). See Elkview (082GNE017) for production.