Baldy Ridge is located on the west flank of the east limb of the Sparwood syncline (approximately north trending, south plunging) very close to the axial region of the syncline. The strata are cut by approximately north trending, west dipping thrust faults.

The Baldy Complex producing area is underlain by Jurassic-Cretaceous Mist Mountain Formation (Kootenay Group) sandstone, siltstone, coal and shale.

Baldy Ridge contains a total of 10 coal seams, which are from stratigraphically oldest to youngest named 10, 9, 8L, 8Ua, 8U, 7R1, 7L, 7, 6 and 5. Seams 5 and 6 were being mined in 1978 by surface methods. Underground mining is limited to seams 7, 8U and 10. Seams 8L and 9 have very high ash contents, and seams 7R and 8Ua are laterally inconsistent. Seam 7R splits into four seams with thick intervening rock partings and seam 8Ua is lenticular. Ash content and kilojoules/kilograms in the raw coal are 19 to 22 per cent and 27,640 respectively. In the coal cleaned at 1.50 specific gravity, volatile matter ranges from 19 to 22 per cent, ash content from 9.5 to 10 per cent, sulphur is less that 0.5 per cent, and kilojoules/kilograms values are 32,560.

Proven reserves in the Baldy Ridge are 104,000,000 tonnes (1981 B.C. Coal Ltd., Reserve and Resource data). The estimated mining life of seams 7, 8U and 10 in this area is 20 years.

See Michel Creek (082GNE012) and Elkview (082GNE017) for production.