Bedrock geology is comprised of flat-lying Helikian Aldridge Formation (lower Purcell Group) quartzite. Placer gold was recovered from Tertiary gravels in a buried channel of the Moyie River. Past development included underground workings which crosscut the channel from rim to rim and which has been drifted on for 61 metres along its length. Placer activity and production may be associated with Moyie River (082FSE102), 6.5 kilometres to the southwest.

In 2013/2014, PJX Resources Inc began a large program of gravity and magnetic geophysical surveying to detect dense subsurface features (Assessment Reports 34082, 34937, 35416). The gravity survey extended 10 kilometres beyond the West Basin property claim boundaries encompassing several MINFILE occurrences including the St. Joe showing (Figure 8, Assessment Report 34082).