The area is underlain by Upper Triassic Karmutsen Formation vol- canic rocks of the Vancouver Group. These are interbedded with, and overlain to the northeast by a northwest trending belt of Quatsino Formation limestone (Vancouver Group) known historically as the "lime-belt". The Vancouver Group rocks are in fault and/or intrusive contact to the northeast with intrusive rocks of the Juro-Cretaceous Coast Plutonic Complex.

The Pelican deposit is exposed almost continuously for about 180 metres and varies from a few centimetres to a few metres in width. The deposit follows a well defined fault that strikes 125 degrees through dominantly fine textured greenish andesitic rock. Irregular bodies and lenses of limestone occur in the vicinity of the ore material.

The deposit is composed primarily of pyrrhotite but also contains chalcopyrite, quartz, epidote, garnet and amphibole. Fine particles of native gold are also reported to occur. A sample taken across about 1 metre assayed 1.78 per cent copper, and trace gold and silver (Geological Survey of Canada Summary Report 1913).