The Frances occurrence is located in the northeastern headwaters of Stephens Creek, approximately 6.9 kilometres east of Quatse Lake.

Regionally, the area is underlain by northwest-trending belts of basaltic volcanics and carbonate sedimentary rocks of the Upper Triassic Karmutsen and Quatsino formations (Vancouver Group) and mafic volcanics and sediments of the Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic Bonanza Group (Holberg volcanic unit, Nahwitti River wacke and Parson Bay Formation). These volcanic and sedimentary rocks have been intruded by granodioritic rocks of the Early to Middle Jurassic Island Plutonic Suite.

Locally, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and pyrite occur in skarn zones at the footwall and hangingwall contacts of a limestone band and Karmutsen volcanics.

In 1968, Dawn Minerals soil sampled the area. Also, at this time, Emperor Mines completed an airborne magnetic survey on the area immediately north. In 1969, Yellowknife Bear Mines Ltd. completed a program of soil sampling and a 49.6 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the area as the Little Joe claims.

In 1980, a program of geological mapping was completed. In 1981 and 1983, Energex Minerals Ltd. completed an airborne electromagnetic survey and eight diamond drill holes, totalling 232.4 metres, on the area as the Cliff claims. During 1987 through 1989, programs of rock and soil sampling, geological mapping, minor trenching and 16.7 line-kilometres of ground magnetic surveys were completed on the area.

In 1991 and 1992, Daiwan Engineering Ltd. completed programs of prospecting, geochemical sampling and ground geophysical surveys the area immediately north as the Marisa 1-4 claims.

In 2016, the area was prospected by Tech-X Resources Ltd.