The Blue Bird mine workings are hosted by the Lower Jurassic Rossland Group (Elise Formation) siltstone, argillite, hornfelsed siltstone and hornfels. The showings are located within the zone of thermal metamorphism associated with the Early Jurassic Rossland monzonite intrusion. The grey to black siltstone and argillite grades to hornfels. Ammonites of Early Jurassic age were reported to occur in siltstone on Ivanhoe Ridge.

The mine is hosted by the Bluebird-Mayflower shear zone which strikes 120 to 130 degrees and dips from 50 to 65 degrees to the northeast, and is traceable for 600 metres. The Blue Bird zone consists of a series of lenses cut by numerous cross-faults and dykes. The ore bodies have a tendency to pinch and swell. As of 1988, underground development and drilling had tested the zone to a depth of 110 metres at which depth the structure and mineralization appear to be present. Limited drilling between the Blue Bird and Mayflower zone (082FSW146) to the east, to a depth of 45 metres has confirmed continuity of the mineralized structure but grades have been low. At the western extent of the shear zone, near the Hattie Brown shaft (082FSW359), the structure is cut by a 12.2 metre wide monzonite dyke of the Middle Eocene Coryell Intrusions. Surface work and drilling has suggested that the structure continues to the west of the dyke and is mineralized.

Mineralization at the Blue Bird consists of quartz veins hosting pyrite, sphalerite, galena, arsenopyrite, stibnite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, and locally, boulangerite. The stibnite occurs as radiating, white metallic needle-like crystals. The vein system is considered as part of the South Belt-type of mineralization (Bull- etin 74, page 39 to 40). The principal gangue mineral is quartz, however, carbonate veinlets also host pyrite, sphalerite, and galena mineralization. Tetrahedrite is generally very closely associated with the galena. The vein system strikes between 110 to 115 degrees, dipping steeply south. The veins are on strike with the main veins on the Mayflower claim and are considered as the westerly extension. Boulangerite appears to replace arsenopyrite, pyrite, and sphalerite in the ore from the Blue Bird mine. Small arsenopyrite crystals and plates of pyrrhotite are included in sphalerite and some have been inherited as inclusions in the boulangerite.

The main access to the vein is by adit No. 2 which was driven at an elevation of 844 metres just above and west of Gopher Creek. The vein is well mineralized 61 metres below this level and 244 metres west of the portal. The host rock is mainly hornfelsic siltstone which dips at moderate angles to the west and is cut by northerly trending dykes. Average grades based on production statistics are 3.87 grams per tonne gold, 653.8 grams per tonne silver, 3.5 per cent lead, 4.2 per cent zinc, and minor copper. Approximately 6503 tonnes of ore were mined from the Blue Bird zone between 1908 to 1914, 1935, 1951 to 1952, and 1972 to 1978. Recovery of commodities from this ore includes: 12,857 grams gold, 3,910,823 grams silver, 181,088 kilograms lead, 207,496 kilograms zinc, and 864 kilograms copper.

In 1990, drill hole 90-3 intersected 3.8 metres grading 11.31 grams per tonne gold (George Cross News Letter No.10, January 15, 1991).

Refer to the Le Roi deposit (082FSW093) for a summary of the Rossland mining camp.