The Ranch occurrence is located on the western side of a ridge between Peavine and Hogg creeks, at an elevation of approximately 1150 metres.

The area lies within the central portion of the Purcell Anticlinorium, which consists of argillites, quartzites and related intruded gabbro sills and dykes of the Helikian Aldridge Formation (Purcell Supergroup).

Locally, a 1-metre-wide quartz vein crosscuts Helikian Middle Aldridge Formation (Purcell Supergroup) sedimentary rocks. The vein strikes 135 degrees and has a near vertical dip and is mineralized with galena and sphalerite.

The area has been explored in conjunction with the Vine 1 occurrence (082GSW050). In 1978, Cominco completed a program of geological mapping (Assessment Report 7087). In 1983, J.M. Leask claimed the area as the Ranch claims and completed a program of prospecting and geological mapping (Assessment Report 11706). In 1993, Cominco completed a 23.2 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic survey on the area (Assessment Report 23134). In 1999, Abitibi Mining completed an 11.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the area immediately to the east as the Strata and Form claims (Assessment Report 25942). In late 2013 and early 2014, PJX Resources completed a gravity survey on the area (Assessment Report 34937).

In 2013/2014, PJX Resources Inc began a large program of gravity and magnetic geophysical surveying to detect dense subsurface features on their West Basin and Vine properties (Assessment Report 34937); surveying continued into 2016 (Assessment Reports 34082, 34937, 35416, 36347). The gravity survey extended 10 kilometres beyond the West Basin property claim boundaries encompassing several MINFILE occurrences including the Ranch showing (Figure 8, Assessment Report 34082). Post processing and modeling of the gravity data was conducted in 2017 to further constrain the prospective area for drilling (Assessment Report 37242).