The Surprise Mountain area is underlain by rhythmically layered amygdaloidal, feldspar porphyritic and spherulitic basalt flows of the Upper Triassic Karmutsen Formation (Vancouver Group). Mineral- ized quartz and quartz-carbonate veins with variable sulphide content are associated with narrow, steeply dipping shear zones.

The Silver Tip occurrence is underlain by amygdaloidal basalt of the Karmutsen Formation cut by a shear structure striking 315 degrees and dipping 75 to 80 degrees northeast. It can be traced for 250 metres along strike but appears to be cut off to the northwest by faulting. The shear zone is typically less than 1 metre in width and hosts quartz and quartz-carbonate veins. Mineralization in the veins consists of massive pyrite, chalcopyrite with lesser sphalerite and galena. Locally, the quartz veins exhibit a drusy texture. A 0.6 metre chip sample across the shear assayed 12.21 grams per tonne gold, 22.9 grams per tonne silver and 1.24 per cent copper (Assessment Report 18672). A sample of carbonate vein and altered volcanic from dump material assayed 13.99 grams per tonne gold, 8.5 grams per tonne silver, 0.07 per cent copper, 1.8 per cent zinc and 0.37 per cent lead. Although this material is common in the dump, recent mapping has not revealed any exposures (Assessment Report 18672).

Work done includes two shafts 70 metres apart developed along the shear zone. Some drifting has also taken place.