The tungsten ore occurs principally in the form of the mineral scheelite within garnetiferous tactites adjacent to contacts of quartz monzonite and granodiorite intrusions. The tactites are genetically related to the intrusives and are products of metasomatically altered carbonate rocks of the upper Luning Formation which locally contain potentially important amounts of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, molybdenite and argentiferous galena.

Project W is composed essentially of layered rocks of the Permian to Lower Jurassic ages which have a combined maximum thickness of over 20,000 feet. The oldest unit exposed on the property is the Mina Formation which consists principally of chert, sandy argillite and a number of tuffaceous units which are exposed as high, jagged cliffs to the south of the Desert Scheelite tungsten occurrence across a prominent fault scarp. The Mina Formation is overlain by the Luning Formation, the host unit for the tungsten mineralization on the property. The Luning Formation is made up of three, equally thick members with a collective thickness of approximately 8,000 feet. The upper member consists predominantly of limestone and to a much lesser extent, fine grained clastic sediments. The middle member is composed of a uniform sequence of conglomerates, quartzites and mudstones and the lower member consists of carbonate and clastic sediments. Most of the known tungsten occurrences and deposits on the property are confined to the upper member of the Luning Formation.

The tactites, metasomatic replacement bodies which host the tungsten occurrences on the property, are stratigraphically controlled and generally are proximal to quartz monzonite and/or granodiorite intrusives. Two groups of tactites are recognized: a dark-colored, iron-rich, brown garnet group, which hosts most of the tungsten mineralization, and a light-colored, low-iron group which contains tan-colored garnets. The tactites generally occur in a number of parallel horizons. Scheelite is the only significant tungsten-bearing mineral on the property. It is yellow in color and can contain minor amounts of molybdenum.

In its report on Project W, Robertson & Associates describe the mineralization on the property as follows:

"Most of the tactites are stratiform, but transgressive types do occur. Some thick tactites can be seen following top and bottom contacts of intrusive sills or dike-like bodies. The stratiform tactites extend both along the intrusive contact and laterally away from it along strike forming sheet-like to tabular deposits. Locally, ‘ore grade' tactites have been traced over 400 feet along strike away from the intrusive, and up to 600 feet along the contact. Mineralized horizons have been traced twice as far in both directions. Thickness of ‘ore grade' tactites range from six feet to well over 20 feet. In the Good Hope area, disseminated scheelite is found in several drill holes in thick, light-colored tactites, with abundant base metals and some silver values. This type of mineralization is also found at the Desert Scheelite deposit where the host is both dark and light colored tactite. In addition to tungsten, occurrences of zinc, copper and silver are found in particular localities in sufficient concentration to be of interest."