The property hosts a volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit that precipitated at or near the seafloor in association with contemporaneous volcanism, forming a stratabound accumulation of sulphide minerals. Volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits typically form during periods of rifting along volcanic arcs, fore arcs, and in extensional back arc basins. Rifting causes extension and thinning of the crust, providing the high heat source required to generate and sustain a high-temperature hydrothermal system (Franklin et al., 2005).

The location of volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits is often controlled by synvolcanic faults and fissures, which permit a focused discharge of hydrothermal fluids. A typical deposit will include the massive mineralization located proximal to the active hydrothermal vent, footwall stockwork mineralization, and distal products, which are typically thin but extensive. Footwall, and less commonly, hanging wall semiconformable alteration zones are produced by high temperature water-rock interactions (Franklin et al., 2005).

Mineralization begins at approximately 25m below surface and extends to approximately 580m below surface. Mineralization is generally fine to medium-grained disseminated to solid sulphides consisting of pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and magnetite. The principle gangue minerals are chlorite, and quartz.

Underground longhole stoping was chosen as the mining method for Reed because of the steep dip of the mineralization and good quality of the ground.

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