The mountain provides an example of the Great Unconformity with the tilted Paleozoic Tapeats Sandstone[3] underlain by Paleoproterozoic Vishnu Schist, which is some of the oldest rock on the North American continent, having been created about two billion years ago.

A geologically rich area called Rainbow Gardens is located to its southeast, as is an igneous laccolith, Lava Butte.

[7] It is likely named after the Frenchman Mine, which itself was alleged to be the site of a stock scam by a Belgian immigrant (mistakenly assumed to be French).

The area from Cheyenne Avenue and Boulder Highway and Lamb Boulevard is commonly known as Sunrise Manor Township CDP.

Local conservationists have proposed the area, along with Gypsum Cave and Sunrise Mountain, be protected as a national monument.