Minerals present at the mine include chalcopyrite, pyrite and pyrrhotite, deposited in Precambrian volcanic rock of the Canadian Shield.

Before the operation of Northland Pyrite Mine in the early 1900s, water levels of James Lake increased and decreased.

According to a former report from the Ontario Northland Railway, 76,067,050 pounds were sent throughout this epoch and was shipped to the town of Cobalt further north.

[2] A.A. Cole, who was the former manager of the former Temiskaming Testing Laboratories facility in Cobalt, stated the closure of Northland was due to the mine transporting pyrrhotite instead of pyrite for three days.

The Northland Pyrite Mine lies in a pyrite-bearing zone associated with a band of Keewatin bedded tuffs.