The highest peak of the range is Keeper Hill or Slievekimalta at 694 metres (2,277 ft) high.

[2] [3] The village of Silvermines is located to the north of the mountains and has been a mining centre since the 14th century.

There are three Special Areas of Conservation on the Silvermine Mountains; the Silvermine Mountains SAC is known for its Northern Atlantic wet heaths, with Erica tetralix and species-rich Nardus grassland;[4] the Silvermines Mountains West SAC is known for its Northern Atlantic wet heaths, with Erica tetralix, and its European dry heaths and Calaminarian grasslands where the levels of heavy metals, such as lead, are high, and are toxic to many plant species;[5] and Keeper Hill SAC, known for its Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix and blanket bogs.

Silver was extracted for use in coinage, and lead for materials for the roof of new monasteries being built in the 13th century.

A new phase of activity occurred in the 1960s when a new rich deposit was found which was worked on the surface and underground.