The Front Range, of which Balarat is a part, extends from southeast Wyoming, through Colorado and into north central New Mexico. This elongated range serves to separate the high plains region to the east from the higher peaks of the continental divide. This mountain range is mainly Precambrian rock that is over three billion years in age.

The Balarat site is underlain principally by Silver Plume Granite which has been intruded by feldspar rich pegmatites and diorite. Pegmatites and diorites tend to be rich in extractable minerals. The latter areas are contiguous with mining activity that was conducted along Balarat’s eastern boundary from around 1870 through the late 1930’s.