FUTURE OF THE DISTRICT. 173 



The lower bed of limestone lying between the fissure on the quartzite 

 and the lower stratum of shale affords almost equal structural facilities to 

 the upper. It has been rent and crushed by the upward movement of the 

 quartzite in a similar manner for a considerable distance, at least below the 

 region where the lower stratum of shale was cut off by the fault. It would, 

 therefore, offer every possible opportunity for the circulation of metalliferous 

 fluids. Ore has also been found in the Ruby Hill fault-fissure at the place 

 where it was cut by the drift from the 1,200-foot station of the Locan shaft. 

 The flow of water was unfortunately so great, however, that it was not 

 possible to determine the extent of this body. There thus seems to be no 

 well-founded reason for believing that- masses of ore do not exist in the 

 lower stratum of limestone. 



Whether the ore bodies will prove as large and as numerous as they 

 have been above is a matter which cannot be decided from the limited 

 number of facts which have been observed in the lower workings. Whether 

 the extraction of this ore will be profitable will depend upon the flow of 

 water, size of ore bodies, value of ore, and facilities with which it can be 

 reduced. As to the size of the ore bodies, no satisfactory predictions can 

 be made. No very great change in the value of the ore as regards silver 

 need be feared. There will be poor ore bodies as well as rich ones, no 

 doubt, but the ore is more likely to be somewhat richer in silver than the 

 reverse, if there is any analogy between the ores of this district and those 

 of a similar character in others where oxidation has taken place. With 

 regard to the value in gold it is otherwise. The contents of the Eureka 

 ores in gold has on the average been gradually decreasing as depth was 

 attained, and it is but reasonable to suppose that this will be the case below 

 the water-level. No entirely satisfactory reason can be given for this de- 

 crease in gold, but it is of very frequent occurrence in auriferous silver ores 

 in many parts of the Great Basin. It was, however, not the case on the 

 Comstock, and the change noticed in the ores of Eureka may be only a 

 local one. 



This fact need not necessarily be a cause of uneasiness, as there is no 

 likelihood that the gold will give out altogether, and a slight reduction in 

 the quantity of this metal present would not materially reduce the value of 



