GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF THE DISTRICT. 
39 
EPOCH OF DESTRUCTION. 
Since the volcanic forces ceased, 
erosion has had full sway to destroy 
what they built up. It is natural that 
volcanic cones should fall an easy prey 
to the action of atmospheric agencies, 
and their destruction is usually early 
and complete. But a special reason 
contributed to render this process un- 5 
usually rapid in this case. Before the “ 
volcanic epoch the streams flowing on f 
the plateau were sluggish in their action § 
and slight in grade. After that epoch g. 
there occurred a general elevation of | 
several thousand feet, whereby the old ” 
peneplain became a high plateau. The 1 
causes of this elevation, as well as its §• 
exact extent, can not be discussed here; g 
their consideration properly belongs to § 
the study of a wider area. At any rate g 
the streams became rejuvenated and ® 
began to cut back rapidly into the pla- |' 
teau, especially from the southern side, ® 
belonging; to the drainage of the Arkan- 3 
sas. To this Quaternary and still active < 
epoch of erosion must be credited the § 
deep canyons of the several branches % 
of Cripple Creek, Spring Creek, and § 
Wilson Creek. The canyon of the lat- g 
ter between Grouse Hill and Straub ® 
Mountain is an especially well-marked 1 
and striking case. That the branches ~ 
of Cripple Creek and Spring Creek have ® 
also eroded their canyons below the pla- I 
teau surface in comparatively recent | 
time is very evident from even a cur- ■§ 
sory study of the contour map. 
There is no evidence of a glacial 
epoch within the Cripple Creek district 
except in the northeast corner of the 
area, where the glaciers from Pikes 
Peak reached down and pushed their 
moraines almost to Gillett. That the 
glacial epoch had some influence on the 
topography of this vicinity is certain. 
SECTiON CC 
