146 GEOLOGY AND GOLD DEPOSITS OF THE CRIPPLE CREEK DISTRICT. 
that it is of advantage to “rip” the ore out of a mine as rapidly as possible, short of 
“robbing the mine,” but there is also such a tiling as dividing profits a little too 
liberally with reduction works and railroads. 
EXTENT OF PRODUCTIVE TERRITORY. 
There is nothing in the history of the district since 1894 warranting any exten¬ 
sion of the bounds of the productive territory as then known. Now, as then, a circle 
of 3 miles radius described from the summit of Gold Hill would include all deposits of 
known or prospective value, while the really important mines would be embraced by 
a circle of about half that radius, with its center near the summit of Raven Hill. 
That scattered deposits of greater or less value may be found in outlying portions of the 
district is by no means improbable. But the close dependence of the typical Cripple 
Creek ores upon the main volcanic center and the consequent remarkable compact¬ 
ness of the gold-bearing area are features highly characteristic of the district and are 
likely always to remain so. 
The greater part of the ore has undoubtedly come from the central area of breccia, 
particularly from that part of this area in which the breccia extends to great depth. 
Very productive ore bodies have been found, however, in the granitic rocks, usually 
within 1,000 feet of the steep contact limiting the breccia on the southwest. The 
important Beacon Hill mines, with ore bodies nearly three-fourths of a mile from this 
contact, are exceptional, and are probably genetically connected with the intrusive 
mass of phonolite forming the core of the hill. 
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