150 GEOLOG'? AND GOLD DEPOSITS OF THE CRIPPLE CREEK DISTRICT. 
South of the Modoc is the Battle Mountain vein system, crossing from the 
granite into the breccia, with general northerly or north-northwesterly directions, 
and distinguished by heavy production and ore bodies of imposing size. None of 
the veins is of great length, and the whole system extends scarcely a mile along the 
strike of the veins. The veins can not be directly connected with others already 
described, though, in its general trend, the system heads toward the Dexter, Blue 
Bird, and Moose veins. 
Beginning on the southwestern side, we first come to the Gold Coin mine, the 
veins of which are in granite; one of them is successfully worked at present at a depth 
of 1,200 feet. The total production approaches $6,000,000; the dividends paid 
exceed $1,000,000. North of the Gold Coin is the Ajax, working partly in the 
veins, partly in large, irregular ore bodies in the granite. The total production 
is very considerable. The depth attained is 1,200 feet. 
Between this and the Portland vein system, almost within the town of Victor, 
are the Granite, Dillon, and Dead Pine veins. They are worked at present at 
depths of 800 to 1,000 feet. 
The Portland vein system begins on the south at the Strong mine, now worked 
at a maximum depth of 900 feet, on a vein in granite that follows a “basalt” dike, 
which is in places accompanied by a phonolite dike. The mine is an unusually reg¬ 
ular and profitable producer, the total dividends since 1892 amounting to $2,500,000. 
The veins of Stratton’s Independence run about parallel to those of the Strong, 
a few hundred feet eastward. They extend from the granite into the breccia, fol¬ 
lowing for some distance a phonolite dike. The production of this mine amounts 
to over $11,000,000, with a dividend record of $4,000,000 since 1899. At present 
the company is leasing the various levels to tributers. From the two properties 
last described the vein systems continue into the Portland mine, but in the northern 
part of that great property are replaced by another and still richer aggregate of veins, 
the Captain system. The Portland is, beyond question, the most prominent mine 
of the Cripple Creek district. Its total production from 1894 to the end of 1903 
amounted to $18,000,000, derived from 466,000 tons of ore (both in round figures), 
from which $4,600,000 has been paid in dividends, the remainder going to acquire¬ 
ment of territory, extensive milling and mining plants, and operating expenses. 
Outside mining properties .—The area outside of the principal volcanic area con¬ 
tains very few productive properties, but it is by no means barren. A great deal 
of money has been spent here, usually with unsatisfactory results. Although there 
are many properties of merit and although much honest effort has been made in this 
part of the district, it has long been the favorite camping ground of concerns more 
or less lacking in stability. 
The granite hills west and south of the city of Cripple Creek contain few pros¬ 
pects; phonolite dikes occur in places, but usually show little value. Along Gold 
Run and Arequa Gulch prospects with a little ore have been found, down to the junc¬ 
tion with Cripple Creek, and even at isolated places below this locality. Grouse 
Hill, with its phonolite cap, shows many prospects from which occasional good 
assays have been obtained, but neither here nor on Straub and Brind mountains 
has anything of permanent value been developed thus far. It is claimed that ore 
bodies of low grade, containing a few dollars per ton, exist. 
