The banded nature of the quartz veins which form the Empire lode at the Golden Cross mine, is perhaps their most
striking feature. Petrographic studies show that significant differences occur between the bands in terms of textures,
quartz grain size, calcite, adularia and kaolinite content, and the form, concentration and mineralogy of sulfide phases. The 818Oqu i values of individual bands within the vein material range from 7.3-10.9%x. Calculations show that the
818Oqa,u values can be adequately explained by temporal variations in the system temperature, boiling and/or variations
in the systems fluid/rock ratios.