Mining, Minerals and More in the Western Ouachita Mountains
Mining, Minerals and More in the Western Ouachita Mountains Mining, Minerals and More in the Western Ouachita Mountains
This area is rich in plant fossils. Fragments of a lycopod known as Lepidodendron (Fig. 15) areabundant as well as its root system (Stigmaria) (Fig. 16). Leaves and other woody fragmentsare also present.Figure 15. Reclaimed strip mining at Bates (left) and Lepidodendron fragment (right).Figure 16. Crossopteris leaves (left) and Stigmaria fragment (right) from Bates, Arkansas.Crossing from Arkansas River Valley Region to Ouachita Mountains RegionAs we drive back to Mena we will cross back into the Ouachita Mountains Region. Look for thesmall community of Boles about four miles before the town of Y City. As we cross Ross Creekwe will be crossing the Ross Creek Fault which is the northernmost thrust fault of the OuachitaMountains Region. Do you notice any change in landforms?14
Stop 2 - Ouachita landforms drive up Highway 88 – Rich MountainWe will take Highway 88 north of Mena on top of Rich Mountain which is a ridge classified as ahogback (Fig.10). There are several spots to pull over and view the scenery along the way, butwe will stop at the Rich Mountain Lookout Tower to get a good view of the landforms andstructure to the north and south of the ridge (Fig 17).Figure 17. Google map showing geologic structures north and south of Rich Mountain.Day 2 – MorningStop 3 - Meridian Tuff Quarry – Hatton, ArkansasThe mining at this locality has opened up an area where the Hatton Tuff can be studied in greatdetail. We will visit the working quarry after watching a video that provides details on thecompany, mining and uses of the rock. Since we are looking at rock in the Ouachitas, beprepared for steeply dipping rock.15
- Page 3 and 4: STATE OF ARKANSASARKANSAS GEOLOGICA
- Page 5 and 6: Table of ContentsGeologic Setting..
- Page 7: Educational Workshop Series 06 -
- Page 10 and 11: Figure 2. Digital ortho-photograph
- Page 12 and 13: This workshop focuses on the Stanle
- Page 14 and 15: Studies of paleocurrent, grain size
- Page 16 and 17: LaurasiaFigure 9. Late Mississippia
- Page 18 and 19: Varying stream patterns develop acc
- Page 20 and 21: Figure 13. Map showing location of
- Page 24 and 25: The active portion of the quarry is
- Page 26 and 27: Figure 21. Load features on sandsto
- Page 28 and 29: References:Clardy, B.F., and Bush,
- Page 30 and 31: Sigillaria, an extinct coal-age tre
This area is rich <strong>in</strong> plant fossils. Fragments of a lycopod known as Lepidodendron (Fig. 15) areabundant as well as its root system (Stigmaria) (Fig. 16). Leaves <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r woody fragmentsare also present.Figure 15. Reclaimed strip m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g at Bates (left) <strong>and</strong> Lepidodendron fragment (right).Figure 16. Crossopteris leaves (left) <strong>and</strong> Stigmaria fragment (right) from Bates, Arkansas.Cross<strong>in</strong>g from Arkansas River Valley Region to <strong>Ouachita</strong> Mounta<strong>in</strong>s RegionAs we drive back to Mena we will cross back <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ouachita</strong> Mounta<strong>in</strong>s Region. Look for <strong>the</strong>small community of Boles about four miles before <strong>the</strong> town of Y City. As we cross Ross Creekwe will be cross<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Ross Creek Fault which is <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rnmost thrust fault of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ouachita</strong>Mounta<strong>in</strong>s Region. Do you notice any change <strong>in</strong> l<strong>and</strong>forms?14
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