FOREWORD This booklet has been compiled to meet a demand for specific information regarding the mineral, soil, and water power resources of Arkansas and is the fourth in a series of related publications issued by the State Bureau of Mines, Manufactures and Agriculture. The first booklet was published in 1920 by Commissioner Jim G. Ferguson and was entitled "Outlines of Arkansas Geology;" the second, “Minerals in Arkansas," was also issued by Commissioner Ferguson and was published in 1922. The third, "Answers to Questions About Arkansas' Mineral Resources," was published in 1924 by Commissioner Ferguson and was written by the State Geologist. In the present volume, prepared by the State Geologist and published by Commissioner W. N. Wilkes, an attempt has been made to include maps which are out of print or inaccessible to the public, and also to include statistical information and references which may prove useful. In a work of this nature, which is largely statistical, it is necessary to make liberal use of all available information, including data from the United States Geological Survey, the State Survey, scientific and other publications, and numerous unpublished reports. The sources of the statistical tables appearing are acknowledged in the text. I wish to acknowledge the cordial assistance of Commissioner Wilkes and also that of E. T. Thomas, Lloyd G. Henbest and J. E. Coates, who assisted in the preparation of portions of the text. The maps and charts were drawn by Miss Pearle Lowe. Jorge Banner State Geologist. State Capitol Little Rock, Arkansas A MINERAL RESOURCES INTRODUCTORY RKANSAS possesses an abundance of the raw materials of commerce-agricultural, timber and mineral. Their development has constituted the foundation of the economic life of the State. The estimated market value of the agricultural products in 1926 was about $223,500,000, timber products about $80,000,000 and mineral products approximately $67,000,000. Of these three classes of resources the minerals appear, at the present time, to be the least developed. In considering the future possibilities of the commercial development of the mineral resources of Arkansas, it is interesting to consider the development of those resources in nearby states which have, very broadly speaking, similar economic conditions and related geological conditions. For instance, in addition to those minerals now. produced in Arkansas, Oklahoma produces cement, lead and tripoli; Texas produced cement, copper, Fuller's earth, gold, graphite, gypsum, lignite, lead, mercury, salt, silver, and sulphur; Missouri produces barytes, cement, copper, iron ore, lead, silver and tripoli; Louisiana produces salt and sulphur; Tennessee produces barytes, cement, copper, gold, iron ore, lead, phosphate rock, silver, slate, sulphuric acid and tripoli; while Mississippi produces no resources not now produced in Arkansas. This list suggests that there may be possibilities in Arkansas for the commercial development of some of these minerals. Of these, cement, slate, lignite, Fuller's earth, tripoli, lead and silver stand out prominently, as these are all known to occur in Arkansas. However, there are certain more or less apparent and outstanding possibilities for mineral development in Arkansas. These are: (1) The oil and natural gas of the Coastal Plain region of southern and eastern Arkansas, (2) the natural gas of the Arkansas River Valley, (3) the zinc and lead fields of northern and northeastern Arkansas, (4) the chalk and marl deposits of southwestern Arkansas, (5) the brick, tile, and pottery clays, (6) the road materials, (7) the mineral fertilizers, including phosphates, greensands, chalks and chalk marls, (8) miscellaneous minerals such as slate, lignite, tripoli, Fuller's earth, gypsum and, to a more or less extent, manganese, antimony, copper and silver. In addition, a more detailed knowledge of the available water power of the State can be arrived at by establishing gauging stations along many of the streams of northern and western Arkansas. A State Geological Survey is usually established on the supposition that private enterprise cannot afford, or will not make, detailed investigations covering large areas for the purpose of discovering raw mineral materials. The correctness of this supposition has been demonstrated in numerous ways. Further than this, since the State does not undertake to develop its own resources directly, it is only through the co-operation of the State Survey with private interests. that the Survey becomes useful. The development of a mineral resource, however, does not necessarily follow immediately upon its discovery. Before a profitable development can take place various difficulties must often be worked out which involve the solution of chemical and metallurgical problems and questions of labor, handling, transportation, marketing, and finance. Consequently, although the work of the Geological Survey is primary and fundamental in its nature, it can, as a rule, supply data for the answering of only one part of the complex problem of selling raw materials at a profit in competitive markets. It is not difficult to predict that the future holds much for Arkansas as far as the development of her mineral resources is concerned. The present development of her extensive oil fields insures benefits for years to come, her gas and coal fields and bauxite deposits. will of themselves be of benefit to future generations, while yet undeveloped and undiscovered mineral deposits can be confidently counted. upon as an added source of future wealth. VALUE OF GEOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE Geology is the science which treats of the earth and its history as revealed by the rocks. It therefore deals with the materials which compose the earth and the record of past life on the earth in so far as the record bears on the relationship of the rocks. Geology is thus a broad composite science and utilizes the principles of astronomy, chemistry, physics, and biology. Like other sciences, geology may be of great practical value, although it may or may not be put to a practical use. The principles of geology are continually applied in the search for useful minerals, the development and conservation of mineral resources, the study of the component elements and origin of the soils, and the study of underground waters, water power resources, and drainage. WORK OF THE STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY The State Geological Survey is a bureau maintained by the State for the purpose of assisting in the development of the State's mineral, soil, and water power resources. Under normal conditions this work is performed by a staff of trained specialists whose duty it is to accumulate and disseminate dependable information on the above mentioned subjects. Under the law the work of the Survey is divided into three general divisions: (1) Geologic, (2) Soil, and (3) Water Power. Infor mation is secured directly in the field, from the study of past investigations and through co-operation with other agencies. This information is disseminated through the usual channels. Free advisory service is given with reference to the geology and mineralogy of different localities within the State, the location of areas containing undeveloped mineral resources, the quality, quantity and value of those resources, the distribution of areas favorable for oil and gas development, the identification in some instances of the subsurface formations encountered in drilling, the determination of the character of mineral specimens submitted, the furnishing of references to published reports, bulletins, etc. When requested, information received is treated as wholly confidential. If complete qualitative or quantitative analytic examinations are desired, unless such examination bears directly upon the work of the State Survey, the material is turned over to private chemists, who make such analyses for a fee of from $2.00 to $10.00, depending upon the nature of the examination. In addition to the above, the following services are maintained by the Survey: Survey Reports Distributed: Reports published by the State Survey are supplied on receipt of postage. A list of available reports will be found on page 277. |