| Basis for focus area |
Outline of the Tokio Formation, as ilmenite mainly occurs in the upper sandy part of the Cretaceous Tokio Formation. Placers are in the upper Tokio Formation. |
| Identified resources |
Identified resources and historical mining for titanium (ilmenite). |
| Production |
Minimal ilmenite recovered from surface mining. |
| Status |
Past mining; no current mining; drilling project by the Arkansas Geological Survey (Hanson, 1997). |
| Estimated resources |
Mineral Springs has 110,000 tons of TiO2 within 50 feet of the surface (heavy mineral sands). |
| Geologic maps |
Hanson and others (2005), scale 1:50,000; Davis and Fair (1959), scale 1:126,720; much of the area containing the Tokio Formation in Arkansas mapped at a scale of 1;24,000 by the Arkansas Geological Survey. |
| Geophysical data |
Inadequate aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric coverage. |
| Favorable rocks and structures |
Unconsolidated Tokio Formation; ilmenite is found in weathered clays. Sediment of the Tokio Formation were deposited in a near-shore environment, so ilmenite concentrations may represent reworking of sands along ancient beaches (Holbrook, 1948). |
| Deposits |
Mineral Springs, Beulah Green-Pink Green placer (MRDS dep_id: 10068358). |
| Evidence from mineral occurrences |
Hanson (1997). |
| Geochemical evidence |
Four- to 8-foot intervals in a road cut in the Pink Green deposit contained 4.5% TiO2. Ilmenite in soil adjacent to the Beulah Green deposit gives it a 'salt-and-pepper' appearance (Holbrook, 1948). |
| Geophysical evidence |
None. |
| Evidence from other sources |
Augering and logs of water wells by U.S. Bureau of Mines confirms the concentrations of ilmenite in clays at depth (Holbrook, 1948). |
| Comments |
Ilmenite deposits are modestly radioactive due to the presence of monazite. |
| Cover thickness and description |
At the surface and at depths <100 feet. |
| Authors |
Corbin Cannon, W.D. Hanson. |
| New data needs |
High-resolution aeroradiometric coverage could identify deposits containing monazite. |
| Geologic mapping and modeling needs |
None requested at this time. |
| Geophysical survey and modeling needs |
High resolution aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric coverage needed. |
| Digital elevation data needs |
Lidar adequate. |
