Abstract
Examination of LANDSAT 1 satellite imagery covering northwestern Arkansas reveals a set of well-defined northeast trending lineaments. The traces of two such lineaments coincide closely with the strike of the well-known Fayetteville and Drakes Creek faults in this area. The faults are downthrown to the southeast and show a variable amount of vertical displacement (0 to 91 m) along strike. A third major lineament has been recognized that is subparallel to the Fayetteville and Drakes Creek faults and extends from within the Arkoma basin on the south, northeasterly into southern Boone County, Arkansas, fora minimum distance of 85 km and possibly a maximum distance of 170 km. The trace of this lineament within Newton County, Arkansas, is coincident with the linear arrangement of lead-zinc mines in the Ponca-Boxley mining district. No vertical displacement has been observed to date along this particular lineament. A series of gravity and ground magnetic profiles that cross the trend of this lineament suggest fracturing and/or shearing of both Precambrian and Paleozoic rock. The exact origin of this feature is not yet known. However, because this trend is most likely either a first order fracture or shear zone in the crust it may have served as a primary channelway for the migration of mineralizers (ore-bearing fluids) that ultimately produced the small lead-zinc deposits within the Batesville and Boone Formations in this area.
Recommended Citation
Smith, David A.
(1977)
"Significance of Major Northeast Trending Lineaments Observed on Landsat Imagery of Northwestern Arkansas,"
Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 31, Article 32.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol31/iss1/32
