CRITICAL MINERALS IN ARKANSAS

The U.S. Department of the Interior in 2018 identified 35 critical minerals considered essential to the security and economic prosperity of our country. Today the list has grown to 50. Critical minerals occurring in Arkansas include aluminum (Al), antimony (Sb), barite (BaSO4), bismuth (Bi), cobalt (Co), gallium (Ga), germanium (Ge), lithium (Li), manganese (Mn), niobium (Nb), rare earth elements (REEs), strontium (Sr), tantalum (Ta), thorium (Th), titanium (Ti), uranium (U), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn). Presently the Office of the State Geologist is compiling data supporting additional exploration for critical minerals historically produced in the state including aluminum, antimony, barite, lithium, manganese, nickel, niobium, titanium, vanadium, and zinc. Critical minerals occurring as accessories in Arkansas include bismuth, cobalt, gallium, rare earth elements, and tantalum of which only gallium was produced economically. We are also reviewing recently acquired geophysical data from the US Geological Survey which covers about 60% of the state.