EVALUATING THE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF PLACER DEPOSITS AT THE MAGNET COVE INTRUSIVE COMPLEX, ARKANSAS

Interest in exploring for critical minerals in the United States and globally has recently gained renewed momentum due to the exponentially growing demand for these resources in emerging technologies and renewable energy applications. Within the U.S. midcontinent region, exploration efforts have largely focused on subsurface targets or sources derived from exposed bedrock. However, placer deposits within fluvial-alluvial settings present an underexplored but potentially viable resource for critical minerals, specifically adjacent to areas with known economically viable bedrock exposures. Understanding the geological processes that influence the deposition and concentration of critical minerals in sedimentary environments is crucial for expanding resource exploration efforts.In Magnet Cove, Arkansas a Cretaceous intrusive complex has a long history of mining activity and has recently garnered interest for its heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) and transition metals, namely Ti, Nb, V, Li & Th. These materials may be concentrated in riverbed sediments within the region, yet little research has been conducted to evaluate their occurrence, formation, and economic potential. Here we present preliminary findings from sediment samples obtained from Cove Creek and Stone Quarry Creek, which both carry sediments generated in the magnet cove complex southward toward the Ouachita River. Samples were collected from streambeds, pulverized into homogenized powders, and then were analyzed for REE Ti, V, Th using X-ray fluorescence. Preliminary findings do suggest the presence of these elements within stream sediments. However, more work is needed to be done to quantify their economic potential. These findings highlight the need for further detailed geochemical and mineralogical analysis to assess the feasibility of economic recovery for these sediments. Such studies could provide valuable insights into underutilized resources and guide future exploration efforts within similar geological settings.