Reclamation Proposal for Limestone Quarries in NorthWest Arkansas

1. Sabrina Carbó Tim Payne Allyson Ransom Mary Smiley Audie Weatherford Instructor: C. Dianne Phillips Honors Geology Reclamation Proposal for Limestone Quarries in NorthWest Arkansas

2. Project Statement • There is a need for additional and ongoing restoration and beautification within the reclamation process for quarries in NorthWest Arkansas.

3. Project Overview • A proposed outline of needs necessary to expand current reclamation processes to make these areas suitable for public recreational, and educational uses.

4. Proposed Project Site Reclaimed Quarry

5. Ideas for public & educational uses: water park wildlife refuge walking trail educational research facility climbing wall outdoor classroom stock fishing

6. Community Aspect of Project • Education • Recreation • Beautification • Safety

7. Geology Course Content Objectives • Sedimentary Processes • Rock Formation - Limestone/bedrock • Depositional History • Environments of Deposition • Geologic Time Periods/Fossils • Stratigraphy of area • Weathering processes • Economic importance

8. contact the owner visit the site take pictures comparison study research safety history grants costs academic feasibility government regulations Methods

9. Community Contacts • Schools • Government Agencies – Mayor Biggers • Other Sites • National Stone Association • Site Owner – J & C Hilligas 636-1366 • John Van Brahana 575-3355 • Elizabeth Bowen (Benton County GIS) • Department of Educational Grants

10. Time Management • Time Line • Sept. 13 – Initial visit of site • Sept. 27 – Appointment with Mayor of Lowell, AR • Sept. 28 – Initial power point presentation • Oct. 17 – First Draft of written report • Nov. 28 – Final Power Point Presentation • Dec. 5 – Final Draft of Written Report Due

11. Expected Outcome • To take a non-productive, non-use site and transform it into an educational or recreational area by offering a proposal that will include cost breakdown and the advantages to the community.

12. GEOLOGY OF ARKANSAS

13. North Arkansas (Paleozoic-age) Stomatolites Corals Brachiopods Bryozoa Cinoids Cephalopods Arkansas River Valley (Mississippian-Pennsylvanian age) Corals Bryozoa Brachiopods Crinoids Bivalves Gastropods Cephalopods Plant Fossils Fossils of Arkansas

14. Searcy and Van Buren counties (Mississippian age) Ammonoids Nautiloids Bivalves Brachiopods Bryozoa Plant Material Blastoids Crinoids Gastropods Shark Teeth arthropods Ouachita Mountains (Cretaceous age) Oyster Echinoid Gastropod Cephalopods Dinosaur Dinosaur Tracks Shark Teeth Mosasaur Reptile Teeth and Plates Fish Parts FOSSILS OF ARKANSAS 2

15. Fossilized remains of crinoid, benthonic marine animal

16. Ancient sands and sediment layered through millennia resulting in fossilized ripples that were later uplifted

17. Arkansas Facts • 5 Most valuable non-fuel mineral resources (based on annual production) • Bromine • Crushed stone • Sand/gravel • Clays • Limestone

18. Plants and Animals of Arkansas

19. Arkansas Animals Ivory-billed Eastern Blue jay Northern Cardinal Barn Owl Red-ShoulderedWoodpecker BluebirdHawk Mockingbird Goldfinch Scissor-Tailed BearDeer Elk Flycatcher Fish SnakesTurkey DucksArmadillo Beaver Bob Cat Coyote Crawfish Bald EagleGray Fox Mountain Lion

20. Animals • The mountains of the state are habitat to a variety of small mammals, including mink, raccoon, skunk, weasel, and woodchuck. • The plains are the home of deer, rabbit, fox, and the bobcat. • Birdlife thrives throughout the state and includes pheasant, duck, goose, turkey, and such songbirds as cardinal, robin, mockingbird, and whippoorwill. • Among the freshwater fish are bass, catfish, perch, and sturgeon.

21. Common Trees Pinus ponderosa Juglans nigra Carya ovata - Shagbark Hickory Ponderosa Pine Black Walnut Betula papyrifera - Paper Birch Quercus alba - White Oak Sassafras albidum – Sassafras

22. Liquidambar styraciflua - Sweetgum* Platanus occidentalis Malus sylvestris American Sycamore Common Apple (Arkansas State Flower) Acer species – Maples Cornus florida - Flowering Dogwood

23. Plants • Forests cover about one-half of the total land area of Arkansas. • Pine forests are found mainly in the SW part of the state. • Most are covered by a great variety of hardwoods, including ash, buckeye, hackberry, hawthorn, hickory, maple, oak, and cherry. • Arkansas is also known for its flowering trees and shrubs such as dogwood, azalea, and redbud and for its wild flowers and ferns.

24. Safety Regulations

25. Questions to consider • Do any safety hazards exist or will any be created? • What measures can be taken to eliminate these hazards? • If a pond or marsh is constructed, will fencing be necessary? • Should hand rails be included on bridges? • Do any adjustments need to be made for handicapped students?

26. Hazards to be addressed • Railings should be built for all areas that border on cliffs and stairways into the quarry. • Ramps need to be constructed for wheelchair and handicap access. • Because this is a natural setting, ponds and marshes should remain in natural state with handicap access being provided for by a sidewalk or path. • Tables that blend with the environment need to be constructed to offer places for both handicapped and able bodied students to do experiments on. • Required appropriate clothing should be posted at the entrance of the learning facility and hazards that exist within the quarry.

27. First aide kits should be a requirement for all instructors to carry, upon entering the learning facility. • Identification of natural hazards need to be posted such as poison ivy, oak and sumac. • Installation of a phone box for emergency purposes is suggested. • Routine inspections should be implemented to ensure safety standards are kept up to date. • As the quarry changes, with new learning labs being opened, each one needs to be reevaluated for any safety issues that may occur.

28. Operational and Reclaimed Quarries

29. Operational limestone quarry

30. Reclaimed Quarry

31. Outdoor Classrooms • Educational opportunities: • Botany • Geology • Archeology • History • Biology • Paleontology

32. Project Expansion • The next step would be to work on a cost breakdown for this project. It could include prices for outdoor equipment like tables, displays, concrete, or railing. • There are other educational ideas that could be further expanded on. • Visiting a quarry that has already been through this process.