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Granite Mountain Quarry #1, Arkansas, USA
You are here: MineralCollecting.org >> Localities >> Granite Mountain Quarry #1, Arkansas, USA

| Locality Data | Description | Locality Pictures | Collecting | Minerals | Tools
| Directions | Area Maps | Weather Conditions | Area Businesses | Closest Campgrounds |
| Other Points of Interest | Other Collecting | Area Rock Shops | Literature | Related Websites |

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Locality Data

Name: Granite Mountain Quarry #1
Alternate Name: GMQ
Location: Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas, United States
GPS:
Locality Type: Active Open Pit Mine
Mined by: Granite Mountain Quarries
Prodominent Host Rock: Syenite (igneous)
Prodominent Mineralization Host: Syenite Pegmatite
Mineral Species Count: ~80
Accessibility: Moderately Difficult
Collectibility: Moderate
Explanations

Description

Granite Mountain is an alkali syenite intrusion (igneous) through Stanley Shale (sedimentary). The southeast portion of the mountain is mined by Granite Mountain Quarries for fine grained syenite which is crushed for aggregate. This works well for collectors since the dike rock (syenite pegmatite), which is the rock type of interest to mineral enthusiasts, is unsuitable for use in this application and is pushed aside, dumped, or left unmined. The mine consists of a large pit to the east and a smaller pit to the west separated by a haul road. Both pits are several benches deep.

Locality Pictures

Collecting

Access is made with permission in advance only and is usually restricted to pre-scheduled groups or clubs. Hard hats, safety glasses and steel toe shoes are required. Collectors are generally given the run of the mine, but are instructed to stay at least 100 yards from any operating machinery and collecting is not allowed on or near the high walls. Mineralization occurs in coarse grained syenite pegmatite, gas cavities in the fine grained syenite and xenoliths, which are bits of metamorphosed rock that broke off into the syenite. The larger pieces of coarser pegmatite are typically mineral rich whereas the small seams are deficient in openings for crystals to form. Gas cavities are usually in association with metamorphosed bits of Stanley Shale that fell into the syenite. The dike rock is typically weathered or weathers quickly due to its coarseness. Cavities in the fresh material will contain obvious crystallization.

Minerals

Local minerals may include, but are not restricted to, aegirine, allanite, analcime, calcite, chabazite, chlorite, heulandite, pyrite, pyrophanite, stilbite, titanite. View the available specimens in the pictures listed below:

Tools

Always remember safety glasses, steel toe shoes, and hard hat. Recommended tools include the following in order of importance: rock hammer, crack hammer, sledge hammer, chisel, buckets or bags or flats, hammer drill, optivisor or loupe or magnifying glass, tweezers.

Recommended supplies include the following: water, snacks, wrapping paper

Driving Directions

Hwy. 65 south from Little Rock, AR to exit 3 then left. Under the overpass then left again. Stay right where the road splits. About 0.4 miles, Granite Mountain Quarry #1 office is on the left.

Area Maps

Click on the image below to zoom in:

Weather Conditions

Area Businesses

LaQuita Inn
Days Inn
I-30 to exit 135
Motel 6
Red Roof Inn
I-30 to exit 134
Hampton Inn
I-30 to exit 133
Western Sizzlin'
El Chico
Wendy's
Arby's
I-30 to exit 133

Closest Campgrounds

Pinnacle Mountain State Park
11901 Pinnacle Valley Road
Roland, AR 72135
pinnaclemountain@arkansas.com
1-501-868-5806

Hot Springs National Park KOA
838 McClendon Rd
Hot Springs, AR 71901
1-501-624-5912

Lake Catherine State Park
1200 Catherine Park Road
Hot Springs, AR 71913
lakecatherine@arkansas.com
1-501-844-4176

Lake Ouachita State Park
5451 Mountain Pine Road
Mountain Pine, AR 71956
lakeouachita@arkansas.com
1-501-767-9366

Crater of Diamonds State Park
209 State Park Road
Murfreesboro, AR 71958
1-870-285-3113

Other Points of Interest

Wild River Country Water Park
6820 Crystal Hill Road
Little Rock, AR 72118
1-501-753-8600
http://www.wildrivercountry.com/

Pinnacle Mountain State Park
11901 Pinnacle Valley Road
Roland, AR 72135
1-501-868-5806

Little Rock Zoo
1 Jonesboro Drive
Little Rock, AR 72205
1-501-663-4733
http://www.littlerockzoo.com/

Other Collecting in the Area

3M Quarry
Granite Mountain Quarry #2
Granite Mountain Quarry #3
Jones Mill Quarry
Magnet Cove
Mauldin Mountain

Area Rock Shops

CTS Rocks & Minerals
1501 E. Grand
Hot Springs, AR 71901

Wright's Rock Shop
3612 Albert Pike Road
Hot Springs, AR 71901
1-501-767-4800

Jim Coleman Crystal Mines and Rock Shop
5837 N. Highway 7
Jessieville, AR
1-501-984-5453 or 1-501-318-0739

Stanley's Rock Shop
513 S. Pine Street
Mount Ida, AR 71957

Literature

Arkansas Literature Listings

Barwood,H.L.: Mineralogy of the Granite Mountain Syenite, Pulaski and Saline Counties, Arkansas. Rocks&Minerals, 64(1989), pp.314-322

Related Websites

Mindat.org Locality Data
Granite Mountain: Rockhoundingar.com
Granite Mountain Information
Nepheline Syenite: Arkansas.gov

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