Airborne Magnetic Survey of Northwest Arkansas 2019-2020

October 2019 to March 2020 airborne magnetic survey covering a 225 by 110 kilometer area in northwest Arkansas. The dataset contains 67,614 line-kilometers of data collected from a fixed-wing aircraft flown at a mean terrain clearance of 167 meters along north-south flight lines spaced 200 meters apart. The survey was funded by the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program and the Earth Mapping Resource Initiative.

Use Cases

• Map subsurface geology and fault structures by analyzing magnetic anomaly patterns across the 67,614 line-kilometers of flight line data.
• Support mineral resource research by correlating magnetic signatures with known geologic units in the Ouachita and Ozarks Plateau transition zone.
• Create high-resolution geophysical maps for the 225 by 110 kilometer survey area to aid in regional geologic mapping.
• Analyze data collected along N-S flight lines and E-W tie lines to assess data consistency and correct for diurnal variations.

Strengths

• High spatial resolution from flight lines spaced at 200-meter intervals.
• Extensive coverage with 67,614 line-kilometers of magnetic measurements.
• Well-defined survey parameters, including a mean terrain clearance of 167 meters and tie lines flown every 3000 meters.
• Clear temporal scope, with data collected from October 2019 to March 2020.

Limitations

• Data format is XML, which may require specialized parsing tools for geospatial analysis compared to more common formats like GeoTIFF or CSV.
• The dataset appears to be a single, static collection with no indication of planned updates or ongoing data collection.
• Lacks detailed column descriptions or sample data, making initial assessment of data structure and variables difficult.

Provenance

Source

Department of the Interior, USGS, collected by EON Geosciences Inc.

Collection Method

Airborne survey using a fixed-wing aircraft with a magnetometer mounted in a tail stinger, operating from Branson, Missouri airport.

Time Range

October 2019 to March 2020

Freshness

Data collection concluded in March 2020; the metadata was last updated in January 2026.

Geography

Irregular area approximately 225 by 110 kilometers in northwest Arkansas, covering the transition between the Ouachita and Ozarks Plateau physiographic provinces.