1. Products of the Ouachita Mountain Region

2. Quartz
Arkansas leads the United States in the production of quartz crystals.
The Ouachita Mountains produce some of the world’s purest quartz in Montgomery County.
People collect quartz because of their beauty, but quartz is also used in jewelry, electronics, optics (gun sights) and in the aerospace industry.

3. Novaculite Novaculite is found in Garland County.
It is used to make concrete and asphalt.
Novaculite is mainly used to make whetstones, which are stones used to sharpen knives and surgical tools.

4. Diamonds Arkansas is the only state where diamonds are mined.
The Crater of Diamonds State Park is located in Murfreesboro. Here visitors can search for diamonds…and keep what they find! There are about 600 diamonds found at the park every year.
The largest diamond discovered in Arkansas was over 40 carats and is worth $650,000.

5. Timber
The Ouachita National Forest is the oldest national forest in the south.
The Ouachita National Forest has both pine trees and hardwood trees.

6. Poultry
There are chicken hatcheries in Wickes. These are owned by Tyson.

7. Tourism
Hot Springs attracts people from all over the world. Here naturally hot water bubbles to the surface and is piped to bath houses where people can relax in pools of the steamy water.
The waters of Hot Springs was once believed to have healing powers.

8. Tourism Backpackers love the Ouachita Mountains.
Mena is home to the Talimena Scenic Drive. This is a 54-mile long stretch of road that winds through the mountains with various lookout points.