Sandstones of the uppermost Stanley and lowermost Jackfork Groups (both flysch deposits) include arkose, subarkose, subgraywacke, feldspathic subgraywacke, and orthoquartzite (Folk, 1954, sandstone classification). Regional study of the uppermost part of the Stanley Group (Moyers Formation) shows that arkose and subarkose occur in the western Ouachita Mountains, and arkose and feldspathic subgraywacke occur in the south-central Ouachitas. Orthoquartzites occur only in the northeastern part of the fold belt. In the lowermost part of the Jackfork Group (Wildhorse Mountain Formation), subarkose occurs in the southern part of the Ouachita geosyncline, whereas subgraywacke is limited to the northwestern part of the geosyncline. Orthoquartzite occurs throughout the rest of the uachita fold belt.

A linear regression analysis comparing feldspar content with both clay matrix and authigenic mica indicated that the amount of diagenetic matrix is negligible. Most of the authigenic mica appears to be recrystallized primary matrix.

Geographic distribution of sandstone classes suggests that the Moyers Formation was derived from two sources. Quartzose material was derived from a northern source (Ozarks) and feldspathic material was derived from a southern source. Detritus was transported laterally into the Ouachita geosyncline. The sandstone of the Wildhorse Mountain Formation was derived from the same two sources and from a third source east of the present outcrop belt. Quartzose sandstone appears to have been deposited by a combination of lateral supply from the Ozarks and Illinois basin and subsequent redistribution by axial currents. Lateral supply was accomplished by turbidity currents, sand flow, and submarine slumping.

Directional mapping of flute casts by others indicated that deposition of sand in the Ouachita geosyncline was accomplished by axially oriented currents rather than by downslope currents. The assumption that axially oriented flute casts were formed by the same turbidity currents that transported sand from the geosynclinal margin is inconsistent with interpretations based on mineralogical data. Oceanographic studies show that deep-water currents, flowing parallel with topographic strike, flow at velocities sufficiently high to erode silt and clay. Similar ocean currents probably reworked the marginally supplied sands and resedimented them in an axial direction in the Ouachita geosyncline. The axial orientation of some sole marks in ancient flysch deposits possibly records the direction of flow of ancient resedimenting ocean currents, whereas the regional distribution of sandstone types possibly indicates lateral supplying of sand by gravity-induced turbidity currents, submarine slumps, or sand flow. An oceanographic model consisting of sand emplacement by gravity-induced processes and later resedimentation by axially oriented ocean currents is offered as the most plausible mechanism to resolve anomalous provenance interpretations based on mineralogical and directional data.